In the lands of better beer, breweries strive to set themselves apart. Sometimes they are successful and other times not so much. Sometimes breweries will strike gold with a bold interpretation, which raises the bar for the rest of their product line. This ''wad blowing'' phenomenon can kill a brewery’s reputation. They make one fantastic beer and the rest suffer by comparison. I had little experience with the Southern Tier Brewing Company when I got my hands on their unbelievable Crème Brûlée Imperial Milk Stout. Sip after delectable sip, I couldn’t imagine any of their other brews comparing. The few brews from their core line that I had previously tried weren’t very memorable and I avoided the rest of their bomber line based on this discrepancy. So going into the Choklat Stout from their Blackwater Series, I prepared myself for the disappointment of labeling Southern Tier a one hit wonder. Luckily for all fans of better beer, this was far from the case.

In the glass, this beer is stark black with absolutely no edging coloration. It comes with a thin coppery head, even with an aggressive pour. We all know what that means: strength, and lots of it. Much to my surprise, there was no alcohol burn on the nose. Instead, you are greeted with an array of rich dark chocolate aromas. Everything from cocoa powder to Swiss bittersweet is present. It smells like you walked right into a chocolate factory. I half expected Willy Wonka to tap me on the shoulder and start singing a beer drinking tune.

As if the introduction wasn’t intriguing enough, that first sip upped the ante. This beer has a strangely thin mouthfeel with a sharp hop bite. All that chocolaty goodness was distracting from the fact that Choklat is still a mean stout. But again, no alcohol burn, even with an 11% ABV. Once the other flavors start to emerge, you understand the need for the strong hop profile. Those dark chocolates power their way into the middle ground, filling your mouth with sweet and savory goodness. If not for the beautiful balance provided by the hops, this beer would taste like a dark chocolate Yoohoo. There are no other notable flavor notes other than dark chocolate, but you really don’t mind. It’s a wonderful purist taste. The exit is crisp and clean, leaving behind a delightful aftertaste of bittersweet chocolate. The beer also gains a syrupy smoothness as it warms, so take your time to enjoy it.

Overall, Southern Tier’s Choklat Stout is a fantastic beer. It’s one of the very few imperial strength stouts that I can recommend to all levels of beer fan. The richness of flavor will impress seasoned drinkers and beginners alike. This stout in particular is an especially powerful brew in the better beer arsenal. Not only can it usher droves of novices into the lands of better beer, but it can also convert lighter brew fans into imperial stout lovers. It's an incredible feat and I tip my drinking hat to Southern Tier. Against all odds, I have found a beer worthy of standing beside the Crème Brûlée Imperial Milk Stout. So if you come across the Choklat Stout at your local beer store, definitely pick one (or several) up. My only advice would be to mind the well hidden 11% ABV because I guarantee you will be fighting the urge to power through the entire bomber of this glorious liquid.