HOW TO PAIR BEER WITH EVERYTHING: Lips of Faith – Salted Belgian Chocolate Stout
Beer: Lips of Faith – Salted Belgian Chocolate Stout
Brewer: New Belgium Brewing (with Perennial Artisan Ales)
Style: American Double/Imperial Stout
ABV: 9.00%
Description: Salted Belgian Chocolate Stout pours a deep black with beige head that sticks around for a while and leaves behind a hefty lacing on the glass. The aroma is filled with sweet milk chocolate up front with bitter dark chocolate apparent as well, with backing notes of roasted malts and a touch of bitterness from the hops and salt. The first sip brings a rush of chocolate onto the palate that is quickly followed by the bite of the salt to balance it and keep it from becoming overly sweet and cloying. Subtle notes of coffee and caramel are also apparent from the malts, with a touch of earthy hops as well. The beer has a surprisingly dry finish with a medium mouthfeel and moderate carbonation.
The name of says it all, and if it has caught your attention and sounds appealing, then you will absolutely love it! Salted Belgian Chocolate Stout is an absolute must-try beer for fans of stouts and chocolate!
Ideal setting: Salted Belgian Chocolate Stout is a beer that can be enjoyed with dinner at your favorite restaurant or at an intimate gathering with friends. This is a beer that has a great deal of complexities, but it is still light enough that it can be a fantastic beer to have whilst in the company of others. This is the perfect beer to have during a holiday gathering this season and must be shared with loved ones.
Ideal music: Since this beer is so great to share with company, it calls for music that will liven up the atmosphere, but not typical “party” music. Instead, try something that is a bit more deep and complex to match the beer. Indie music with strong grooves and soothing rounded edges make for the best match with this beer.
Some great albums to enjoy with Salted Belgian Chocolate Stout are:
- MGMT – “Oracular Spectacular“
- Two Door Cinema Club – “Tourist History“
- Dogs Die in Hot Cars – “Please Describe Yourself“
- Bloc Party – “Silent Alarm“
- TV on the Radio – “Seeds“
- M83 – “Before the Dawn Heals Us“
Ideal movie: The rich chocolate character and the impending holidays make one quickly see the great pairings between this beer and holiday classics. The 9 percent ABV will make even the cheesiest of holiday films more tolerable!
Some great films to watch while enjoying Salted Belgian Chocolate Stout are:
- “A Christmas Story“
- “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation“
- “Scrooged“
- “Jingle All the Way“
- “Black Christmas“
Ideal book: The sweet chocolate notes and moderate ABV make this a great beer to enjoy while sitting by a roaring fire and enjoying a great book. A novel with a bit of history and depth makes for the ideal pairing with this beer.
Some great books to read with Salted Belgian Chocolate Stout are:
- “Hops and Glory” by Pete Brown
- “Beer in America: The Early Years – 1587-1840” by Gregg Smith
- “A People’s History of the United States” by Howard Zinn
- “Cannibals and Kings: Origins of Cultures” by Marvin Harris
- “Breakfast of Champions” by Kurt Vonnegut
The perfect experience: Salted Belgian Chocolate Stout is most definitely a beer that could and should be the centerpiece for your holiday party. One sip and you will quickly imagine yourself laughing and enjoying the company of friends on a cold winter evening while enjoying some great music together.
