DRAFT Magazine

Giving someone a bottle of beer for Christmas just looks cheap. Giving someone two bottles of beer, though, well, that makes you generous. Luckily, Samuel Adams offers a one-stop-shop for such bighearted gifting with its release of two brews: Chocolate Bock and Blackberry Wit.

Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock is a limited-edition creation featuring the distinct taste of Cru Savage chocolate from Swiss chocolatier Felchlin. This isn’t your average Hershey’s: The dark nibs used in the brew are from super-rare, uncultivated wild Bolivian cacao beans. The beer is much easier to come by — it’s available in 750-mL bottles from Thanksgiving to New Years.

Tasting Notes: Pop this open and you’ll smell pure chocolate, all the way. The rich, creamy flavor is definitely chocolatey, too, though hints of honey, dark fruit and vanilla sneak through, too. A bit of coffee kicks in later. The velvety finish makes it good with holiday desserts; we’re envisioning it over ice cream with a slice of pecan pie.

First, a little history behind Samuel Adams Blackberry Wit: Months ago, the beer was pitted against the brewery’s Coffee Stout in the fourth annual Beer Lover’s Choice contest. Beer drinkers in pubs from San Diego to the Big Apple tasted, voted and ultimately chose Blackberry Wit the winner. A traditional wheat beer brewed with coriander and orange peel, the big draw is the addition of blackberries, sourced from a family-owned farm in Western Oregon. The beer won’t be available until January, but hey, a gift is better late than never.

Tasting Notes: Blackberries and a tinge of alcohol dominate the aroma. A soft mouthfeel with tingly bubbles is refreshing for a fruit beer, and the body is much lighter-tasting than most witbiers. Nice, light blackberry flavors and a kick of wheat at the end complement an appealing malt character and a bit of hop spiciness. The finish is both sweet and tart, but not overly so.