Jason Fields & Kevin Sheppard / Tröegs / Stone Cherry Chocolate Stout Aged in Rye Whiskey Barrels

Sitting in the Frankfurt airport terminal waiting for a plane to Turin may not be the most inspired location to write this label, but we jetsetters do what we must to meet deadlines....

This was a ton of fun to brew. So far, the most memorable part about it was sampling the first wort which had been mashed with lots of specialty grains and about 250 lbs of pure cocoa. It was amazingly smooth, velvety sweet, and rich with chocolate. I felt like I was tasting the luscious sweetness of a chocolate river. There’s gotta be a market for this, I swear!

I can’t wait to taste this finished creation that sprang forth from Jason Fields and Kevin Sheppard’s delicious homebrew. The cherries, a blend of dark and tart, will be added in a few days, and should make this a truly remarkable stout. It couldn’t have been done without the help and expertise from John Trogner, brewer of great things at Tröegs in PA and longtime friend of our own Bill Sherwood. It’s our second time brewing with fruit, and our second time brewing with chocolate. Second time’s a charm (just like the first time)! 

Mitch Steele, Head Brewer
Stone Brewing Co.
April 2011