When it comes to the winter months, I enjoy the heartier, more robust beers to keep me warm from the inside out. While at The Scotland Yard Pub, I was looking for just that type of beer and found Brooklyn Brewery's Black Chocolate Stout my new winter warmer. Unfortunately, there isn't chocolate in the beer, as the name may make you think, while it refers to the specially toasted malt used in brewing the beer that mimics the taste of chocolate. Brooklyn Brewery's Black Chocolate Stout is a medium bodied, dark Imperial Stout brewed in Brooklyn, NY. What makes Brooklyn Brewery special is that it can be considered local because it contract brews (gets assistance with) its larger brand name beers at F.X. Matt Brewing Company in Utica, NY, home of Saranac Beer, because Brooklyn Brewery isn't equipt to handle the volumn and demand. Getting away from the technical jargen, you may ask yourself, 'what is an Imperial Stout?' If you enjoy stouts, think of it as a stout but with a huge kick...of alcohol that is. Typically, Imperial Stouts can have an alcohol content of 9 - 11%, with most ales and lagers are 4-5%, with Brooklyn Brewery's Black Chocolate Stout fitting in at 10% . Dont' let the high alcohol content make you think that the alcohol alone will over-power the beer because it was brewed to be well balanced with its smooth, malty finish. This type of beer needs to be appreciated slowly, perfect while cherishing the holidays.
That's brew to me...What's Brew To You?
