Choklat Oranj
Southern Tier Brewing Company

$8.99 bomber. I don't see a bottling date, but to my knowledge, this was bottled pretty recently. I really enjoyed Choklat, so I thought this one would be good -- possibly better.

Appearance: Opaque black with only a slight ruby tinge at the bottom of the glass. No head to speak of, even with an aggressive pour -- all that's there is a modest ring of khaki colored head, and very little lacing.

Smell: Pretty luxurious nose. This has that rich, milk chocolate aroma that Choklat has, with a trace of candied orange peel as well to accent that and make it smell even a little bit better. Really smells a lot like you'd expect: like Choklat with orange.

Taste/feel: I definitely taste the orange. I've heard some people say they're disappointed in this beer because they don't really taste it, but I get it. While Choklat is in a way like drinking alcoholic chocolate milk, Choklat Oranj is quite a bit different, to my surprise. The beer hits the tongue with a very tart orange peel bitterness (label says it's orange peel in this beer, not full oranges, which makes sense now) before bringing in the trademark Choklat flavors. Choklat Oranj also happens to finish with a slight burned or smokey roast quality that I don't quite remember from Choklat. This beer actually finishes somewhat bitter.

The feel of Choklat Oranj is basically what I remember Choklat being like: silky with a subtle, welcomed carbonation. Some people thought Choklat was cloying -- I didn't. And thanks to the orange peel bitterness in Choklat Oranj, I *definitely* don't think this beer is cloying. In fact, I find it surprisingly bitter. If you liked the flavor of Choklat but found it too sweet, you may like this more (if you also really like oranges).

As I sip through my glass, the orange I was getting in the aroma basically disappears, and it smells like I'm drinking Choklat or even Chocolate Manifesto from Flying Monkeys. Although I don't smell the orange after awhile, the taste of the orange peel is very apparent as it still has a sharp orange peel flavor and bitterness that continues to bitter the beer and cut through some of that sweetness.

I like Choklat Oranj. It's good. My problem with it though is that I'm not too sure it improves on the original version. Sure it adds some orange flavor and bitterness to make the base less cloying, but it doesn't work the same magic that I thought Choklat did. Choklat Oranj is a great beer, but not as outstanding as the original.

(review from July 2017) Didja ever drink a dark chocolate covered orange? Well, didja? Intensely flavorful & well balanced 10%er with a hint of orange & loads of chocolate

Black color. Nice, tan head. Coffee and milk chocolate in aroma. Flavor of chocolate and orange. Roasted bitterness at the end. Well brewed and interesting.

 

 

12oz bottle poured into a snifter
2017 vintage

A- pours a jet black color with a one-finger creamy khaki head that reduces to a ring around the edge

S- zesty orange, cream filled chocolates, cocoa nibs, vanilla, charred malt

T- zesty orange is immediately noticeable up front, before giving way to notes of milk chocolate, cocoa nibs and vanilla cream. The chocolate and orange begins to mingle mid-palate, creating a flavor that is spot on reminiscent of an orange cream chocolate, straight from the box of chocolates. The finish offers more zesty orange, as well as dark chocolate, caramel and vanilla. Lingers of roast, chocolate and orange

M- medium-heavy body with moderate carbonation leads to a creamy mouthfeel that continues into a velvety, slightly warming finish

O- creamy chocolate and orange, like a box of chocolates

 

Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a black color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is full of chocolate, a touch or oranges. Taste is also full of chocolate, lactose, a very light hint of alcohol, no orange flavors are detected. Feels creamy in the mouth and overall is a very good beer that's way to easy drinking at this abv.

 

Good as the standard for the first 4oz or so but the orange became overbearing as it warmed.

 

 

Just Great

 

Sampling a cellar temp 12 oz bottle poured into a snifter. The beer pours a dark cola brown color with dense creamy tan head of 1 cm foaming up even with a gentle pour. The foam fades very quickly to a thin edge layer.
The aroma is rich and malty with heavy roasted notes and molasses and dark chocolate. I am not really getting any of the orange scents, but they may have faded as this bottle is dated 05/18/2017.
The first sip reveals an average body with fine yet tingly carbonation. The texture is a little slick and the beer drinks pretty easy. The 10% ABV is very well hidden on this one and doesnt make it much of a sipper.
Flavor is roasted malt and dark chocolate with a bit of brown sugar. Here I do get some orange mixing in on the finish, fairly sweet, candy orange flavor. I get a good lingering roasted note after each swallow. But again , the booze is hidden here. I also have not found any hops on this beer in the flavor profile. A sweet malty brew that drinks dangerously easy.
I enjoy this one and am glad to have had a chance to sample it.

 

 

This beer pours thick and black with a small but lasting in the form of a tan ring of foam at the edge of the glass. The aroma is very inviting with nice layers of dark roasted malts and freshly zested orange peel. It's flavor is right on with the nose. There are nice waves of dark chocolate and dark sweet malt with nice level of orange zest or orange oil flavor.