What could be more reminiscent of a frigid Northern winter than an insulating beard and a warming Muskoka seasonal brew? Our Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout is rich and sturdy with roasted dark chocolate malts, real cocoa, 70% dark chocolate, and freshly harvested local cranberries. Winter Beard was brewed with a slightly higher alcohol content to allow for aging and cellaring. This Vintage Brew has been cellar aged for 14 months and the complexities in the beer have continued to mingle and mature in the bottle. The result is a very special winter brew full of character, wisdom and experience.
Muskoka Brewery makes a variety of beers that, while delicious when released, beg for further aging and maturation furthering the character of the beer in the rewarding way.
This Imperial Stout is brewed with 70% dark chocolate, real cocoa and freshly harvested cranberries. These ingredients mingle in the bottle & come together over time to create one beautiful harmonious flavour. The higher alcohol also assists in the cellaring development of this beer.
Because this beer can be further aged for up to 2 years, you may want to consider picking up two bottles; one to enjoy now and one to enjoy down the road. This way you can compare how the flavour changes and develops. Exercise patience. We know you want to raid your cellar. Be patient.
Store the product upright in a cool area and away from direct sunlight. Ideal temperature for this beer is between 50-55 degrees F. 750 ml, 8.0% alc./vol.
Wobbly Pop Culture 
So, today is Day 1 and this is a great beer to kick off the 12 Days of Taste-Mas. When I poured the beer I noticed that there is not a lot of carbonation and the head of the beer is minimal with a caramel colour. The beer itself is very dark, and very smooth for 8% alc./vol. It’s chocolate flavour is subtle and I can’t really taste the cranberries, unless that’s what’s keeping the dark chocolate taste down. For a strong 8% beer I could, if I had too, drink a few of these during an evening of Euchre.
This is quite drinkable for 8% alcohol. It would be easy to have a couple of these. I find both the chocolate and the cranberry to be understated. If anything, there’s a hint of the chocolate flavour on the tongue, and then a hint of cranberry in the cheeks a minute or two after swallowing.
This brew is a great surprise! I’ve never had a chocolate stout before. This one is amazingly easy to drink and the flavor is perfectly balanced. It has the same dry finish that you would associate with great dark chocolate but a hint of the cranberry lingers after.
I enjoy this after 14 months of aging by Muskoka Brewery, I can’t wait to pick up another to have for next year and enjoy the difference of another year in the bottle!!
Well, not really a beer connoissuer, the breadth of my beer universe over the past 5 years essentially includes Stella, Heineken and Bud Light. Not sure what to expect over the next 12 days! First up, Muskoka Brewery Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout. Stout? I have always stayed away from the dark beers like Guinness. This should be interesting.
(1) So you buy only one bottle and it comes in a box?!? And the bottle is 750 ml?! What are we drinking wine here?
(2) Colour pours a dark brown, as expected.
(3) I was expecting a thick beer but it was very smooth. Goes down without much of a fight.
(4) I also found that it wasnt extremely carbonated.
(5) Nice flavour. Not overly chocolate or cranberry in flavor. I agree with the initial post – cant really taste the cranberry.
(6) I like my chocolate and i like my beer but i dont necessarily like them together but in this case it blended together very well.
I would definitely recommend this beer. A beer you can defintely cuddle up by the fireplace.
I thought about mentioning the low level of carbonation too. It’s interesting, because this beer isn’t really flat, but I think the Champagne cork puts you in a frame of mind to expect a very bubbly product, and when it doesn’t pop open and fizz, it makes you think “huh – not very carbonated.”
Cool packaging! I really liked the box which left me with a great first impression. The pour didn’t leave a stellar head which surprised me for a stout. Perhaps I have been spoiled by that “other” stout, personal fav, but anyways. Ton’o’chocolate flavour but the cranberry seemed missing. Pleasant flavour for the entire bottle. I never got tired of the flavour but I don’t see me drinking more than one either
Right, so I was feeling some concern about tossing cranberries and chocolate in beer. I’m not a fan of sweet. I do love guinness though and this one, at twice the alcohol content, was just as smooth. There’s something kind of chocolate, coffee, umami about dark beers. It’s nice to think there was a high, dry temperature involved somewhere early in the process. I have now learned that chocolate is perfectly appropriate. It’s a good beer with a frightening face. I still don’t get the cranberries though. Fortunately I didn’t taste them.