One of the brightest stars in a city filled with culinary treasures, Christopher Elbow has been handcrafting masterpieces in chocolate for more than fifteen years. In that time, the reputation of his artistic delicacies has spread around the globe. Elbow’s sweets are distinguished by their use of unusual and sometimes surprising flavors and ingredients. In that adventurous spirit, we joined forces to bring you a very special Chocolate Ale.

Full of surprises, this distinctive copper-colored ale returns from a three-year hiatus. Medium bodied and effervescent, the aroma evokes dried fruits, earth and cocoa, with just a hint of spicy hops. Mouthwatering flavors of Valrhona chocolate from Dominican cacao nibs weave seamlessly between layers of honey, brown sugar, caramel and nutty malt, deftly harmonizing and rounding into a luscious, lingering finish.

Process Notes
Malt – pale malt, caracrystal wheat, golden naked oats
Hops – Topaz
Yeast – Scottish ale
Aging – Following primary fermentation, Chocolate Ale rested on 4 lbs/bbl of crushed cacao nibs and received additions of all-natural chocolate and vanilla extracts.

Flavor Profile
Aroma – Deep, rich cocoa accented by honey and caramel malt notes
Malt – Supporting flavors of toffee and caramel with a slight sweetness
Hops – Balancing
Balance – Chocolate/malt
Body – Medium

Characteristics
Alcohol by Volume – 8.7%
IBUs – 24
Color – 40 EBC

Food Pairings
Ginger cookies, fresh berry crème brulee, fried plaintains, smoked gouda, creamy brie and in the words of Christopher Elbow, “a glass”

Chocolate Ale returns starting in the Greater Kansas City Area on Monday, January 21st in four-packs of 12oz bottles and on draft. Chocolate Ale will be available nationwide in the coming days. Please note that we will be unable to confirm when Chocolate Ale has arrived at your favorite bottle shop, bar or restaurant. Your best bet is to call your local spots to ask if/when they’ll receive shipments of Chocolate Ale.

Chocolate Ale will be available in four-packs of 12oz bottles and on draft in the Boulevard Tours & Rec Center when we open at 11am on Monday, January 21st. We'll update this post once we've sold through our allocation.

- Jeremy Danner, Ambassador Brewer