Well, to be more accurate at the risk of slander, they beat me to it. Great Divide announced their summer seasonals, Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout and Double Wit. It has been well documented on my blog that the Yeti Imperial Stout is one of my favorite stouts on the planet. After reading the description of the Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti, they may have outdone themselves:

“The brewers toned down the hops a bit to allow cocoa nibs to contribute some pleasing bitterness, while vanilla notes from the oak combine with the cocoa to create an aroma and flavor akin to a gourmet chocolate bar. A dash of cayenne keeps things lively, adding just a bit of heat to the finish.”

What excites me most about this stout is the addition of cayenne to add a bit of heat to the beer. While I have no documented proof of this idea, I am planning on brewing a chocolate cayenne stout in the fall in time for winter. Great Divide said “screw winter, we’re doing it now, summer or not.” I commend them for this decision.

I first tasted the cayenne/chocolate combo in a truffle that I bought from Chocolate Fetish in Asheville. They call it the Ancient Pleasures truffle. I couldn’t agree more. I love spicy food, so the slight spicy tingle that kicks in after you have enjoyed the rich, creamy dark chocolate is simply delightful. It is truly a chocolate experience.

A couple months ago I was in Asheville and stopped by Chocolate Fetish to get an afternoon chocolate fix, and bought an Ancient Pleasure. As I was eating it, the thought occurred to me that this would probably make a fantastic variation on a chocolate stout. Obviously, I’d have to be very careful with the amount of cayenne I use, because the object is to get a hint of heat, not to destroy the mouths of my drinkers. (I’ve been known to overdo hot spice in my cooking.)

Since then, I have also tried adding a small amount of cayenne to hot cocoa, and it totally took it to a new level. It has become one of my favorite flavor combinations.

I do hope that the Chocolate Yeti will be making its way around my area. I’d love to try one. I’ll forgive Great Divide for stealing my idea…