The Top 10 Chocolate Beers or Valentine’s Day Beers
This Top Ten List of Chocolate Beers is from the results of the U.S. Open Beer Championship, Great American Beer Festival, World Beer Cup and other sources. These chocolate beers use “dark” chocolate or cocoa in any form, other than or in addition to hops, to create a distinct (ranging from subtle to intense) character. Under hopping allows the chocolate to contribute to the flavor profile while not becoming excessively bitter.
Top 10 Chocolate Beers
1) Tears of Our Enemies – Mayan Chocolate (Monday Night Brewing – Atlanta, GA)
A luxurious, Mayan-inspired stout loaded with dark chocolate, subtle spice, and roast—deep, complex, and highly acclaimed (2025 GABF Gold medal in Chocolate Beer).
Address: 670 Trabert Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
Website: https://mondaynightbrewing.com/
2) Double Astral (Third Eye Brewing – Cincinnati, OH area)
A massive imperial stout (around 13% ABV) brewed with heaps of Maverick Chocolate cacao nibs, husks, and Madagascar vanilla. It tastes like dark chocolate ganache, hazelnut, espresso, and caramel—gold medal winner at GABF and other competitions. Ultra-decadent.
Address: 11276 Chester Road, Sharonville, OH 45246 (Sharonville taproom)
Website: https://thirdeyebrewingco.com/
3) Mama Rosa (Solano Brewing Co. – Vacaville, CA)
Silver medal in Chocolate Beer at 2025 GABF. An imperial pastry stout (10.5% ABV) inspired by Mexican champurrado (spiced hot chocolate), with cocoa, ancho/guajillo chiles, cinnamon, and vanilla. Warm, silky, and holiday-romantic.
Address: 5500 Weber Road, Vacaville, CA 95687
Website: https://solanobrew.com/
4) Chocolate Stout – Fort Myers Brewing Co – Florida
Fort Myers’ flagship Chocolate Stout (7.5% ABV), a multi-year World Beer Cup medalist and GABF gold winner, is a creamy, crowd-pleasing powerhouse brewed with dark roasted malts and cocoa for year-round indulgence. Opaque ebony with a pillowy chocolate head, it wafts notes of espresso, blackstrap molasses, and fresh-baked brownie. The flavor profile is a harmonious blend of smooth dark chocolate, subtle coffee roast, and a touch of caramel sweetness, delivered in a medium-full body that’s deceptively easy-drinking. Finishing with a clean, roasty edge, it’s Florida’s answer to liquid dessert—perfect paired with beachside s’mores or a quiet sunset.
Address: 12811 Commerce Lakes Dr #28, Fort Myers, FL 33913
Website: https://www.fmbrew.com/
5) Lugene Chocolate Milk Stout (Odell Brewing Co. – Fort Collins, CO)
A creamy, approachable milk stout brewed with lactose and milk chocolate. Chocolate-forward yet balanced with roast—smooth, dessert-like, and widely available year-round. Excellent everyday Valentine’s option.
Address: 800 East Lincoln Avenue, Fort Collins, CO 80524
Website: https://www.odellbrewing.com/
6) Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout (Brooklyn Brewery – Brooklyn, NY)
Russian Imperial Stout bursting with intense dark chocolate, bittersweet cocoa, and roast. The 2025 release remains a classic winter warmer (10% ABV)—rich, warming, and perfect for sharing.
Address: 79 N 11th St, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Website: https://brooklynbrewery.com/
7) Midnight Hike – River North Brewery – Colorado
This World Beer Cup gold medal-winning chocolate imperial porter (11.1% ABV) is a nocturnal adventure in a bottle, loaded with an “irresponsible amount” of cacao nibs and vanilla for a roasty, cocoa-drenched escape. Deep brown-black with a frothy, lasting head, it teases with roasted malt, dark chocolate, and caramel whispers on the nose. The taste roams from bold espresso bitterness and sweet ganache to hints of toffee and vanilla cream, all wrapped in a full, velvety body that hides its potency. Finishing dry yet satisfying, it’s the perfect companion for stargazing—or curling up by the fire—evoking the thrill of a moonlit trail with every decadent sip.
Address: 6021 Washington St Unit A, Denver, CO 80216
Website: https://www.rivernorthbrewery.com/
8) Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout) (Founders Brewing Co. – Grand Rapids, MI)
Barrel-aged imperial stout with massive coffee, dark chocolate, vanilla, and maple. Special editions often lean heavily chocolatey—decadent, high-ABV (11-12%), and a true Valentine’s heavyweight.
Address: 235 Cesar E. Chavez Ave SW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Website: https://foundersbrewing.com/
9) Southern Tier Choklat (Southern Tier Brewing Co. – Lakewood, NY)
Thick imperial stout that drinks like melted bittersweet chocolate with coffee undertones. Syrupy, intense, and dessert-level indulgent—still a go-to for pure chocolate power.
Address: 2072 Stoneman Circle, Lakewood, NY 14750
Website: https://stbcbeer.com/
10) Foothills Sexual Chocolate (Foothills Brewing – Winston-Salem, NC)
Russian Imperial Stout infused with Peruvian cocoa nibs—big caramel, espresso, molasses, and deep dark chocolate. Bold, memorable, and often released seasonally around Valentine’s for that cheeky, romantic vibe.
Address: 3800 Kimwell Dr, Winston-Salem, NC 27103 (Brewery)
Website: https://www.foothillsbrewing.com/
History of Chocolate Beers
The origins of chocolate beers can be traced back to ancient Mesoamerican civilizations, particularly the Aztecs and Mayans, who revered cacao as a divine gift. They brewed beverages combining cacao with maize, chili, and other spices, often consumed during rituals or by elites. These early concoctions, like the frothy “xocolatl,” were fermented but bore little resemblance to modern beer, lacking barley or hops. European explorers in the 16th century encountered these drinks and brought cacao back to Europe, where it initially gained popularity as a sweetened, non-alcoholic beverage. By the 17th and 18th centuries, European brewers began experimenting with cacao in beer, inspired by the growing fascination with chocolate. Early examples, such as those in colonial Mexico and Spain, blended cacao into porters and stouts, leveraging the dark, roasted malts to complement chocolate’s rich, bitter notes.
The modern revival of chocolate beers emerged during the late 20th-century craft beer renaissance, particularly in the United States and Europe. Brewers like Young’s Brewery in England and Brooklyn Brewery in New York introduced chocolate stouts in the 1990s, using cocoa nibs, chocolate malt, or chocolate extracts to enhance flavor profiles. These beers capitalized on the synergy between roasted barley and chocolate’s complex sweetness, creating robust, dessert-like brews. The style gained traction as craft brewers pushed boundaries, incorporating cacao in various forms—raw nibs, powdered cocoa, or even chocolate bars—into stouts, porters, and even lighter ales. Today, chocolate beers remain a niche but beloved category, with seasonal releases and experimental brews showcasing innovative pairings like chocolate with coffee, vanilla, or chili, echoing the ancient Mesoamerican roots while appealing to modern palates.
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