Nantahala Brewing Company Chocolate-Covered Cherry Stout
What the brewers say
“Our Chocolate Covered Cherry Stout aged in bourbon barrels for more than a year. It emerged velvety with hints of oak, vanilla, tart cherry, and chocolate. A monster of a beer, best enjoyed fireside, this beverage will warm your soul and vanquish winter’s howling winds and icy breath.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Rich sweet notes of cherries make it smell like a cherry cordial. Some high dark chocolate aroma dominates the notes, with some raisin, plum, and slight vanilla presence, with a bit of toast.”
Flavor: “The notes of chocolate and cherries dominate and carry through the beer—the cherries are bright and sweet, and the chocolate is light and milky. Fruit esters (cherry, raisin, and plum) dominate the mid-palate and give a round and sweet flavor throughout. Roast is thin and light in the back, with little to no hops presence outside of the finish.”
Overall: “A very fun beer—I enjoyed the blend of cherries and chocolate, and as it warmed, it tasted like chocolate- covered cherries. It’s a great sweet and chewy stout with fruity esters to balance the roast. Would love an imperial version, with boosted flavors.”
