Shotgun Wedding (Chocolate)
Country Boy Brewing

 

 

 

 

 

If the Shotgun Wedding was born from the womb of Brown-Chicken-Brown-Cow (with all of its vanilla-soaked goodness, then this chocolate-inated version should show further advancement on the brown ale that keeps building upon itself.

With its cask ale-like pour, the beer pours the solid brown color that gives the style its name. Lightly hazed, the beer releases a creamy, troubled head that forms in patient and effortless fashion, but falls apart shortly into the second part of the glass. Alas, the beer shows minimal retention or lace, but the authentic additions of both chocolate and vanilla impede much of its formation and steadfastness.

Earthy vanilla and robust chocolate both bounce off each other as the aromas rises to greet the nose. Complementary nuts, toffee, and toast fill in the blanks while sweeter scents give a sense of after dinner desserts.

Its straight forward aromas carry over to taste as the toffee malt underpinnings layer on top the added elements of obvious chocolate and vanilla. But then other malt flavors of walnut, pepper and toast rise and give the beer an almost-cola taste. Its lush taste favors the malt-mouths over that of hop heads and satisfy the taste buds in dessert-like form.

Medium bodied from note to finish, the vanilla and chocolate press against the tongue weightily- assisted by the low-lying carbonation. The malt creaminess is easily disguised by the residual sweetness, cream and cocoa. Low carbonation ensures a silky smooth middle palate while alcohol warmth signals closure with minimal hop bitterness.

The piling on of chocolate to the vanilla and other malt sweetnesses starts to weigh on the beer's drinkability and gives it a lumbering effect on the palate. But its absolute succulent nature is not to be denied either.