PHOTO by ROSHEILA ROBLES

This would be a challenge: a rich, dark ale made with real dark chocolate—on the palate of a Hefeweizen girl who hates chocolate. Okay, so maybe “hates” is a bit strong: I have, on occasion, been known to desire chocolate covered macadamia nuts; but I am by no means a chocolate-lover. Stout isn’t a close friend, either—much too heavy. So, it was with slight trepidation that I popped the cap off this pint-sized bottle of beer. But a sniff around the mouth of the bottle revealed a complex chocolate scent—chocolate-dipped strawberries was the first thing to come to mind—and the initial swig only deepened my appreciation: not too sweet (I’d feared a mouth full of Toll House) and not overly heavy, either. Instead, the soft bitterness of the ale punches through the chocolate at just the right moment, resulting in a remarkably delicious (and drinkable) beer that rivals framboise wine as the ultimate after-dinner treat. If I had a plate of strawberries with me, this would be perfection. Instead, I’ll just be content to drink my dessert.

AVAILABLE AT TRADER JOE’S 6451 E PACIFIC COAST HWY | LONG BEACH 90803 | 562.596.4388

Tags: beer, chocolate, trader joe's