Moo-HooChiato

(30A. Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer) In beer, coffee and chocolate flavors often go hand-in-hand, as they can be derived from the same source malts. Namely, dark roasted varieties like black patent and, you guessed it, chocolate malt. And since these flavors are natural counterparts, accenting one or the other with an actual coffee or chocolate addition can work quite well. This example smells distinctly of coffee and cream, with a dark cacao note, roasted malt, and slight char. It’s hard not to imagine this being served in a warm mug. Aside from the thick, tan head, this beer looks like coffee, too, with its pitch black color. This example tastes sweet and is moderately full, but maintains a moderate bitterness throughout. It’s a nice balance, but the sweet flavor tastes very intentional and sugary and is not malty. There is a hint of coffee in the flavor and lingering roast in the finish, but this beer otherwise lacks maltiness. Overall, Moo-HooChiato is a nice specialty beer with an aroma that is hard to beat. Its wax-sealed cap makes it a gift-able bottle, too.