When I started this round of Eating the Chocolate Alphabet, I knew that some letters would be more difficult to fulfill than others.
Really, how many alcohol names do YOU know of that start with “U”?
A Hungarian chocolatier friend of mine was going to make Unicum bonbons – but I chickened out because that liqueur is EXTREMELY bitter! You probably don’t believe me that Unicum actually exists, but here is a link to a Bon Appetit article reviewing it!
Anyway, I digress…
When I attended the Northwest Chocolate Festival in November 2019, my problem was solved. Lo and behold, a chocolate made with a U alcohol: a beer from Uinta Brewing! Yes, I realize that using a brand name is a bit of a stretch, but I already feel guilty about not covering every letter this round!
The Chocolate Conspiracy from Salt Lake City, Utah infused unroasted Peruvian cacao nibs with Uinta Brewing’s Baba Black Lager.
Love the stylized honeycomb mould design which reinforces the fact that this chocolate is sweetened only with raw, unfiltered Utah wildflower honey. Or, it could be that it is paying homage to Utah’s nickname: the “beehive” state!
Deep dark brown color, trending toward black – which makes sense given the name of the beer! Medium to soft snap, smooth/silky to the touch and a slight fruity aroma at the cut edge. Placing a hexagon-shaped morsel on your tongue, your taste buds awaken as if you’ve just sipped an aperitif. There’s a slow/even melt and a distinctive sweetened-with-honey texture when chewed (meaning that it’s lightly grainy, reminiscent of halva or fudge). I’m not much of a beer drinker, so I can only assume that the long lasting bitter after taste can be attributed to the multiple types of malt in the beer.
Utah isn’t really the first place that comes to mind when you think of beer, but Uinta Brewing has been around since 1993 (starting out in an old mechanic’s garage…imagine the confusion of people wanting to get their cars repaired!) Since 2001 they have been 100% wind powered (one of the first Utah businesses to do so) and added solar panels a decade later. With their commitment to precision, passion & people, they are always looking for ways to make beer in a way that is better for the planet. If you would like to learn more about their history and products, please visit their website.
Can you believe there are only 3 more chocolates lined up for this round of the Alphabet! Do you have any suggestions for the next theme? Leave me a comment to let me know!
To obtain one of these chocolate bars for yourself, head over to Chocolate Conspiracy’s website: https://www.eatchocolateconspiracy.com/