Chocolate

Foothills Sexual Chocolate returns in late January

Foothills Sexual Chocolate, the Winston-Salem, North Carolina based brewery’s imperial stout, returns January 30th, 2016.

The famed imperial stout has been brewed since 2007 and contains organic Peruvian cocoa nibs.

A cocoa infused Imperial Stout. Opaque black in color with a dark brown Continue Reading →

Posted in Asheville Brewing Company, New Releases

Asheville Brewing Love Ninja kicks in January 1st

Asheville Brewing Love Ninja kicks off 2016 on January 1st.

This seasonal ninja is a porter brewed with lactose (a milk porter), plus additions of vanilla beans, strawberries, and cocoa powder from French Broad Chocolate Lounge in Asheville, North Carolina.

“The aroma is fantastic,” says Scott Stuhr, lead cellar man at Asheville Brewing Company. “This beer smells like strawberry-chocolate cake. The aroma will knock your head off.”

Asheville Brewing Love Ninja is a 22 ounce bottles offering, that follows December’s Ninjabread Man.

Style: Milk Porter (w/ Strawberries, Chocolate, Vanilla Beans)
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft
Release: 1/1/2016

5.2% ABV, 26 IBUs

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Don't Miss This, Foothills Brewing, Seasonal Return

Foothills Sexual Chocolate returns in late January

Foothills Sexual Chocolate, the Winston-Salem, North Carolina based brewery’s imperial stout, returns January 30th, 2016.

The famed imperial stout has been brewed since 2007 and contains organic Peruvian cocoa nibs.

A cocoa infused Imperial Stout. Opaque black in color with a dark brown head. Big chocolate aroma with notes of espresso, blackstrap molasses, dark sweet toffee and dark fruit. Smooth dark chocolate backbone with complex notes of coffee, dark toffee and dark fruit.

Foothills Sexual Chocolate will be available in 22 ounce bottles and draft. There will be some limited distribution.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Chocolate)
Availability: 22oz bottles, Draft
Latest Return: 1/30/16

9.75% ABV, 85 IBUs 

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Cigar City Brewing, Don't Miss This, New Releases

Cigar City Sardo Numspa, Inspired By Devil’s Food Cake [Released]

Cigar City Sardo Numspa, inspired by devil’s food cake.

The Tampa, Florida based brewery attempts to create a decadent dessert beer offering by brewing an imperial stout with hazelnuts, cacao nibs, and vanilla.

Inspired by Devil’s Food Cake, we brewed this high gravity stout with real roasted hazelnuts, two different varietals of cacao nibs, Indonesian vanilla, and rested it on cypress wood. Named in honor of the best devil from the 80’s, the deal, sweet, Sardo Numpsie.

Sardo Numpspa was Charles Dance’s character in the Eddie Murphy movie, The Golden Child. Game of Thrones fans will know Charles Dance as Tywin Lanister.

Cigar City Sardo Numspa is 22 ounce offering. On sale in the brewery’s tap room as on December 23rd.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Hazelnuts, Cacao Nibs, Vanilla Beans. Aged on Cypress)
Availability: 22oz Bottles, Draft.
Release: 12/23/15

?? ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Seasonal Return, Speakeasy Ales & Lagers

Speakeasy Black Hand Chocolate Milk Stout returns in January

Speakeasy Black Hand Chocolate Milk Stout, a collaboration TCHO Chocolate, returns January 9, 2016.

Brad Kintzer, Head Chocolatier at TCHO recommended Speakeasy use a special blend of Ecuadorian cacao nibs, which will give the beer not only rich chocolately favors, but a nutty note too. Black Hand is full of milk chocolate flavors, start to finish.

lack Hand pours a rich dark brown with a milky coffee-colored head. Bittersweet chocolate, vanilla, and roast envelopes the nose, carried by roasted cacao nibs and chocolate malts. The aroma blends effortlessly with soft flavors of dry chocolate and darkly roasted malts. The addition of milk sugar provides a silky smooth body, with a subtle natural sweetness of cream.

In keeping with the brewery’s theme, “Black Hand” refers to a Pre-Prohibition practice where mobsters would stamp the kidnap victims name on a ransom note. Speakeasy Black Hand Chocolate Milk Stout will be available in 22oz bottles and draft.

Style: Milk Stout (w/ Chocolate)
Availability: 22oz bombers
Latest Return: 1/9/2016

6.9% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Coastal Empire Brewing Co, New Beers

Coastal Empire Midnight in the Garden

Coastal Empire Midnight in the Garden

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Dogfish Head, Don't Miss This, New Releases

Spotlight: Dogfish Head Higher Math, celebrating 20 years

Dogfish Head (Milton, DE) celebrates 20 years of brewing this year. They are celebrating off-centered, and accordingly. Dogfish Head Higher Math has arrived.

The base beer is a golden ale, fermented with cherries on cocoa nibs, finishing at a bold 17% alcohol by volume. (Our initial post mentioned it was going for 20%.) Still one of the strongest beer in the the brewery’s history.

Due to it’s high ABV, that eliminates a small list of states that Dogfish Head currently distributes to from getting the the anniversary offering. Good rule of thumb for figuring this out – if you don’t currently receive Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA, then you won’t see Dogfish Head Higher Math on your shelves.

Tasting this bold beer, the alcohol is present, along with the sour cherry juice. It is deceptively sweet which makes it easy to down 12 ounces of 17% beer. Share it, or wear a helmet when consuming.

Dogfish Head Higher Math in on shelves now in 12 ounce bottles. Happy 20th Dogfish Head. Can’t wait for 20 more years of what you put in our glasses.

Style: American Strong Ale (w/ Cherries, Cocoa Nibs)
Availability:
Release: October, 2015

20% ABV

Below, pics of the test batches from Summer, 2015. 

Dogfish Head Higher Math Test Batch

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Don't Miss This, New Releases, Wicked Weed Brewing Co

Wicked Weed Incorangeible, a Chocolate Orange IPA [RELEASED]

Wicked Weed Incorangeible, a chocolate orange IPA, is now available from the Asheville, North Carolina brewery.

Wicked Weed Incorangeible is brewed with cacao nibs and orange zest. (Plus a barrage of citrusy hops.)

Lack of reform is responsible for some of our most memorable brews. Featuring bright aromas or orange zest, round notes of chocolate, and juicy flavors or citrus hop notes, Incorangeble is a non-conformist’s IPA. Hold your ground and raise your glass to the unapologetic.

Wicked Weed Incorangeible is a 16.9 ounce bottle offering. On sale at the brewpub starting November 17th. Limited distribution soon.

Style: IPA (w/ Cacao Nibs, Orange Zest.)
Availability: 16.9oz Bottles
Release: 11/17/15

7.5% ABV

by Reid Ramsay