This weekend I ventured away from the world of hops and went back to deep dark world of stouts.  This was an easy venture when I saw that one of my favorite brewers made a chocolate stout.  Beer and Chocolate…really?  Should be like macaroni and cheese and peanut butter and jelly! Well to be honest, I have had other chocolate stouts and found them to be kind of harsh when it comes to the flavor.  Think, bad chocolate syrup poured into a beer.  Rogue Chocolate Stout was no such mess!

 

Rogue did it again.  In case you are not familiar with the Rogue family of beer they make the well known and fabulous Dead Guy Ale and for more the more adventurous hop heads, the Brutal IPA.  Well this beer did not disappoint either.  It was DARK, so very DARK. It was dark and very smooth.  This is a great combination. You could easily taste the chocolate, but it was nicely mixed in with the slight flavor of hops.  It was nowhere near the flavor of a traditional stout.  This was an easy beer to drink! (Funny huh?)  I think the chocolate smell will entice most of the anti-Stout critics.  I want to say that it smelled like Milk Chocolate. I know some of our regular readers who are chocolate freaks will run out to get this beer!

I found this beer at the ABC in Suntree.  It came in a 22 ounce bomber.  I did not see it sold as a six pack.  The Rogue website says that pairs well with beef.  Coincidently, we were doing steaks while we drank this beer, so it worked out well.  I had a few strange looks when I brought this beer out on a hot day, but the flavor of the beer saved me.

Here are the numbers for you techie beer folks:
6% alcohol by volume
69 I.B.U’s

Interesting note to impress your friends with…This beer was originally released in Japan.  It had its American debut on February 14, 2001 – Valentine’s Day!  How appropriate!  I think next Valentine’s Day Shannon may see some Chocolate Rogue Stout!

Cheers!

Dan