Vocation Brewery

Oh yes, continue my path of stouts, and the Euro-tourism. Now I’m actually outside the EU, since Vocation is an English brewery. Hey, if anybody is going to know how to make a good stout, right? Oh, wait, I guess I should be saying that about a porter. Stouts might have arisen from porters, but the two modern styles are more likely to compete than lift each other up. It’s a very tempting stout from the label, even without a lot of color, very fitting for its name – Sweet Temptation Naughty & Nice. I don’t see what’s supposed to be naughty about it, it all looks like fine flavors and aromas to me. It isn’t even the alcohol, which is at a noticeable but not crazy 6.6%. I guess it’s the whole decadence of this extra sweet and pampering beer that you’re supposed to feel is a little less proper than a standard lager or the like.

The head is much more stable now, so glass cleaning has been successful. Dark beige foam and dark brown beer, it definitely looks the part of a chocolate stout. There’s a strong scent of chocolate syrup, nothing smoky or toasty here. The first sip is sweet alright, but it’s also clean and slick, with just enough to delight you without any heavy sugar. There’s little to no aftertaste, once you swallow, it’s gone. It’s almost disappointing in its smooth simplicity. The can promised more layers and some stouty toastiness, which I am not finding. I am getting kind of a buttery sensation, though, something I don’t imagine was intended originally. Maybe I’m misinterpreting the caramel?

Supplier: Más Que Cervezas
Price: €4.40

It’s the end of an era…about a year late. But better late than never, we must agree. Despite the remaining beers being very Belgian heavy on the fast-emptying shelves of Labirratorium, there were still some that fit my typical tastes – chocolate stout! This is Vocation’s Triple Truffle Naughty & Nice Chocolate Stout, in a tall can and a subtle but suitable label. It’s been chilling for quite a while so I let it sit on the table for a bit before even opening, trusting that chocolate beer won’t go off very fast. At 8.4% it’s strong, although not the strongest I’ve ever had. Sounds like the chocolatiest I’ll have had, though.

It has a definite chocolate aroma, with a touch of liquor, kind of like those cherry liquor bonbons. While not especially heady, a nice layer of thick and lasting foam forms on the top. The flavor does not deviate from the scent clues, piling on in fact. It’s not heavy on the alcohol feel, but the chocolate is thick and dark tasting, very much like Möser Roth’s truffle. Actually, I think it’s a little sweeter than that. It maintains a pleasant texture, not getting to syrupy or heavy, and the flavor also stays constant. It’s quite an easy drinking beer for what you might expect from the description. The wait certainly didn’t hurt it, although I’m sure it was delicious from day one.