On tap at Taphouse 15, dried cacao nibs and milk-powdered hazelnut reinforce syrupy dark chocolate malting as murky vanilla, malted milk ball, peanut butter, gingerbread and pistachio illusions help create unique Nutella knockoff.
TROEGS SCRATCH SERIES NO. 307 CHERRY CHOCOLATE STOUT
On tap at Taphouse 15, tart Balaton cherry juicing brings sour edge to sweet chocolate syruping, vanilla extract adjunct and oats-dried backbone, forging a sanguine Cherry Cordial warmth. Smoked mocha smidge hits mid-palate, alongside dewy tobacco roast, adding underlying acridity to sour ‘n sweet cherry pie finish.
WESTBROOK 7TH ANNIVERSARY CHOCOLATE & SEA SALT IMPERIAL STOUT
On tap at Ambulance, delightful 7th Anniversary Imperial Stout brings creamy sea-salted brown chocolate syruping to bittersweet cocoa tones and sugared oats spine. Fudged brownie, espresso, vanilla and cola illusions seep into salinized chocolate theme of robust 10% ABV full body.
NESHAMINY CREEK FRUHSTUCK STOUT
On tap at Dog & Cask, robust breakfast stout allows semi-sweet dark chocolate syruping to affect cocoa-beaned French roast coffee reserve, dissipating smoked cinnamon spicing and wood-charred hop bittering. Mild espresso, smoked molasses and carob undertones complete the score.
WET TICKET IMPERIAL OATMEAL STOUT
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead – Haledon, ‘burly’ Imperial Stout relies on dry dark chocolate bittering and casual coffee roast to reinforce walnut-seared hop char. In the recess, black cherry and black grape tartness regale bitter mocha stead.
BELL’S ARABICDABRA
On tap at Growler & Gill, serenely aromatic Arabica coffee bean roast gains mildly creamed lactic milking. Dry nut-charred espresso and cacao nibs illusions deepen persistently mellow coffee roast bittering of amiable mocha moderation. Superbly understated.
FOUNDERS CANADIAN BREAKFAST STOUT
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead – Haledon, mild coffee roast, bittersweet dark chocolate smokiness and subtle Canadian maple syruping given light cave-aged bourbon barrel influence for soothingly rich Imperial Stout. Vanilla-sugared mocha finish gains oats-dried cola, walnut and Brazil nut illusions.
DEPARTED SOLES/ 201 TON IMPERIAL PORTER
On tap at Plank Pizza, worthy collaboration uniting Jersey City’s Departed Soles with Linden’s nearby 201 Ton utilizes “gingerbread maple syrup” to enhance bittersweet Madagascar vanilla bean adjunct as well as creamy molasses-sugared chocolate malting. Smooth dewy peat earthiness and tertiary cocoa-cinnamon illusions stay below.
PEAK ORGANIC MAPLE PORTER
On tap at Plank Pizza, splendid chocolate-milked YooHoo entry gains subtly rich maple syruping. Fudged brownie creaming and mild vanilla spicing increases syrupy maple, caramel, toffee and cocoa sugaring for amiable dessert treat.
BALLAST POINT VICTORY AT SEA COCONUT IMPERIAL PORTER
On tap at The Oath, toasted coconut version of Imperial Porter needs more pronounced nuttiness to compete with bittersweet dark chocolate fudging, moderate Caffe Calabria coffee roast and milky vanilla creaming. Even its oak-charred hop bittering, mild espresso lilt and reticent marshmallow sugaring compete with the coconut adjunct (and walnut snip) by the finish. Nevertheless.
MUSKOKA PORTLY GENTLEMAN FLAVORED ALE
On tap at Shepherd & Knucklehead – Haledon, holiday-seasoned porter allows cinnamon-spiced vanilla sweetness to inundate Hershey’s chocolate-like syruping and subtle coffee-cocoa tones. Dry mocha finish gains chewy bourbon vanilla loveliness while cinnamon spicing fades.
GOOSE ISLAND BOURBON COUNTY BARLEYWINE ALE
On tap at Plank Pizza, sweet bourbon vanilla richness (of 13.6% ABV 2014 reserve – aged four years) thickened by anise-spiced brown chocolate malting, burnt caramel sugaring and ancillary cocoa reminder above mild hop-charred bittering of annual English-styled barleywine. Delicate port, burgundy and brandy wining finds space below alongside bruised cherry sedation.
