Samuel Adams, a brand of The Boston Beer Co., Boston, teamed up with San Francisco-based craft chocolate maker TCHO to introduce the Samuel Adams Beer Lover's Chocolate Box. The brewers at Samuel Adams worked closely with TCHO Chief Chocolate Maker Brad Kintzer to design the gift box so that each premium chocolate pairs with a Samuel Adams brew from the Samuel Adams Winter Classics Variety Pack, the company says.
According to the company, the malty sweetness and rich flavors of craft beer and the flavors of rich, premium chocolate complement each other, while the carbonation of the beer also cleanses the palate from the heavy finish of the chocolate.
The Samuel Adams Beer Lover's Chocolate Box includes 12 chocolates, and the first 150 orders also will include two Samuel Adams Perfect Pint Glasses. The chocolate box retails for $16.95 at tcho.com/samueladams, and limited quantities also will be available at the Samuel Adams Boston Brewery gift shop. The Samuel Adams Winter Classics Variety Pack, which is suitable for pairing with the chocolate box, is available through December for a suggested retail price of $13.99.
"As both a veteran chocolate maker and novice home brewer, I'm amazed by the flavor complexity found in beer and by the similarities in the chocolate-making process and how complementary the resulting flavors can be,” TCHO’s Kintzer said in a statement. “In developing the Beer Lover's Chocolate Box, it was surprisingly natural to pair Samuel Adams brews with our TCHO chocolates."
The craft beer brand is working to promote craft beer as a beverage to pair with food because of its flavor palette and price point.
"The idea of pairing beer and food has been around for centuries, but many people are just starting to explore the idea and have fun with it while learning what works,” said Jennifer Glanville, brewery manager at the Samuel Adams Boston Brewery, in a statement. “From a juicy burger to a rich cheese or dessert, there's a beer to create that perfect pairing — it's all about letting the flavor of one enhance the other.
"We're looking forward to hearing drinkers' responses to the Samuel Adams Beer Lover's Chocolate Box,” she continued. “So many people think of wine as the quintessential chocolate pairing, but we think this pairing will certainly change some minds."
