Home > Choklat Imperial Stout brewed by Southern Tier Brewing - Lakewood, NY
Choklat Imperial Stout brewed by Southern Tier Brewing - Lakewood, NY
Choklat Imperial Stout brewed by Southern Tier Brewing - Lakewood, New York
The Popol Vuh,
the sacred book of the Maya, unfolds a complex web of mystery around a
beverage known as xocoatl (ch-co-atle). At Southern Tier, we’re not
surprised that hieroglyphs of the ancient Maya depict chocolate being poured
for rulers and gods. Even through the many voyages of Columbus, the mystical
bean remained nothing more than a strange currency of the native peoples.
Moving through centuries, the circular journey of cacao has been realized in
our brewing house, encompassing the complexity of the darkest, bitter-sweet
candy together with the original frothy cold beverage of the ancient Maya to
bring to you our Blackwater Series Choklat Stout. We have combined the
finest ingredients to tempt your senses & renew the power & interrelation of
history in every bottle.
Beer Review by Beer Advocate:
Appearance - Pours inky black with a mocha colored foam that holds well. Laces
the snifter glass it was poured into very well.
Aroma - Strong scents of chocolate jump right to the nost. Rasoted malt is
dominant. As it settled the smells became more of a hot chocolate. No matter how
it comes out, the chocolate smell is incredeible.
Taste - Translates to the taste just as well. Strong flavors
of chocolate, roasty malt, a little bit of fresh coffee, and a warming burn at
the end. This is a chocolate lovers dream beer, and from a pure chocolate falvor,
about the best I've had in a stout.
Mouthfeel - syrupy thick, coates the tongue. Is really a sipper, and one that is
made for dessert or after dinner.
Overall - Another winner from Southern Tier, and they are becoming a go-to
brewery for dominant flavored stouts. For those with a sweet tooth, this is a
dream.
Southern Tier Brewing's History
In operation since late 2002, Southern Tier Brewing Company of Lakewood, New
York, has grown to produce nearly 50,000 barrels of beer annually. The hand
crafted ales are now available in more than half of the United States, as well
as parts of Australia, Denmark, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, Ontario, British
Columbia, and the United Kingdom.
Founders Phineas DeMink and Allen "Skip" Yahn started the brewery with the
vision of reviving the practice of small batch brewing to a region rich in
brewing tradition. In 2002, with equipment gained from the purchase of the Old
Saddleback Brewing Co. in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, the Southern Tier Brewing
Company began production in the Stoneman Business Park just outside of Lakewood,
New York. By 2003, select varieties of small batch ales were locally
distributed, and by 2005, sales covered the majority of New York State and
Pennsylvania. Before launching a successful roster of seasonal beers, the
brewery produced Pilsner, Mild Ale, and an India Pale Ale.
Southern Tier immediately garnered regional attention and demand for the product
was quickly outgrowing their modest facility. In 2009, a new 20,000 square foot
building was built for the purpose of brewing innovative, high-quality beer to
accommodate an expanding customer base. In this new facility, the small brewery
was able to grow and offer the product both nationally and internationally,
while still satisfying its loyal hometown fans.
Steadily growing, throughout 2010 it became clear that more beer needed to be
produced to satisfy a growing customer base. 800 barrels of fermentation vessels
has been added to the production area and a 7500 square foot addition has been
added for use as a conditioning room. The constantly running brewhaus has also
been expanded and updated. In early 2011 the company replaced its bottling line
with the most high-tech, state of the art bottling line of its size in North
America. It fills, caps and labels an impressive 8,000 bottles per hour, with
the ability to package 12,000 per hour at full speed.
