Southern Tier Brewing Co.
Available: NY, PA, OH, NJ, MA, RI, CT, MD, VA, MI, IL, WI, ON (Canada)
The Popal Vuh, the sacred book of the Maya describes the mystery of xocoatl which was popularized in Europe at the court of Louis XIV. Now it is an ingredient in beer.
ABV: 11
ABW: 8.76
Color: black
Bitterness: 91
Original Gravity: 1108
Big, bold, black and beautiful robe topped by a frothy head, noble as the finest cup of European cocoa. Gigantic nose of roasted earthy malt, aromatic coffee and sensual high cocoa-content chocolate. Full flavors play on the senses, coating the tongue like a crunchy hazelnut robed in chocolate: strong and stimulating, yet refined. Lovely, lingering cocoa aftertaste. Superb with a variety of dishes, from soup to nuts. Try a vertical tasting of 50, 60 and 70% cocoa bars with Chokolat.
In a word, chocolate. Chocolate aromas blossom from the moment the cap is popped, an oven-warm chocolate cake covered with Belgian chocolate icing. Drink it from a goblet and when you’re done the glass will still smell of chocolate. Smooth and luscious across the tongue; just enough roast and bittersweet cocoa keep it from becoming cloying. Burns a bit (11% alcohol showing) in the back of the throat. It seems to be a Southern Tier trademark to deliver flavor with singular clarity. In this case the flavor is chocolate.
Founder of Merchant du Vin and the Pike Brewing Co., Charles Finkel is a pioneer in the marketing of craft beers in America.
Editor at Realbeer.com, a professional journalist for 40 years and amateur brewer for 15, Hieronymus is the author of four beer books, including Brew Like a Monk.
