Beer and chocolate? They aren’t two items normally mentioned in the same sentence. But what many do not realize is that the flavor of chocolate is highly complementary to the flavors present in beer, and I’m not referring exclusively to chocolate- accented beer. The truth is that many different beers match up quite nicely with chocolate and our friends at Boston Beer Company, makers of the Samuel Adams line of beer, have teamed up with a chocolate maker to show consumers just how tasty these two items can be.
The selected chocolate is TCHO, a San Francisco- based craft chocolate maker. With TCHO, Boston Beer Company introduces the Samuel Adams Beer Lover’s Chocolate Box. Working closely with TCHO, Boston Beer has selected specific chocolates that pair up with different products from the Samuel Adams Winter Classics Variety Pack. This sampler pack includes two bottles each of Samuel Adams Winter Lager, Old Fezziwig Ale, White Christmas Ale, Holiday Porter, Chocolate Bock, and Boston Lager. Each of the six beers has a complimentary chocolate to match. Just open the box of chocolates, find the recommended pairing, and indulge.
Matching chocolate and beer isn’t widely practiced, but the flavors blend together well for many reasons. The malty, sweet character of beer matches up very well with the rich, sweet taste of fine chocolate. With each sip of beer, the carbonation helps to cleanse the palate of the chocolate’s finish, thereby preparing it for another round. And, as stated before, the beer doesn’t need to have chocolate flavors or chocolate character present. Even beer without any chocolate taste still matches up well with the flavors of gourmet chocolate.
Most people think of beer as a beverage to drink with pizza, burgers, and cheese, but as Samuel Adams has proven over and over again, beer can be paired with a multitude of foods from appetizers to desserts and beyond. The Samuel Adams Beer Lover’s Chocolate Box brings together two great tastes and it makes a great holiday gift. It is only available for a limited time, however, and must be purchased through the THCO.com/SamuelAdams web link or at the Samuel Adams Boston Brewery Gift Shop. The Samuel Adams Winter Classics Variety pack is available nationwide at most stores that already carry Samuel Adams beer.
Logon to the TCHO.com site, buy a box of chocolates, and try out the recommended pairings. You will be pleasantly surprised at how delicious beer and chocolate can be.
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