The Top 10 Chocolate Beers
This Top Ten List of Chocolate Beers is from the results of the U.S. Open Beer Championship, Great American Beer Festival, and World Beer Cup and other sources . These chocolate beers use “dark” chocolate or cocoa in any of its forms 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 – Georgia
This imperial milk stout, aged for 24 months in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels, channels the ancient Mayan spirit with a decadent infusion of cacao nibs, Ugandan vanilla beans, and coffee. At 10% ABV, it pours an impenetrable black with a creamy mocha head, unleashing aromas of dark chocolate truffles, charred oak, and subtle spice. On the palate, waves of bittersweet cocoa collide with toffee sweetness and a whisper of bourbon warmth, finishing smooth and vengefully rich—like the sweetest revenge in a glass. A GABF medalist that’s as bold as its name.
Address: 670 Trabert Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30318
Website: https://mondaynightbrewing.com/
2) Double Astral – Third Eye Brewing – Ohio
A luxuriously rich imperial stout (13% ABV) that earned gold at the Great American Beer Festival and U.S. Open Beer Championship, Double Astral is brewed with heaps of bittersweet Maverick Chocolate cacao nibs and husks, plus Madagascar vanilla beans. Midnight black with a frothy tan head, it seduces with scents of toasted cocoa, caramel, and espresso roast. The taste delivers a silky, dessert-like embrace of dark chocolate ganache, hazelnut cream, and a hint of root beer spice, balanced by a dry, lingering malt finish. It’s a cosmic journey for stout enthusiasts—smooth, deceptive in its strength, and unforgettably indulgent.
Address: 11276 Chester Rd, Sharonville, OH 45246
Website: https://thirdeyebrewingco.com/
3) Chocolate Porter – Diatribe Brewing – North Carolina
Diatribe’s Chocolate Porter (6.5% ABV) is a masterful balance of roasty tradition and cocoa temptation, crafted with a medley of dark malts and real cacao for an approachable yet profound sip. Pouring deep mahogany with a persistent khaki foam, it greets the nose with waves of milk chocolate, graham cracker sweetness, and faint espresso. The flavor unfolds as velvety dark chocolate laced with caramel undertones and a subtle hop bite, ending in a dry, lingering roast that evokes a fireside porter without overwhelming sweetness. Ideal for autumn evenings, it’s a crowd-pleasing nod to classic porters elevated by chocolate’s comforting depth.
Address: 1042 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806
Website: https://diatribebrewing.com/
4) Mama Rosa – Solano Brewing – California
Inspired by cherished Hispanic holiday traditions, this 10.5% ABV imperial pastry stout—brewed in collaboration with King Cong Brewing—is a loving tribute to Champurrado, Mexico’s spiced hot chocolate. Conditioned on cocoa powder, ancho and guajillo chiles, cinnamon, and vanilla, it pours an obsidian black with a creamy beige head. Aromas of warm cinnamon-dusted chocolate and mild chili heat draw you in, while the palate bursts with rich, melting cocoa, subtle smoky spice, and vanilla silkiness. Smooth and family-warming at heart, it finishes with a gentle chili tingle and lingering sweetness that feels like a holiday hug in every pour.
Address: 5500 Weber Rd, Vacaville, CA 95687
Website: https://solanobrew.com/
5) 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/
6) Triple Chocolate Viator Obscura – Wandering Monsters Brewing Co – Ohio
A silver medalist at the Great American Beer Festival in the Chocolate Beer category, this imperial pastry stout (12% ABV) triples down on cocoa decadence atop the brewery’s “dark traveler” base of caramel, chocolate, and roasted malts, boiled long for caramelized depth. Pitch-black with a dense tan foam, it captivates with intense aromas of bittersweet chocolate cake, vanilla frosting, and roasted nuts. The palate is a triple-threat symphony: waves of milk chocolate, dark cacao powder, and white chocolate nibs, softened by lactose creaminess and a subtle fruit undertone. Thick and dessert-bar luxurious, it lingers with toffee sweetness—a monstrously satisfying treat for pastry stout aficionados.
Address: 8251 Beechmont Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45255
Website: https://wanderingmonstersbeer.com/
7) 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/
8) Oroasis – Omnium Brewing Company – New Hampshire
The triumphant winner of Omnium’s Four Stout/Porter Challenge, this 12% ABV imperial pastry stout (4.0 Untappd average) is an oasis of chocolate nirvana in the New England craft scene, infused with cocoa, vanilla, and a pastry-inspired twist for unctuous delight. Pouring jet-black with a creamy nitro-like head, it enchants with scents of molten fudge, toasted marshmallows, and graham cracker warmth. On the tongue, it’s a lush cascade of milk chocolate silk, caramel drizzle, and subtle spice, balanced by a velvety mouthfeel that coats like a s’more dream. Sweet yet poised, with a gentle roast finish, Oroasis quenches the soul—ideal for cozy taproom nights or as a gateway to stout obsession.
Address: 300 Main St, Nashua, NH 03060
Website: https://omniumbrewing.com/
9) Fudge Sickles – Fort George Brewery – Oregon
A 2024 GABF gold medalist and barrel-aged imperial stout (13.5% ABV) born from nostalgic ice cream truck memories, Fudge Sickles is conditioned on cocoa nibs, chocolate powder, and vanilla beans for a “bottomless abyss of cold, creamy chocolate” with bourbon barrel bite. Inky black with a persistent mocha crown, it seduces the senses with aromas of fudgy popsicles, charred oak, and vanilla pod richness. The taste evokes frozen fudge on a stick: intense dark chocolate waves, creamy vanilla swirl, and subtle barrel spice, all in a full-bodied, smooth-as-ice-cream texture. Warming yet balanced, it finishes with lingering cocoa and wood— a coastal Pacific Northwest hug that’s as addictive as childhood treats.
Address: 1483 Duane St, Astoria, OR 97103
Website: https://fortgeorgebrewery.com/
10) Foothills Sexual Chocolate – Foothills Brewing – North Carolina
The iconic cocoa-infused Russian imperial stout (9.6% ABV) from Foothills, a perennial GABF and World Beer Cup medalist, brews with organic Peruvian cacao nibs for a symphony of dark indulgence that’s earned its provocative name. Motor-oil black with a deep brown head, it bursts with aromas of espresso roast, blackstrap molasses, and premium dark chocolate. The palate unfolds in layers: smooth cocoa backbone, toffee sweetness, dark fruit whispers, and coffee complexity, all wrapped in a viscous, chewy mouthfeel that conceals its strength. Finishing with a roasty, lingering warmth, it’s a seductive classic—bold, balanced, and unapologetically sensual for chocolate stout devotees.
Address: 638 W 4th St, Winston-Salem, NC 27101
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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