Theobroma - Dogfish Head Brewery

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86
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1,391 Ratings

THE BROS
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rAvg: 3.83
pDev: 15.67%
Reviews: 705
Hads: 686

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Brewed by:
Dogfish Head Brewery

Delaware, United States

Style | ABV
Chile Beer | 9.00% ABV

Availability: Rotating. bottle (630), on-tap (73), growler (2).

Notes:
Theobroma is a celebration of chocolate, the food of the gods.

This Ancient Ale is based on chemical analysis of pottery fragments found in Honduras that revealed the earliest known alcoholic chocolate drink used by early civilizations to toast special occasions.

The discovery of this beverage pushed back the earliest use of cocoa for human consumption more than 500 years to 1,200 B.C. As per the analysis, Dogfish Head's Theobroma (translated into "food of the gods") is brewed with Aztec cocoa powder and cocoa nibs (from our friends at Askinosie Chocolate), honey, chilies and annatto (fragrant tree seeds).

It's light in color, not what you expect from your typical chocolate beer (not that you'd be surpised that we'd do something unexpected with this beer!).

8 IBU

Reviews

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Reviews by Greywulfken:

Greywulfken

New York

4.35/5 rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: deep gold, slim head; very little by way of lace motes

S: cocoa amid hoppy, yeasty zest; an herbal/floral aroma I can't identify

T: definite cocoa and chili flavors, some woodsy notes, herbal/floral accents (maybe the annatto?)

M: medium bodied, chili sting complements the frisky carbonation; clean and dry finishing; fresh and refreshing

O: I love beers like this, and DFH seems to be the master: their ancient ales line is brilliant, and this beer is excellent; really interesting to get such a distinct cocoa taste in a pale ale. Categorized as a "chile beer"? Weird, but what else are you gonna do with a brew as wonderfully unique as this, other than buy it and drink it?

Serving type: bottle

07-14-2012 15:29:15 | More by Greywulfken

More User Reviews:

SmellsofMahagony

Texas

4.25/5 rDev +11%

05-18-2013 13:08:52 | More by SmellsofMahagony

Cdunk11

Pennsylvania

3.75/5 rDev -2.1%

05-17-2013 17:40:56 | More by Cdunk11

Jsmick

Massachusetts

4.75/5 rDev +24%

05-17-2013 05:06:11 | More by Jsmick

vancean2

South Carolina

3/5 rDev -21.7%

05-16-2013 22:39:14 | More by vancean2

bluerabbit

Massachusetts

4.5/5 rDev +17.5%

05-16-2013 00:27:08 | More by bluerabbit

Jimbo4430

Virginia

3/5 rDev -21.7%

05-15-2013 00:42:31 | More by Jimbo4430

aty11b

Texas

4.25/5 rDev +11%

05-14-2013 01:08:51 | More by aty11b

BeastLU

Virginia

4/5 rDev +4.4%

05-13-2013 21:31:30 | More by BeastLU

Bonko_the_sane

North Carolina

3.75/5 rDev -2.1%

05-13-2013 05:17:04 | More by Bonko_the_sane

Lorianneb

New Jersey

4/5 rDev +4.4%

05-12-2013 16:54:17 | More by Lorianneb

josephwa

Minnesota

4/5 rDev +4.4%

05-11-2013 22:00:05 | More by josephwa

Kenzie

Utah

4.25/5 rDev +11%

05-11-2013 17:47:00 | More by Kenzie

SHODriver

California

4.2/5 rDev +9.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: poured into a DFH snifter to a hazy light orange with a quarter inch of rocky just off white head that fades to a collar around the edge of the glass
S: smells of chili peppers, honey sweetness, sweet citrus, a touch of vanilla and a bit of chocolate
T: honey sweetness to start then a bit of heat from the peppers, some chocolate, what I'm guessing is the annatto, slight sweet citrusy flavor as well and on the swallow more chocolate, a slight bit of lingering heat, and some residual sweetness. flavors are good and well balanced
M: heavier side of medium in the mouth with soft and slightly prickly carbonation, slightly dry on the initial swallow but quickly turns to refreshing
O: very surprising but in a good way from the color to the flavors. good complexity, decent drinkability and a good balance of flavors.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 04:54:15 | More by SHODriver