As I work my way through the last few bottles from my Saranac 12 beers collection circa 2004, I think I may have saved the best for (almost) last. There have been some pretty impressive brews this year, including a few new ones. But one of my favorites year after year has to be the Saranac Mocha Stout.

This is a beer you could easily drink glass after glass of and yet never get tired of it. It’s so packed with flavor, yet so smooth and creamy and so very, very drinkable. If you’re a chocolate lover and a beer lover, this is a wonderful little beer for you.

Saranac says this beer Combines the rich roasted flavor of our traditional stout with a deep, robust mocha. Look for a full-bodied taste with a crescendo of complex flavor notes.. And it’s true that this beer has lots of mocha flavor, packed with chocolate and coffee notes.

Saranac beers have the benefit of being widely distributed. According to their website, they distribute to CT, DC, MA, MD, NC ,NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, VA, VT. But their distribution is far more extensive than that, and they really should update it. I’ve been seeing their beer in GA for years. Send them an e-mail or call them to find a retailer near you.

Now for the beer. Saranac Mocha Stout pours to a jet black color with a thick and creamy tan colored head formation and a potent, slightly sweet molasses and coffee nose. You could just sit and smell the stuff almost. Almost, because the nose is so enticing you just have to take a sip.

And when you do the beer is pure bliss. The palate is thick in texture, almost oily, and slightly sour and tart like a fine pint of Guinness Extra Stout. There are intense notes of bittersweet chocolate, molasses, and very roasty espresso.

In the finish, the roasted barley and black malt notes intensify and combine with a bit of hop bitterness for a powerful ending to a great beer. Sure, there’s lots of chocolate flavor here, but we’re talking pure, unsweetened cocoa. Don’t look for a sweet finish here.

This is a great beer to just sip and enjoy all by itself, but it would also make a great companion to any chocolate dessert. That might seem like overkill, but I think the beer would pair nicely, and the bitter roasty flavor of the beer would cut perfectly through the sweet dessert. Much like a fine cup of coffee does.

Definitely one of Saranac’s best beers.

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