Sam Adams Chocolate Bock

The Dirt

Once a hard to find beer from Sam Adams, but now available in the winter variety pack, the chocolate bock is simply delicious. It reminds me of a semi-sweet chocolate chip muffin, and is a perfect after dinner beer. Silky smooth dark chocolate makes up the front of this beer, with a malty bock center, and finishing with a semi-sweet chocolate profile. It pours looking like a Shiner Bock, but when settled in the glass it's a very dark brown to black. You won't see much of a head on this beer, as it's low in carbonation, but that makes it even smoother and works perfectly with the chocolate.

Worth it?

I love the winter variety pack, and the chocolate bock makes it even better. It also helps that it replaced the infamous cranberry lambic. So, yes.

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Sam Adams The Vixen

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Easily the best beer in the Sam Adams experimental lineup, The Vixen is a chocolate chili bock. Now if there's one beer style I do not usually drink, its chili beers. I appreciate them, but usually cannot drink more than a sampler worth. They usually have just too much of a focus on the chili, but The Vixen has the balance done perfectly. The chili coupled with the chocolate makes the beer almost have an ancho chili chocolate pie like profile, making it very drinkable.

The beer is mostly dominated with the very smooth chocolate flavor, especially up-front. The chili comes in slightly at the end, giving just a hint of bite on the tongue. This perfect pairing makes for a chili beer that I was able to drink not only a glass-full, but an entire bomber worth. It makes for a good after-dinner sipping beer on a cold evening. So I guess it's aptly named: smooth, good body, and a hint of spice.

Worth it?
Simply, yes. If you're like me and love chocolate beers but do not typically care for chili beers, this is a great way to hit both sides of the spectrum. It's basically an alteration to the regular Sam Adams Chocolate Bock (to be reviewed soon).

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SPECIAL REVIEW: Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout (AGED: 1.5 years - bottle)

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Another accidentally aged beer! And a Russian Imperial Stout no less. I've had one of these un-aged and it was tasty, but like the Stone Russian, the aging mellowed it out. This guy has a little more spicy dark chocolate tone right up front, but smooths out and has great body. As noted, it has become more velvety in texture with age.

Worth it?
The couple of times I've bought this at Spec's it was on sale for like $5 or $6 for a 4-pack. Both times I got the last pack on the shelf. I would have bought more if they were there. If I were forced to pick only one between the Stone and the Brooklyn, I'd have to narrowly pick the Stone. But this guy is definitely worth it, on sale or not.

The Final Word