Best Beers - Theobroma by Dogfish Head

Theobroma by Dogfish Head.
I finally got my hands on this September 2008 limited release down in Philly at Tria after missing a cask opening in NYC and finding twelve places that just ran out - the 750 ml bottle went for $24, but even at the steep retail I had to give it a shot, though ! I don’t know why I searched so hard and risked the wad of cash after the huge horrors of the badly disappointing “Midas Touch,” “Festina,” “Jiahu,” “Immort” and “Fort” which were raved about by so many but proved completely unworthy. However, the awesomeness of “Raison D’Etre” and the “World Wide Stout” still carry my hopes aloft that this brewery is capable of more than hype, so I keep trying. Theobroma was interesting, at least, with the first mystery being how a 10.00% ABV brew has all the hard hitting punch of a glass of water; it is nice when a strong beer is easily quaffable without the acrid cut of alcohol searing the palate, but this was a bit too soft even for an old man like me. The light golden caramel colored pour didn’t break up into much of any recognizable aromas, and the taste were, too put it politely, mild. The promised cocoa powder and nibs and hot chilies flavor was barely there, but only as the barest hint, not even registering as full notes. The overall effect was weaker than a memory of a cup of “real” hot chocolate from a Mexican restaurant, and not a true homage to the true Aztec drink of the gods. Theobroma will be released again in the summer of 2009, and it is moderately worth trying if it is right in front of you, but don’t hunt it down, and don’t pay more than $10. If this is the “food of the gods” then the gods must be crazy.

David Harris is the lead reviewer, and a lead collector and contributor, for Living Social’s Brewsocial.

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