BitterSweet: Beer + Chocolate, an event produced by the Washington Beer Blog, is just ten days away. Ticket sales have been brisk and it is time for you to reserve your spot before it sells out. The event will showcase chocolates from Theo Chocolate paired with select beers from eight local breweries. Also, this event is your only chance to drink some amazingly creative beers brewed exclusively for this event using various forms of chocolate. In all, there will be 16 beers to sample along with ample quantities of the best chocolate in the world. And live music, as well.

Working with Theo Chocolate, eight local breweries have devised new beers for this event. For the most part, we’re talking about small-batch, never-before-brewed beer that may never be seen again. The brewers have really flexed their creative muscles for this event (details below).

Also, the chocolate experts from Theo sat down with a selection of beers from the participating breweries and devised some pairings. In most cases, the beer is from the brewery’s regular line-up and the chocolate from Theo’s regular line-up.

Get tickets now.

The event is a fundraiser for FamilyWorks, a local food bank and family resource center.

Details about the beers, the pairings, and the event are below.

Specialty Beers:

• Airways Brewing: Triple Chocolate Stout made with Theo Cocoa Nibs and Vanilla Bean.
• Big Time Brewery: Holy Mole Cascadian Dark IPA, with cocoa nibs and chili chocolates.
• Black Raven Brewing: The Sour Seeker. A very special version of Wisdom Seeker Double IPA “soured” with natural yeast cultivars found in the spontaneous fermentation of the cocoa bean during the early stages of cocoa production.
• Elysian Brewing: Faster Cocoa Kill Kill.  Described as a Pale Ale with sturdy hop bitterness working in harmony with both chocolate liquor and cocoa nibs.
• Fremont Brewing: It’s a secret. Come be surprised.
• Georgetown Brewing: Chocolate Ka-Kow. A chocolate beer with a Punch. Brewed with chocolate, and a punch of roasted hatch chili peppers and cinnamon stick.
• Naked City Brewing: Scholalade Weizen, a Chocolate Wheat Beer.
• Two Beers: It’s a secret. Come be surprised.

Pairings:

• Airways Starliner Stout paired with Theo Cherry Almond.
• Big Time Icculus IPA paired with Theo Dominican Republic 84%.
• Black Raven Mole Brown Porter paired with Theo Milk Salted Almond.
• Elysian Coche de Medianoche paired with Theo Cocoa nibs.
• Fremont Brewing Abominable paired with Theo Coconut Curry.
• Georgetown Lucile paired with Theo Orange.
• Naked City Big Lebrewski paired with Theo Coffee.
• Two Beers Immersion Amber paired with Theo Dark Toasted Coconut.

The Event

Website and Tickets: www.bittersweetseattle.com

Date: Thursday, November 10th

Time: 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Tickets: $35 advance only, click here.

Location: Fremont Brewing, Seattle WA (the secret backroom).

• Eight local craft breweries, 16 beers to taste.
• Eight chocolate beers (made exclusively for this event).
• Eight beer + chocolate pairings, determined by a panel of experts from Theo Chocolate.
• Live Gypsy jazz band.

We recently attended a special event at the 5 Corner Market, the new beer-savvy restaurant in Ballard. The six course food-beer pairing dinner concluded with a dessert that blew everyone’s minds: sticky toffee pudding served with Southern Tier Brewing’s Chokolat Stout. It was amazing. The memory haunts me still.

With Valentine’s Day rapidly approaching, a young man’s fancy turns to thoughts of chocolate. Or is that love? Maybe so, but chocolate—like love—goes so very well with beer. Anyway, over the next few days there are some chocolate-themed beer events we want to tell you about.

Pike Pub and Brewery – Tonight (Thursday, February 10th), the Pike Pub will host the 3rd Annual Chocofest. Reservation recommended. Throughout the Microbrewery Museum, they’ll have stations set up featuring different chocolate treats. Next to each chocolate station will be a drink station staffed with pairing experts. The event will feature more than two dozen different chocolates and more than 20 different beers, wines, mead and spirits. Cost is $25 per person. RSVP to Tara, tshuttleworth@pikebrewing.com (206) 812-6604.

Elliott Bay Brewery and Pub – At the West Seattle pub, Elliott Bay Brewing is getting in the Valentine’s spirit by loading up the taps with chocolate-themed creations. Starting tomorrow (Friday, February 11) and continuing through Valentine’s Day, Elliott Bay will be serving up three chocolate-infused beers: Chocolate Porter, Chocolate-Infused Imperial Stout, and an chocolate-infused version of the regular stout (No Doubt Stout). According to Elliott Bay brewer Dan Ashley, he used organic coco nibs from Theo. They’ll be serving up sampler trays which will include chocolate treats to accompany the beers. We’ve also heard that a couple of vanilla-infused beers might make it into the rotation as well.

Georgetown Brewing Company – This Sunday (February 13th) there will be a very special fundraiser at Georgetown Brewing. The event is a fundraiser for Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest Autism science and advocacy organziation. Chocolates will be provided by Theo Chocolate and other snacks will be provided by Macrina Bakery. Theo is also sending a chocolate tasting expert to help you better enjoy the experience. Entertainment will be provided by Creeping Time, a local bluegrass outfit. As for the beer, Georgetown will be pouring their complete lineup of beers plus you’ll get a sneak preview of this year’s Lisa’s (“The sun is trying to kill me”) Chocolate Stout, which they’ll serve up with ice cream from Molly Moon. Tickets at the door – cash and check only. You can buy tickets in advance (with a credit card) at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/153245.
Ticket price is $50. Remember, this is a charity fundraiser.

If there are other chocolate-themed beer events happening, please leave a comment and let the world know.

There are still tickets left for this weekend’s Washington Winter Beer Festival. The event is in Fremont at the Hale’s Paladium. It is one of the most highly-anticipated beer events of the year. There were a limited number of tickets available online, now sold out, but there will be plenty of tickets at the door for both the Friday and Saturday sessions. Read our story about the festival.

The Washington Beer Commission invited us to attend a media event yesterday at the Hale’s brewery - a chocolate and beer pairing session. The event served as a preview of this year’s Winter Beer Festival. Along with all the fabulous beer, one of Seattle’s finest chocolate shops – The Chocolate Box – will be at the festival serving samples of some of the world’s finest chocolate treats. The idea is that you sample different beers alongside different chocolates to find the pairing that makes your tongue do cartwheels.

Representatives from the beer industry and the chocolate industry were at yesterday’s event to tell us about their products as we sampled delectable chocolates alongside a delicious assortment of beers. Pairing beer with chocolate is beautifully subjective. There is no “right” pairing. It is entirely up to you to determine which combination works best for your palate.

Yesterday we learned from the experts the proper way to do it. Start with the chocolate. The only real requirement is that you let it melt on your tongue to release the entire depth of its flavors. It is hard, but you must give the chocolate some time to work its magic before you swallow. Let the oils coat your mouth. You’ll notice flavors that were not there when you first popped it into your mouth. Then take a sip of beer. Repeat.

My favorite pairing was the Trade Route Ginger Pale Ale paired with a Chilli Truffle from Carter’s Chocolates. When the truffle first hit my mouth, I barely noticed any hint of chilli. The heat came as the chocolate melted into nothingness on my tongue. It lingered. Then I took a sip of the beer. The truffle’s chilli combined with the beer’s ginger to create a whole new flavor, one that reminded me of Thai food – spicy, sweet, and hot.

Mrs. Beer Blog has a much more sophisticated palate for chocolate than I do. One of her favorite pairings was the XXXXX Stout Truffle, also from Carter’s Chocolates, paired with a couple of different beers. First, the truffle paired with Big Time Malaprop 8 Abbey Style Bier created a dessert-like sensation. The same truffle paired with Pike Entire created something that reminded her of an after dinner glass of bourbon.  The truffle served to bring out, or emphasize, different characteristics in each beer.

Like I said, chocolate and beer pairings are entirely subjective. It’s all about what you like. We highly recommend that you try it yourself at this weekend’s Winter Beer Festival. The folks from the Chocolate Box know a lot about chocolate and they know a surprising lot about beer as well. They will be happy to make recommendations. If you can describe the beer to them, they can recommend a chocolate to you.

Winter Beer Fest tickets will be available at the door. Visit the official Web site for complete details.

Here’s one last note for those of you wondering. The XXXXX Stout Truffle is indeed made using Pike XXXXX Stout. Mike Carter, the man behind Carter’s Chocolates, worked as a server at Pike. He now operates a chocolate business out of Port Orchard. His chocolates are amazing.

The annual Winter Beer Festival is coming up on December 4 and 5th at Hale’s Palladium in Frelard. The Washington Beer Commission has just released the initial beer list  and it’s looking like a good mix of traditional winter beers and specialty beers, with some hoppy brews thrown in for good measure.

Be sure to read all the way to the bottom of the list to see what’s caught Mrs.  Beer Blog’s eye. Mmmmm beer and chocolate. (Time to join WABL, if you haven’t already)? If you’re a WABL you also get in early to beat the crowds, and you get extra tasting tokens. Seriously, this WABL thing usually pays for itself by the end of the year.

The Chocolate Box is back this year as a sponsor, which means beer and chocolate pairings including a beer/chocolate cupcake this year. Brings tears  of joy to Mrs. BB’s eyes. 

The festival runs Friday December 4th from 5 to 10 p.m. (WABLs get in at 4 p.m.); and Saturday, December 5th from 1 to 10 p.m. (WABLs get in at noon). Tickets include six tasting tokens, or eight if you’re a WABL, and cost $23 advance, $25 at the door if any tickets are left. Advance tickets are available online, or at one of the authorized ticket outlets.

7 Seas Brewing Co.- Gig Harbor
7 Seas Export Style Stout
British Pale Ale
Ballz Deep Double IPA

Anacortes Brewery- Anacortes
Klosterbier
Noel Winter Ale
Cask Noel Winter Ale

Big Al Brewing- Seattle
Winter Warmer
Irish Red or Smoked Porter

Big Time Brewery- Seattle
Yulefest
Malaprop 8 Abbey-style Bier
Decade 2.1

Black Raven Brewing Co.- Redmond
Second Sight Scotch Ale
Citrus & Spice Trickster IPA

Boundary Bay Brewery- Bellingham
Cabin Fever 08 & 09
IPA

Chuckanut Brewery & Kitchen- Bellingham
Dunkel Lager
Strong Ale

Diamond Knot Brewing Co.- Mukilteo
Industrial Ho!Ho! 07 & 09
Pumpkin Ale

Elliott Bay Brewing Co.- Seattle & Burien
Organic Noale Holiday Ale
Organic Demolition Ale

Elysian Brewing Co.- Seattle
Bifrost
Bye-Bye Frost

Fish Brewing Co.- Olympia
Fish Tale Winterfish
Leavenworth Biers Boulder Bend
Spire Mountain Dark & Dry

Fremont Brewing Co.- Seattle
Snow Fall
Universale
Mystere d’Hiver

Georgetown Brewing Co.- Seattle
Lisa’s Chocolate Stout

Hale’s Ales Brewery- Seattle
Wee Heavy
TBA

Iron Horse Brewery- Ellensburg
Mocha Death
Iron Horse IPA

Issaquah Brewhouse/Rogue Ales- Issaquah
Yellow Snow IPA
Mogu Madness
Menage A Frog
White Frog

Lazy Boy Brewing Co.- Everett
Mistletoe Bliss
TBA

Naked City Brewery- Seattle
The Big Lebowski
Bing

Northern Lights Brewing Co.- Spokane
Winter Ale
Chocolate Dunkel

Pike Brewing Co.- Seattle
Pike Entire
Pike Auld Acquaintance

Port Townsend Brewing Co.- Port Townsend
Winter Ale
TBA

Pyramid Breweries- Seattle
Snow Cap
Humburg’R
TBA

Ram Restaurant & Brewery- Seattle
Ol’ Mall Walker 08 & 09
Dawg Sled 08 & 09
Bi Clops

Redhook Ale Brewery- Woodinville
Winterhook Winter Ale
Redhook ESB
Longhammer IPA

Rock Bottom Brewery- Bellevue
Black Diamond Oatmeal Stout
Frostbite Strong Ale

Schooner Exact Brewing Co.- Seattle
Hoppy Holidays Winter Ale
Hoppy the Woodsman
Mystery beer

Scuttlebutt Brewing Co.- Everett
10 Below
Mystery Cask

Silver City Brewery- Silverdale
Beautimus
Fat Woody

Snipes Mountain Brewery- Sunnyside
Pumpkin Death 08 (Cask Bourbon) & 09
Fresh Hop IPA

Snoqualmie Falls Brewing Co.- Snoqualmie
Avalanche Winter Ale
Steam Train Porter

Three Skulls Ales- Seattle
Wreckage Barleywine
Hop the Plank IPA

Trade Route Brewing Co.- Pacific
Ginger Pale Ale
Pandan Brown
Chieftain Amber Ale

Two Beers Brewing Co.- Seattle
Jive Espresso Stout
Immersion Amber
Echo IPA

Water Street Brewing Co.- Port Townsend
Burr’s Frosty Winter
Chocolate Oatmeal Stout

WABL Beer*- Mocha Stout by Northgate Ram
Mocha Stout featuring Café Vita’s Theo blend and Theo’s Cocoa nibs
*Available exclusively to WABL members at the Merchandise/WABL Booth