Frederick Miller Classic Chocolate Lager
11 Comments Published by Joel October 13th, 2006 in Beer. Share This
A new beer from Miller is being touted by the AP, local news stations, and Milwaukee Business Journal as being a “holiday brew.” Why? Because it’s full of chocolate…malts.
“Frederick Miller Classic Chocolate Lager” was entered into the Great American Beer Festival’s 2005 competition and apparently won under in the “Herbs and Spices” category under the name “Temptation Bock.” You’ll notice, perhaps, that the name had nothing to do with chocolate. That’s because chocolate malts—from six of which Classic Chocolate Lager is brewed—don’t taste like chocolate. The name comes from the color of the malts, not the taste.
That said, I’ve not tasted it. (And won’t, it seems, as it’s only scheduled to be released in the Midwest this year.) One guy on Beer Advocate said it tasted like “old, cold watery hot chocolate.”
So maybe I’m wrong: Maybe it does taste like chocolate!
If you want to try a delicious beer that tastes of chocolate, my favorite is Rogue’s Imperial Chocolate Stout (or something like that; It’s a Rogue, I remember), but Young’s Double Chocolate Stout is available all over the place and is okay, too.
(Also, no pictures of the label could be found on Miller’s web site or otherwise. If you’ve got one, send it in; At least it’d be easier to avoid it.)
Chocolate Or Beer? Miller Combines Two Favorites [WSBTV/AP]
Update: There was a picture on Miller’s blog, of all places. Thanks, Josh!
11 Responses to “Frederick Miller Classic Chocolate Lager”
- 1 Trackback on Oct 16th, 2006 at 7:16 am
I like how the AP story leads you to believe chocolate and beer have never been together before.
/me hugs bottle of Young’s
I had a bottle of beer one time at one of those pubs that have 200+ types of beer, tasted just like that powdered chocolate milk mix. The very first sip tasted like beer, however subsequent sips I had sworn that someone replaced my beer with chocolate milk. I even poured it into a glass to check the color (as it was in an amber bottle). Turns out it was the beer. I could not finish it because of the disconnect of what I was looking at versus what I was tasting.
VILE!
I think flavored beers mostly suck. They really do. But I was at Rogue for the first time last week, and they did give me some good stuff. (GIVE! WOW! In Az. there is a law against that.) But I woulda drunk my weight in I2PA. Ohhh man.
Picture of the bottle here
FYI: Chocolate malts impart a roasty flavor like other black malts (without the bitterness of black patent) additionally they will impart a deep nut-like flavor with carmel and/or toasted bread undertones. Combine these with a a malt sweetness and you can get something like chocolate (but not quite).
Samuel Adams® Chocolate Bock.
Yr average Imperial Stout is going to have coffee and chocolate notes in it ranging from hints of to TONS of that flavour. Depending on the brewer. As this is coming from a megabrewer, I’m guessing they aren’t really going to be putting something out there that will dance across my taste buds like something from the mad hatter brewery or something.
Youngs Double Chocolate Stout has been discontinued. If you’re a fan, grab it while you still can.
Another nice beer which is heavy with Chocolate malts is Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout.
I’m actually drinking this beer now and it’s delicious. It’s got a smooth amber taste, with just a hint of chocolate at the end, quite an experience. If you want to get the effect, find Anheuser Busch Spykes hot chocolate flavor and mix with Amber Bock, very similar. I’m usually not a fan of flavored beers, but this is pretty much a perfect blend.