What could be more reminiscent of a frigid Northern winter than an insulating beard and a warming Muskoka seasonal brew? Our Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout is rich and sturdy with roasted dark chocolate malts, real cocoa, 70% dark chocolate, and freshly harvested local cranberries. Winter Beard was brewed with a slightly higher alcohol content to allow for aging and cellaring. This Vintage Brew has been cellar aged for 14 months and the complexities in the beer have continued to mingle and mature in the bottle. The result is a very special winter brew full of character, wisdom and experience.
Muskoka Brewery makes a variety of beers that, while delicious when released, beg for further aging and maturation furthering the character of the beer in the rewarding way.
This Imperial Stout is brewed with 70% dark chocolate, real cocoa and freshly harvested cranberries. These ingredients mingle in the bottle & come together over time to create one beautiful harmonious flavour. The higher alcohol also assists in the cellaring development of this beer.
Because this beer can be further aged for up to 2 years, you may want to consider picking up two bottles; one to enjoy now and one to enjoy down the road. This way you can compare how the flavour changes and develops. Exercise patience. We know you want to raid your cellar. Be patient.
Store the product upright in a cool area and away from direct sunlight. Ideal temperature for this beer is between 50-55 degrees F. 750 ml, 8.0% alc./vol.
Wobbly Pop Culture 
We are officially live with year two of the 12 Days of Taste-Mas. Those of you that are going to have this first selection with lunch can post your thoughts here.
Okay, Day 1 and like last year, this is a great beer to kick-off the 12 Days of Taste-Mas. It’s a dark, thick beer that is slightly carbonated with an amber head. This time around I was trying really hard to taste the cranberries with the chocolate and this year I could. I took my time to drink the bottle so I could see the taste differences between cold, out of the fridge, and room temperature flavours. The warmer it got the more I could taste the cranberries and chocolate.
Last year I bought 2 so I could drink one this year and see if there was a difference. I will be drinking that one next and will add to this post with that result. My guess would be that it will have a more robust flavour.
As I write this I am drinking a 2012 vintage of the Muskoka Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout and it is really nice. Chocolate and cranberry really come out as well as the alcohol. I am also doing something a little different, by drinking it in a big red wine glass. I feel this beer should be enjoyed in a brandy snifter while being warmed by your hand.
I love this beer. This is the third one I’ve had this season already and I bought a spare for later this week. I will be picking one up to cellar until next year so I can check out the difference!
After a weekend of baking for Xmas, this is the perfect way to finish. Solid chocolate flavour with the aftertaste of cranberry and a lingering stout tounge.
For me – there’s no better Christmas beer…..but I guess there’s still eleven to go right??
As I finish this beer it has warmed up a bit – not quite room temp, but not frigid. I can feel a little more of the alcohol content present as it warms up. I have to be honest, it isn’t offensive; just a tasting note at the end of the beer.
Rich dark brown colour. Not much carbonation. Velvety smooth mouth feel. I get the notes of chocolate and very faint cranberry. It also reminds me a bit of dark roast coffee. It’s a nice beer to kick off Taste-Mas.