Followers of our Scratch Beer Series may have noticed a recent pattern of Chocolate Stouts in the last few months. Since experimentation remains a key element behind our Scratch Beer philosophy, we’re treating this one no differently. For Scratch #192, we continue our quest of finding different ways to infuse chocolate flavor into beer without the intense residual bitterness of the cacao nibs and dark chocolate. With that said, this time around we “dry nibbed” the beer (just as we would “dry hop” an IPA) with cacao nibs and tinkered with the vanilla level to impart lush sweetness and a velvety texture. To balance the sweetness, we added a variety of American hops to introduce a tinge of citrus, pine and earth in the aroma. The result is a decadent stout with a luxurious body and smooth finish. 7.1% ABV.