Since 2011, the new year has heralded the arrival one of the St. Louis area’s most decadent beers. Charleville Brewing has had a hit with its seasonal release, Box of Chocolate, since it first arrived bottled on the scene. The Ste. Genevieve brewery’s unique twist on the classic Belgian style known as the quadruple, or quad, has won fans at home and around the country. Brewed with Belgian chocolate and Belgian candy sugar, this beer has delicious complexity and subtle nuances.
You’ll realize how this beer got its name immediately upon pouring; it smells exactly like a freshly opened box of chocolates. But the best is yet to come. While the beer is a Belgian quad at heart, many layers of flavor remind you of all the different pieces in a box of chocolates. Think milk chocolate, cocoa powder, cherry, fig and even that piece with the delicious rum liqueur. Layers upon layer of chocolaty goodness beg to be explored. Despite clocking in at 10.5 percent ABV, Box of Chocolate remains medium-bodied and avoids being overly sweet, syrupy or alcoholic.
When it was first distributed, the huge buzz that began building caused the limited supply to immediately disappear from shelves. Luckily, Charleville has increased production to keep up with demand, and while still somewhat limited, you can find Box of Chocolate in the metro area’s better beer stores in 22-ounce bottles and on draft at beer bars and select restaurants.
This article appears in January 2014.