Tröegs Scratch #27 Released Tomorrow

From The Latest Tröegs Tales for February 2010

Join us Thursday, February 11 at 2 p.m. for a firkin tapping of Scratch #27-2010 in the brewery tasting room. Scratch #27-2010 is a collaboration beer that Troegs developed with Scharffen Berger Chocolate Company.

Cases and growlers of Scratch #27-2010 will go on sale at 12 noon on Thurday, February 11. We will be tapping firkins at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. and the tasting room will be open until 6 p.m. We will also have soft pretzels available while the firkins are on tap.

Here‚s a little background on the beer:
O.G.:     18 Plato
A.B.V.:     6.7%
I.B.U.:     30
Malt:     Pils, Crystal, Chocolate, Roast, Special B
Adjuncts:    Flaked Barley, Lactose, Chocolate Nibs, Vanilla Beans
Yeast:     House Ale Yeast
Hops:     Galena, Simcoe

Scratch #27-2010 begins a new fold in the Scratch series. For the next several batches individual Troegs brewers will create recipes of their choice. First up, The Ticeman had a hankering for a sweet stout, so the Troegs brothers and all the brewers met with Scharffen Berger Chocolate Company engineers to eat ridiculous amounts of cocoa nibs and chocolates over a few pints of beer.

This collaboration resulted in the delivery of a special blend of cocoa nibs that were added during the boiling process. In addition to the nibs, lactose was added at the end of the boil to give a little sweetness in the body. The addition of Galena and Simcoe hops lends a subtle fruity balance. After primary fermentation, the beer was aged for three weeks on a blend of cocoa nibs and Ugandan vanilla beans.

Dubbed Cocaoabunga, this unfiltered beer has a pleasant cocoa aroma, a subtle sweetness in the mouthfeel, a full-bodied flavor, and hints of vanilla. Enjoy!