You surely must have had a glass of chilled beer and enjoyed it on a hot summer day when the mercury shot through the roof. And, just as nonchalantly you must have popped chocolate into your mouth and munched away, hardly giving a thought to the entire action. But did you know that the duo of chocolate and beer can be a sensuous symphony for your senses?
Never thought about it, did you? Chocolate and beer? One usually thinks of wine and chocolates as the ultimate romantic gift, but the truth is the combination of chocolates and beer can set off fireworks in your head and have your taste buds tingling in ecstasy. In most cases, unless you are very careful with the pairings, the taste of wine can get overwhelmed by that of chocolates. However, the malt accented style of beer brings out the earthy, chocolaty, and even bitter flavors of the chocolate.
For the best effect, certain kinds of beers and chocolates have to be paired with each other. For instance light chocolates such as milk chocolates go really well with a fruity, moderately hopped beer while chocolate that is dark and strongly flavored tastes excellent with dark roasted beer. Dark chocolate and porter are considered a classic combination and porter is usually had along with desserts that are prepared with dark chocolate.
Generally speaking, beers that have a sturdy flavor and high alcohol content complement the taste of chocolate. The higher the percentage of alcohol, the more full-bodied taste it will have. For this reason, a Belgian ale-beer which has an alcohol content of 6-12% vol. will make an excellent companion for chocolate.
So, make Valentine’s Day special for your date and treat her to a whole new and rather undiscovered world of beer and chocolate. Head over to the Village Pourhouse (64 3rd Ave. at 11th St.) on Wednesday, February 10 for the “Chocolate & Cherry Beer Tasting” event. The price of admission is $25 for singles and $45 for couples. The event will begin at 7 pm.
Here, the Beer Sommelier will take you on a fascinating journey that will start with the history of the drink that you may have guzzled down hundreds of times in your life and yet know so little about. Guests can also taste some unique brews and interesting concoctions of beer and see how each affects their palette.
This event will probably be a very unique experience for you and your date as you discover a new angle to romance and romantic gifts. After this evening, you are sure to chuck your wine bottles out and stock your fridge with some choice beers and special chocolates…for some more evenings of divine taste and romance.
