Grado Plato Chocarrubica

500 ml. Opaque with a small lasting disc of foam. Interesting aromas of cattle farm, must, tobacco barn, licorice, chocolate, wheat and faint fruity bubblegum. Flavor is very similar plus some dry and bitter cocoa, cardboard, and metallic cherry twinges. Develops an earthy char and mocha coffee aftertaste. Medium body is creamy, a bit watery, tingly, and too fizzy. Interesting stab on this one, but not something I would return to again, especially at such a steep price.

Smells OK, with touches of chocolate and carob, plus an odd but not unwelcome note of pineapple juice. Flavor is, well, it starts out nice, but there is a medcinal, band-aid flavor in the finish that dominates everything and is very unpleasent. At $14,99, somewhat of a disappointment.

Bomber, shared....Well, wasn’t this an interesting one? Pours a deep brown to almost-black with a head the color of chocolate milk. Aroma is one of the best I’ve experienced in a long time - heavy chocolate and malt with some dark fruit detectable as well. The Taste is quite interesting - chocolate and malt up front with dark fruit and vinious characteristics as the beer progresses. The palate is quite creamy, and the finish is sweet with undetectable alcohol. Quite an interesting beer that seemed hit-or-miss among the people with whom I tried it.

On tap at Capital Ale House - Midlothian on 08/05/2008. Dark black body with a small tan head. Chocolate fruit, light sour and caramel aroma. Big sweet chocolate flavor, sugar, fruit hints. Medium full body with moderately low carbonation. Very creamy.

Bottle at the Eulogy Tavern in Philly. Pours a dark motor oil brown with a creamy but very short lasting brown head. Not much of an aroma but traces of vanilla and milk chocolate pop up between sips. Very interesting chocolate flavor. No cocoa bitterness at all. Tastes like liquid milk chocolate and drinks like it as well with absolutely no carbonation - perhaps the flattest beer I’ve ever had. The lack of carbonation works pretty well with this brew. Raisin and vanilla flavors dart back and forth as well. Creamy texture and medium long sweet finish. A unique beer that I wouldn’t have tasted if not for the knowledgable bartender at the Eulogy.

Bottle. Pours black with tight tan head. The aroma is fruity and surprisingly vinous, with plenty of obvious carob and chocolate, some almond, and even a hint of coffee. The flavor is more acidic than I was expecting, but not to the point of making it too sharp. Carob, berries, and coffee are the most noticeable elements. Beneath that are some odd spritzy Champagne notes, as well as some raisins and floral hops. The chocolate holds off until the finish, where it mellows a light, earthy bitterness. Very interesting.

Pours very dark brown with a small tan head. The aroma is rich and has milk chocolate (or carob as I found out), creaminess and a taste like malted milk balls. Medium smooth body with very soft gentle carbonation. The flavor starts with definite carob that works much better here than in a carob bar. There is also roasted malt and cream. The finish has some bitterness from the roasted malt. An enjoyable beer.

I was really looking forward to this one, but found it disappointing. Very dark brown in color. Fizzy head. Some chocolate and fruit notes in the taste. One or two sips, though and I was done. This was a very expensive beer to give a try and I wish I’d liked it more. Just not my thing, I guess.