Chocolate Indulgence by Ommegange brewery (7% abv)..."Belgian-Style Chocolate Stout"
This is a beer I've been wanting to try for a long time. Well, it first came out in 2007 as a 10th anniversary special brew, so it hasn't been that long. Ommegang is an interesting brewery. Based in Cooperstown, NY, it brews Belgian-style ales exclusively. This beer was part of a gift pack that included 2 of their other beers, as well as a spiffy glass (not pictured). Speaking of glasses, this should probably be poured into a chalice, but mine are in storage, I think - so forgive my pint glass.
On to the beer: It's black. Deep black. Yet somehow it still looks brown to me. The head on this thing is huge, pillowy. It's subsided quite a bit, now that I'm halfway through the glass, but the lacing is impressive.
I took a big whiff..."this smells like something...but what?" "Dark beer," was Cari's answer. There's a little bit of cocoa, roasted malt, some fruity Belgian yeast. The taste is a punch of melanoidins (burnt toast?), but velvety texture. Where's the chocolate? Oh, there it is - hiding in the back, a nice cocoa aftertaste. Taking a sip is like riding a wave of toasty to sweet, bitter to chocolate.
While completely enjoyable, this beer didn't really deliver on the promise of a chocolate "indulgence". I can't help but compare it to something like Young's Double Chocolate Stout ("holy crap, this is liquid dessert!") - and it comes up short. Maybe it's just the marketing.
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