At least here in the Birckhead household, we usually finish our beer before moving onto dessert. But when the cousins who are not posting (ahem! ahem!) came up with this idea for the blog, I had an idea to find a beer that might be paired with PopPop's fudge. So, I first tried to make the fudge and as it cooled, I dashed to our favorite beer store. [On a side note: Nick, instinctively, found this store the first time he visited us in Richmond before he even found our house.]
The owner said that stouts are going to pair better with chocolate-- perhaps a mocha stout. But then he raved about this Creme Brulee Stout and said, "Forget the chocolate. Drink this for dessert!" I didn't go on and on about him dissing my grandfather's fudge and the purpose of the blog increasing the camaraderie between my cousins across the miles... and it's a good thing because, well, the fudge didn't turn out so well. [No worries; I WILL try again.]
The beer is Creme Brulee Stout, by Southern Tier Brewing Company, in Lakewood, NY. We've been impressed with the few beers we've tried by Southern Tier. This one was very different, but still impressive.
Dave: "I never would have believed in anything like a dessert beer, but this is it and I kinda like it."
Dave, more emphatic after more beer: "This is REALLY good stuff. I'm enjoying it more than I thought I would!"
Sarah: "Love the aroma-- very sweet and definitely smells like vanilla. The taste is more like a stout and less like vanilla, but still with a hint of sweetness. All wrapped up in a beer. So interesting."
I loved to smell this beer so much, I had to add a second photo.
We hope you enjoy this 2-row pale malt, dark caramel malt, combined with vanilla bean, sugar and kettle and aroma hops. As always, check a box below to let us know if you'll try it. Peace, love, and dessert.
