Cheers!: Liquid Fudge and Coconut

Inexplicably, while walking in gale force winds and extremity-freezing cold to buy groceries, I had a nice, soft beer on my mind. I was actually thinking of the Belgian ale Duvel. After a long day at work and then walking in these extreme conditions, I had developed a major thirst, and I know Duvel can quench thirst with velvet glove authority.

But when I finally arrived at the store with frost-nipped fingertips despite two layers of gloves, I felt the intense call of darkness.

It was the weirdest thing, finding that perfect beer. Here’s what I learned in my search – don’t ever give up.

I took my time perusing the really exceptional beer offerings at my local grocery store, but nothing captured my imagination until I remembered that the store beer guru, Sam Northrop, had set up a special side aisle of dark beers. There were several that tempted me, but when my eyes finally landed on the last item in the display, I knew I had found exactly what I wanted – Death by Coconut by Oskar Blues Brewery of Longmont, Colo.

Sometimes I have to marvel at my beery instincts because this beer is exactly what I wanted and needed on this obscenely cold night (did I mention that this is my fourth winter without heat in my living quarters?), despite going into the situation with a completely different beer profile in my mind. I suggest that in order to enjoy every beer experience, you remain flexible, because…

Oh, man, this Death by Coconut is a great beer! So good! So beautiful! I wish I could pet it or in some way show my affection for its good taste.

The brewery defines it as a semi-sweet Irish porter. I thought porters were strictly a London thing. Not that anyone can’t mimic a style, but describing it as a specific style legitimizes it and I don’t think Irish porter is historically correct.

But in this case, I don’t give a Whoopi Goldberg about the style because something this good defies style. I’ve always considered Oskar Blues’ Ten Fidy to be a great beer, but I would ask it to make room for this spectacular amalgamation of beer, chocolate and coconut. The brewery website says they use “loads” of dark chocolate and extra dark caramel malt to achieve Death by Coconut.

It comes across as drinking liquid fudge followed by a beautifully integrated shot of coconut juice, followed by another layer of intense chocolate.

If you are looking to treat yourself or someone else to a heavenly chocolate beer, find this and buy as much as you can.