Beer Me: Chocolate & Monkey

Two really tasty brews for you this week. Our regular beer guy wasn't there for last Friday's tasting but he left some delicious choices in his absence.

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 This is the 72 Imperial Chocolate Cream Stout from (who else?) Breckenridge Brewery. I took a crappy picture of it in the little plastic cup but am not posting it. Believe me when I tell you that it's dark.

From the Site: "Brewed with chocolate from Colorado's very own Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc., this Imperial Chocolate Cream Stout is full of rich, toasted chocolate notes with hints of dark fruit. 72 Imperial will take you where you need to go. Just sit back and enjoy the ride."

Good gracious this was delicious. Smooth and dark and heavy on the chocolate. Only 11 IBU's (bitterness units), 7.2% ABV. At $9.99 for a 4-pack, it's worth every penny. 

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This is White Monkey from Victory Brewing Co. out of Pennsylvania. Sorry I forgot to take a picture of the bottle on this one and they don't have it on their site.

From the site: "Since his birth in 1997, our beloved Golden Monkey has remained playfully delightful and profoundly satisfying. His soul continues to glow with the wisdom of ages and inspired our own stroke of genius. Restless from his continuous journey to joy, we felt that some quiet time in American oak barrels that once matured white wine would further soothe this ale’s silken soul. After his three-month retreat, Golden Monkey emerged refreshed and invigorated with new character and flavor nuances that only make him more profound, and possibly even more playful."

Beer aged in wine barrels? Count me in!! At 9.5% ABV it only comes in the 750 mL bottles (I think) and I can't remember how much they were but it would be worth it. The oak wasn't overpowering and the coriander came through really nicely. If you can't find White Monkey, Golden Monkey is also really good.