Beer & chocolate

Ah, chocolate and beer...if there is any one pairing I could choose it would be this, even more than cheese and beer. It's a popular paring and with so much excellent artisanal chocolate and beer on the market today, it's easy to do and a heck of a lot of fun. I mean really, it's beer and chocolate! Even the ladies can get involved and with the over-abundance of chocolate given yesterday to significant others, it can be an extension of the holiday. Let love and beer ring out, I say.

Ommegang's (NY) Chocolate Indulgence is one obvious choice and is a nice starting point. Brewed with real Belgian chocolate, this stout has bigtime chocolate flavor, with some coffee notes thrown in. Being a brewery that specializes in Belgian beer styles, this is an very good example of beer and chocolate coexisting together happily.

Dogfish Head's Theobroma is a new, virtual cornucopia of exotic ingredients and is based on ancient, Aztec beer recipe. Not a typical "chocolate beer", it does use cocoa nibs and Aztec cocoa powder as ingredients. The kicker is the annatto and the ancho chilies, which give the beer a spicy kick, especially in the finish. Much ligher in color than most chocolate-infused beers, Theobroma is on a whole different level than most and is typical (can "typical" even be used when describing Dogfish Head?) for a Dogfish Head brew, where experimentation and bizarre ingredients is their mission.

I imagine it would pair well with a chili-infused dark chocolate beer, something like Vosges Oaxaca Bar, below.

Southern Tier's (NY) Choklat is a beer that absolutely oozes Belgian Chocolate and is similar to Chocolate Indulgence, but with an even bigger chocolate infusion. In fact, it's insane how much chocolate comes through in the aroma and taste. It's also a much stronger brew (11% ABV) than the above beers. I tried it on tap at The Taphouse in Ghent recently...think of a spiked Hershey's syrup beverage and you're on the right track. Over the top, but a delicious dessert beer worth savoring. A strong, dark chocolate is needed to pair with this big boy, and an espresso chocolate truffle is an easy pairing.

Young's Double Chocolate Stout is a fantastic English stout that is so smooth and drinkable it's dangerous, and a classic. Light and drinkable at only 5% alcohol by volume, Double Chocolate Stout is a good beer to start the chocolate/beer experimentation with. A fine choice with sweet desserts or sweet and spicy meals (ribs, BBQ), there's not much more you could want in an easy-drinking, full-flavored choco-beer. Young's also brews Banana Bread Beer, and tastes remarkably like its namesake. I wonder what a cocktail of Double Chocolate Stout and Banana Bread Beer would taste like...okay that may have to wait until a new blog entry.

 A famous craft beer that is reminiscent of chocolate is Brooklyn's Black Chocolate Stout. Strangely, it's not even brewed with actual chocolate but the brewers use a blend of various dark-roasted malts that give the beer it's dark color and chocolate-like flavor. A hefty beer at 10% ABV, this seasonal has a subtle chocolate flavor, but more potent is the super-charged, dark malt body that is roasty, with a little astringency and noticeable hop flavor in the finish. While not as obvious with the cocoa flavor as the above examples, B.C.S. shows off the skill and talent of the brewers, and considering no chocolate is used in the brewing process is pretty impressive. A big, bold beer and another classic sipper. Of course chocolate mousse cake with raspberry would be a perfect fit, but also cheeses, yet make it a strong cheese like stilton or it will be completely drowned in the huge flavor of the beer.

I hope you all had a successful Valentine's Day (if not then I'm sorry, the above beer is for you) and experiment with your beer and food. Chocolate and beer is a perfect place to start and the pairings are not that difficult. Afterall, food is a natural companion with beer, which is brewed with multiple ingredients just like meals are cooked with. Like wine, beer is a natural on the table. Pairings are just plain fun and takes a little work initially, but experimentation is the best part.

Now, take that chocolate and beer in hand and make another date out of it. Who doesn't like these two amazing ingredients?  Paired together you have bliss, which is what the holiday is all about. This certainly counts as bliss in my book.

Cheers!

-Eric

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