Dogfish Head- Theobroma

“This beer is based on chemical analysis of pottery fragments found in Honduras which revealed the earliest known alcoholic chocolate drink used by early civilizations to toast special occasions. The discovery of this beverage pushed back the earliest use of cocoa for human consumption more than 500 years to 1200 BC. As per the analysis, Dogfish Head’s Theobroma (translated into ‘food of the gods’) is brewed with Aztec cocoa powder and cocoa nibs (from our friends at Askinosie Chocolate), honey, chilies, and annatto (fragrant tree seeds). It’s light in color – not what you expect with your typical chocolate beer. Not that you’d be surpised that we’d do something unexpected with this beer!” -Dogfish.com

I was fortunate enough to stumble upon this brew at the ABC in Winter Park, FL. This is listed on Dogfish Head’s Website as an “occasional rarity,” so I was happy to find it. This is part of a series of beers that Dogfish has released that claim to be created from the recipes found in the remnants of ancient casks from around the world. Here’s a brief clip they put together:

The artwork on the bottle denotes the ancient aztec inspiration for the recipe. It pours into the glass and a very thin off white head arises. The color is as golden as the lost city and every so slightly opaque. The taste of chocolate is delicate, a flowery sweetness of honey and anatto sets in. It finishes with a remarkably fragrant bite which abruptly settles, leaving you with the warmth of a feint taste of alcohol. This brew is very unique, I highly recommend it to enthusiasts looking for a new experience.

8.6/10