Brewery: Meantime Brewing Company
Location: Greenwich, London
ABV: 6.5%
Version: 330ml bottle
Source: The Vineyard, Belfast

Another dinky-sized bottle from The Vineyard, and another very fine beer indeed from Meantime. A dark ale this time, rather than a stout or porter, although my initial impression was that it was quite similar to the Coffee Porter that I’d sampled not long before.

The beer poured a rich, dark black-brown with a thin head and a faint effervescence. It seemed quite sour on first taste (although in an entirely enjoyable, green-apple way, I hasten to add) but then it followed up with a huge hit of sweetness that was almost cloying in its intensity. Judging by the blurb on the Meantime website they’re selling this one as a “dessert beer”, although I think it might actually go better with cheese and biscuits, to help take the edge off some of those sugars.

The chocolate elements seemed to be more distinct in the aroma than the flavour, although there was a definite mocha characteristic. Definitely much more Green & Black’s 80% cocoa than Cadbury’s Dairy Milk though, which is entirely right and proper if you ask me. I’m not sure that Meantime Chocolate is one I’d go for on a regular basis, especially given the rest of the Meantime range to choose from, but I’m very glad I tried it.