Hotel Chocolat Dark Cocoa Beer
Brewshed

 

Pours semi opaque, dark brown - almost black - into a tulip glass, red halo. Active carbonation; small tan head fades to surface froth after a short minute. Lacing is non-existant.

Aroma doesn't at all reflect the label of the beer and is very mild; dry brown malts, blackjack, toffee and tobacco at a stretch. I'm not put off though, some of the nicest dark ales I've had had next to no nose.

I'll be honest, had someone never told me this was a cocoa ale I'd might not have picked it up; not necessarily a bad thing as - on first impressions - this is still a nice rounded porter with treacle malts, roasted coffee beans, black and red licorice, cola, leather and tobacco ash on the back end. No real indication of chocolate except something of a whisper on the tip of the tongue; akin to baker's chocolate. I've never been around cocoa husks so I don't really recognise the flavour, but something along those lines is definitely coming through, however fleeting. It is a roaster yet sweet, malty, a tad bitter, slightly smoky and something you want to swill round your mouth as the depths of this beer reveal itself. Really nice flavour, and no complaints from me.

It feels moderately full bodied, with some carbonation - not too much - and a creaminess despite everything preceding. It fills out well regardless of lack of true punching flavour. It cascades around the mouth revealing hidden layers, yet keeping its balance and never truly deciding on anything particular.

Overall; I'm really content with this ale; pleasantly robust, easy to drink, sessionable, and a ticker of every box for a well brewed porter. I realise this is made with the cocoa husks, not the real deal so lack of chocolate flavour is understandable, but I'm still enjoying it and I can't really find anything wrong with it which tells me I've found something I could return to.