ChocoPom
Founders Brewing Company

One of the beers I had sampled at Founders. This is a chocolate pomegranate brew that was labeled as a "pilot brew" at the brewery. As it turns out, I barely got in to try it, because they took it off their list by the time I got home and looked at their tap list again. Thank God I got a chance to have it.

When I saw this on the menu, I was thinking it would be a stout, since it kind of makes sense that it would be a stout... truth is, I have no idea what style it would be. The waitress said it was "kind of a pale ale, but not really", but I don't think it's a pale ale at all, so I just went with brown ale. I suppose fruit beer could work too?

Appearance: A pomegranate sort of color, appropriately enough. In my sample glass, only a small ring of bubbles on the side of the glass. Slightly hazy.

Smell: ... ... Chocolate and pomegranate. No use trying to describe something else that isn't there.

Taste: ... ... Chocolate and pomegranate again. Really quite sweet, just short of being cloying. A nice tart/sour sort of character makes this beer really tasty. Malts and chocolate on the finish make this taste like a liquified pomegranate Tootsie Pop. Feel is bordering syrupy, but right when it gets there, it goes away and doesn't quite become cloying, though it is definitely a sweet beer -- a good one for dessert, for sure. Alcohol not at all noticeable.

Whenever I thought it was about to be too sweet, the tartness kicked in. Or the chocolate. There aren't many depths of flavor, but just enough to keep this beer from getting boring, and keeping it delicious. I hope this isn't a one-off, and don't think it will be... not when it tastes this good and different.

 

Reviewed from notes. Sample pour.

As mentioned, pilot-brew that was likely an R&D one-off. On tap for an extremely short amount of time.

A-Nice color profile. Not very dark, maybe a wheat...maybe a pale...don't think it was a brown ale. Taste didn't quite fit what was suggested below. Was brown in color but had a cherry hue built in.

S-You get chocolate and pomegranate forward.

T-Nice chocolate and pomegranate combo that isn't overwhelming and surprisingly enjoyable. It tastes much like chocolate chip pancakes with fresh fruit. Chocolate is more on the milk side and doesn't impart bitterness like you'd expect from stouts and porters.

M-A bit sweet at points. Not sure if I could choke down a whole pint.

O-Enjoyed this and hope they toy a little bit with the idea.