Chocolate Indulgence (Alcohol content: 7 percent)Brewery Ommegang

Three mugs out of four

For the 10th anniversary of its founding in October, Brewery Ommegang introduced its new seasonal chocolate stout, ‘Chocolate Indulgence.’ Ommegang touts the brew – packaged in a one pint, nine ounce bottle with a cork – for being made with real Belgian chocolate. Chocolate, when used as a featured ingredient, can make a beer’s flavor overwhelming and its texture pasty. Ommegang keeps the cocoa in control, producing a fine stout with a complex bouquet and a continually changing flavor.

Chocolate mousse and raspberries stand out as the most dominant aromas. The raspberry aroma is atypical of a stout, which normally smells more like chocolate or coffee. However, Ommegang uses a special strand of Belgian yeast, which introduces the fruity note to a typically straight-forward brew. The brew’s general aroma lacks the alcoholic tinge that sometimes comes with high-alcohol beers.

The beer pours a solid black with two full fingers of dark oatmeal head on top. Chocolate Indulgence’s foam is a bit bubbly. It lacks the solid appearance of a Guinness head, but it’s still an admirable and enjoyable sight.

The taste of Chocolate Indulgence starts with dessert flavors – black coffee and creamy peanut butter. Midway through, it evolves into a very smoky, almost meaty flavor. The beer likely pairs well with steak for a meal, or works just fine on its own as an after-dinner treat.

Unlike many chocolate stouts, Chocolate Indulgence can be tolerated for more than one glass. The heft and alcohol content of the beer style generally discourage drinkers from having more than a pint. However, Ommegang’s variation is lighter than usual, leaving more room in the stomach for another glass or two.

Hobgoblin English Ale (Alcohol content: 5.2 percent)Wychwood Brewery

Three mugs out of four

A unique marmalade smell and ruby red color make it seem similar to Smithwick’s and Killian’s Irish red ales.

Julius Echter Hefe-Weiss Dunkel (Alcohol content: 4.9 percent)Wurzburger Hofbrau Brewery

Four mugs out of four

The incredibly complex flavor – typical of Dunkels – ranges from sweet potatoes to dark chocolate to honey.

Okocim Mocne (Alcohol content: 8.1 percent)Okocim Brewery

Two and a half mugs out of four

High alcohol content is masked well by bitter dark chocolate and espresso flavors.

Published on October 31, 2007 at 12:00 pm