Jason Fields & Kevin Sheppard / Tröegs / Stone Cherry Chocolate Stout

From Stone – San Diego homebrewing duo Jason Fields and Kevin Sheppard submitted their Cherry Chocolate Stout for this year’s Stone March Madness Homebrew Competition and AHA Rally, taking top honors out of 40 entries that were judged. As a result, they earned the opportunity to make a dramatically scaled up version with Brewmaster Mitch Steele on the 120-barrel Stone Brewing Co. system. Once the beer was decided on, an additional brewer had to be selected to complete the collaboration. Deciding to bring in John Trogner, Head Brewer of Pennsylvania’s famed Tröegs Brewing Co., was a no-brainer.

Stone Brewing Co. – Jason Fields & Kevin Sheppard / Tröegs / Stone Cherry Chocolate Stout – 12 oz. bottle poured into a tasting glass. 7.3% abv.

Appearance:  Pours a deep dark brown with no head. Leaves no lacing.

Aroma:  Black forest cake, sweet cherry,roasted malt, alcohol.

Taste: Burnt roasted malt, sweet and tangy cherries. Didnt pick up any vanilla bean. Finishes with lingering roast. A little alcohol present.

Mouthfeel:  Medium bodied modest bubbles.

Overall:  Kick ass. Very dessert like. Not too heavy. I would like to keep a couple of these if I can keep myself from drinking them. The alcohol level isn’t too high, so I would think you’d be best off drinking it within the next year anyway.