Beer: Choklat
Brewer: Southern Tier Brewing Company
Style: American Double/Imperial Stout
ABV: 10.00%
Description:
Southern Tier’s Choklat pours the blackest of black with a tan head
that does not hang around too long, but leaves a nice lacing on the
glass. The aroma can be summarized with one word: chocolate. The taste
backs up the nose completely and is dominated by chocolate. There is a
perfect balance within the chocolate, though, so that it does not become
too bittersweet and instead manages to be extremely smooth and
easy-drinking. The body is full, extremely smooth, and also manages to
hide the 10 percent ABV. A word of warning: this is definitely a sipper!
Southern Tier Choklat is certainly as deep, rich, and decadent as any
box of chocolate.
Food pairing: Upon your
first whiff of this beer, let alone sip, it is quite obvious that this
is one heavy-hitting dessert brew! Choklat is a beer that you really
should hang onto until the final course and crack open to share with the
heaviest and creamiest of sweets, as it certainly has enough heft to
hold up to all of them. If you are looking for a simple yet elegant
pairing, try having Choklat with fresh cannolis. The fresher and
creamier the better, as the mascarpone cheese adds another layer of
flavor and body to the beer while the beer seamlessly blends into the
cheese and leaves the palate refreshed and ready for more. Also try
pairing this with rich and creamy strawberry shortcake – the heavier the
cream the better. However, if you are looking for a straightforward
pairing, here’s what to do: get a pint of your favorite organic vanilla
bean ice cream and put one scoop into a glass of Choklat. That’s it, and
you can thank me later!
The final word:
Southern Tier’s Choklat truly is a beer that has something for everyone.
It is smooth and heavy enough on the chocolate that even the casual
beer drinker could sit and sip this one for hours, but it is also very
rich and complex and leaves the craft beer enthusiast satisfied. The
incredibly smooth characteristic of this beer is what makes it so highly
drinkable, not to mention the over-the-top chocolate goodness! Southern
Tier has really carved out a niche for themselves by not only creating
imperial versions of many beers but, more importantly, creating imperial
versions that are phenomenal. Choklat is a fantastic stout to have on
hand this Valentine’s Day, but is also just a great stout to have on
hand any time of the year.
Rating:
Where can I get it?
Currently available in 22 oz. bottles at: J & H Beer- Wilkes-Barre, PA;
Backyard Ale House- Scranton, PA; Wegmans- Wilkes-Barre, PA; Exit 190 Beer
Deli- Dickson City, PA; and Arena Bar and Grill- Wilkes-Barre, PA. Available on
draft at Backyard Ale House- Scranton, PA.
