On Tap is a regular column featuring our recommendations on the most unique new draft beer offerings from local pubs.
Our Recommendation: Eclat Cocoa Lager, Victory Brewing Company
Where: Victory Brewing Company, 420 Acorn Lane, Downingtown, PA
Sometimes it is funny how things all tie together.
For Victory Brewing’s “Sweet Sixteen” Birthday celebration, they collaborated with West Chester’s renowned Eclat Chocolate to create a chocolate beer. Although the “Sweet Sixteen” Party is officially February 15th, the Eclat Cocoa Lager was released on Valentine’s Day in the Downingtown Brewpub. Victory happened to be hosting the monthly West Chester Story Slam on this night so attendees were among the first to sample this delicious beer. By sheer coincidence, the winning story at the Slam, told by local writer Terry Heyman, happened to be about a sweet sixteen party she once attended!
But back to the beer. Eclat Cocoa Lager has been brewed using the world’s rarest cacao bean, the Peruvian Pure Nacional. The lager pours a very dark chocolate color with a beautiful foam head. The first sip revealed it’s surprisingly smooth and light. Despite the dark chocolate pour, the lager tastes more like one is eating a fine light chocolate treat. The cocoa finish lingers. The Cocoa Lager comes in slightly over 5% ABV.
The Eclat Cocoa Lager will be available at select locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, but for a limited time only.
Below is video of Terry Heyman’s hilarious Sweet Sixteen Story that she told on February 14th at the West Chester Story Slam, which was held at Victory Brewing Company.
