Beer:
Imperial Smells Like Bean Spirit – Hot Chocolate ABV: 11%
Beer Style/Description:
Breakfast Stout w/maple syrup, Tugboat Sumatra coffee, cocoa powder, cocoa nibs, and marshmallow
Brewery:
Mikerphone Brewing – Elk Grove Village, IL
Container:
Crowler
Imperial Smells Like Bean Spirit is Mikerphone Brewery’s signature stout series, and it has driven this brewery into the national spotlight with breweries nationwide joining their annual Smells Like a Beer Fest event.
https://www.facebook.com/events/s/sold-out-smells-like-a-beer-fe/629977484215168/
I have had their original, barrel-aged, maple bacon, pumpkin spice, hazelnut, and the list goes on of their creative variants. This week I tried one of their latest options Hot Chocolate. My first impression of this breakfast stout was that it stayed true to the original version with a punch of coffee upfront, and then I got a touch of chocolate flavor and sweetness. However, after thinking about how it relates to hot chocolate, I felt the name defined the ingredients more than the character of this variant. In my opinion, it is way closer to a mocha flavor, but overall it was a great breakfast stout that met expectations on execution and quality.
Rating:
With the NFL Draft coming soon, my draft prospect comparison is Thaddeus Moss, TE, LSU. This beer has the name recognition and is a reliable drinking option, but overall it is a mid-round pick.
About me:
I live in the suburbs of Chicago, and my hobbies include fantasy sports and drinking beer. I believe that both these hobbies are similar in the regards that both involve research, preferences, and the occasional luck of finding a diamond in the rough. I set the goal each year of trying 300 new beers, and I currently have been successful for the last three years. I hope this exploration into beer will provide you some insights and some good beer recommendations.
Feel free to reach out to me via Twitter @JordHendler