10 of the best beers for chocolate lovers

US brewers and drinks experts have composed a list of ‘The best beers for chocolate lovers’ to help unite chocoholics with the perfect brews.

The selection, created by culture site Uproxx, has drawn upon a raft of voices in the US beer industry to give a snapshot of which beers would appeal to those who really like chocolate. Here are the selections and each of the experts who contributed to the listing along with a little information that was provided about each beer.

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Lindemans Framboise

ABV: 2.5%

Lindemans Brewery’s Framboise, a lambic beer with macerated raspberries is great to drink while nibbling on dark chocolate due to its contrasting flavours. Lindemans is located in Belgium and has been brewing lambics since 1822. Framboise is said to be strongly effervescent and tart with its characteristic aroma of raspberries with a touch of sweetness. Typically, lambics are a blend of one, two and three-year-old lambics into a cuvée, but Framboise is younger, tending to be just a year old.

Price: US$11 for a 75ml bottle.
Chosen by: Adam Lukey, head brewer at Eventide Brewing in Atlanta.

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Bell’s Cherry Stout

ABV: 7%

Bell’s Cherry Stout. This malty, complex stout is known for its mix of roasted malt and dark chocolate flavours as well as sweet, tart cherry from the addition of Montmorency cherries locally sourced for nearby Traverse City. When paired with dark chocolate, its prominent cherry notes explode and are said to enhance the overall tasting experience.

Price: US$16 for a six-pack.
Chosen by: Chad Henderson, head brewer and co-owner at NoDa Brewing Company in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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Yuengling Hershey’s Chocolate Porter

ABV: 4.7%

What happens when a 100-year-old brewery brews a porter with Hershey’s chocolate syrup, cocoa powder, and cocoa nibs? A beer that is everything a chocolate fan could want. Featuring chocolate milk flavours and a light-dark roast character. It’s chocolate through and through.

Price: US$11 for a six-pack
Chosen by: Shaun O’Sullivan, co-founder and brew master at 21st Amendment Brewing in San Francisco.

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Samuel Smith’s Organic Chocolate Stout

ABV: 5%

A beer that is a true delight for chocolate lovers due to it being a rich and velvety stout that beautifully incorporates all of the flavours of chocolate. The brewery uses high-quality cocoa in the brew, and the chocolate notes purportedly have a rather have a deep, bittersweet quality that complements the beer’s roasted malt character.

Price: US$11 for a four-pack.
Chosen by: Michael Ng, USBG bartender at Behind The Glass Bartending in Los Angeles.

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Swiftwater Muncheez Truck

ABV: 9.3%

This bold, complex stout was named after a food truck that was often parked across the street from the brewery. It’s an imperial stout with coconut, cocoa nibs, and peanut butter and is said to be super smooth and completely balanced with notes of chocolate and roasted malts in the finish.

Price: Limited availability.
Chosen by: Dean Jones, brewmaster at the Genesee Brew House in Rochester, New York.

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Monk’s Cafe Sour Flemish Ale

ABV: 5.5%

It’s brewed in Belgium for Philly’s premier beer bar and is the perfect complement to your favourite chocolate. For the same reasons that a rich dark chocolate can be wonderfully paired with a robust red wine, the sweet, tart, and fruity character of this Flemish red ale is a perfect match for a super dark chocolate. The beer is medium-bodied with notes of dry fruit. The sweetness and acidity a perfectly balanced. It’s also said to be very food-friendly.

Price: US$17 for a four-pack.
Chosen by: George Hummel, grain master at My Local Brew works in Philadelphia.

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Navigation Black Pepper Porter

ABV: 6%

This is a porter brewed and fermented with black peppercorns. It’s slightly spicy and has some bitterness on the finish which pairs nicely with the nutty, chocolate notes. It’s a highly memorable beer

Price: Limited availability.
Chosen by: Matthew Steinberg, co-founder and head brewer at Exhibit A Brewing in Framingham, Massachusetts.

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3 Sheeps Paid Time Off

ABV: 10%

Paid Time Off by 3 Sheeps Brewing is a liquid candy bar. It balances fresh coconut flavours with chocolate milk and roasted walnuts, but also restrains its sweetness just enough that it doesn’t feel like you ate a bag of sweets. The beer has subtle notes of molasses playing throughout, and the finish is creamy and chocolaty. If you love chocolate, you’ll love the complexity of this beer.

Price: Limited availability.
Chosen by: Garth Beyer, certified Cicerone and owner of Garth’s Brew Bar in Madison, Wisconsin.

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Foothills Sexual Chocolate

ABV: 9.6%

This beer is truly top-notch for a chocolate lover who also loves a good stout. A yearly release, the decadent chocolate meets notes of espresso, toffee, and a touch of dark fruit. It’s an indulgent beer for the biggest chocolate fans.

Price: Limited availability.
Chosen by: Drayton Lewis, USBG bartender at Hellbender Bed & Beverage in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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PFriem Mexican Chocolate Stout

ABV: 8.1%

PFriem Mexican Chocolate Stout has been crafted to taste like a spicy, warming Mexican hot chocolate, it’s brewed with Chinook hops as well as a handful of specialty malts, and American ale yeast. It gets its unique flavour profile from the addition of vanilla beans, cinnamon, nutmeg, liquid cacao, lactose, and Pasilla peppers.

Price: US$13 for a 375ml bottle.
Chosen by: Travis Sprague, USBG bartender at Reunion Wine and Bar in Spring Hill, Tennessee.

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