A beer for St. Valentine.
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With Valentine’s Day around the corner, I felt it would be appropriate to write a little about beers for the occasion. Typically, you might think wine is a more romantic beverage, but there are some pretty amazing beers out there that can help set the romantic mood, as well.
Consider chocolate for a moment. Traditionally known as an aphrodisiac and as a traditional gift to give on Valentine’s Day, it is also a handy ingredient in several remarkable beers. Here is a quick rundown of several great beers which use chocolate as a featured ingredient:
Young’s Double Chocolate Stout – 5.2% ABV – A perennial favorite among chocolate fans, this beer is probably the best-known example of a great chocolate ale. When served only slightly chilled, this beer’s aroma is full of rich cocoa and sweet hints of milk chocolate. You may also detect a little coconut in the aroma. The flavor is dark chocolate and mocha coffee with a little bit of vanilla and oats. A nearly perfect dessert beer. If you’re having chocolate, tiramisu, or even a raspberry tart for dessert, this beer will go nicely with it.
Rogue Chocolate Stout – 6.3% ABV – This beer has a sweet chocolate aroma, but the flavor leans more towards the roasted stout flavors than the cocoa flavors found in some other chocolate stouts. The chocolate is definitely present in this beer, but they are a lot more subtle than in it’s big brother, Rogue Double Chocolate Stout.
Rogue Double Chocolate Stout – 8.7% ABV – OK, tell me you saw that coming. I mention the big brother, and then I have to talk about him, right? Right. This beer is the much bigger brother to the Rogue Chocolate Stout. Bigger in alcohol, bigger in flavor, and bigger in chocolate. The aroma has a lot of chocolate, but also some roasted marshmallow. Flavor is chocolate, cocoa, and more chocolate. It has a very creamy, full body and delicious finish.
Southern Tier Choklat – 11% ABV – Easily one of the best chocolate beers on the market. Southern Tier has a way with making amazingly bold flavors come through in their beer. This is no exception. It’s rich and bold all the way from the aroma to the finish, and the ABV isn’t messing around at 11% ABV, either. The alcohol doesn’t show in the flavor too much, though, which is pretty amazing. This beer is definitely one for sharing, as it is one strong ale.
In addition to chocolate beers, you may be in the market for something with a little fruit with it. Here are some top-notch suggestions along that front:
Perennial Artisan Ales Strawberry Rhubarb Tart – 5% ABV – It’s definitely an unusual beer, but in an excellent way. Perennial is quickly developing a reputation for unapologetically making beers for beer geeks. This beer won’t be for everybody, but you should give it a try. It pours a hazy golden color and has a brilliant aroma of strawberry with a little bit of coriander and bread. The flavor is delicately sweet, with bread and yeast notes which are balanced by the strawberry. Overall, a light, refreshing beer.
Lindeman’s Framboise – 2.5% ABV – Raspberries, raspberries, raspberries. Oh, and bubbles. Lots of bubbles. That’s about what you need to know. Also, they also make one in cherry (Kriek), Apple (Pomme), Peach (Peche), and Black Currants (Cassis). These beers are all very powerfully flavored, but they definitely have their place. If you find them to be a bit too much for you, mix them with a good Saison or your favorite wheat beer. Doing this will impress your date.
Thomas Creek Banana Split Chocolate Stout – Yeah, you read that right. Fruit AND chocolate. The chocolate and roasted barley aroma is permeated with banana notes. The flavor is a bit roasty and maybe a little smokey, nut has a lot of chocolate and banana along with caramel and coffee. It’s a bit sweet, but not too sweet, and the banana is ever-present without being overpowering. Overall, a really unique beer.
Finally, I have one last recommendation for you. It doesn’t really fit into any of the above groups, so it’s down here all alone:
Ommegang Seduction – 6.8% ABV – I’m convinced Ommegang doesn’t make a bad beer. I’ve not tried them all, but they have a great selection. This is brewed specially for Valentine’s Day, and is only available for a very limited time. It’s a Belgian-style porter full of roasty notes blended with a little bit of Liefman’s Cuvee Brut. The Cuvee Brut is a cherry sour ale (a kriekbier) which adds some great cherry and sour notes to an already delicious porter. This beer is like a chocolate-covered-cherry, but tart instead of sweet. It’s cocoa and chocolate up front with a tart cherry finish that leaves you wanting more. A brilliantly crafted beer.
If you want to try the Seduction, Strawberry Rhubarb Tart, Young’s Double Chocolate Stout, or Lindeman’s Kriek, just go by the Brown Derby Wine Center on Friday. These will be the featured beers at their complimentary tasting from 4-7 pm. While you’re there, have Eric mix the Double Chocolate Stout and Kriek for you. You’ll dig it.
Special thanks to Eric Carter at The Brown Derby International Wine Center for his help compiling this list.
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