Theobroma by Dogfish Head

Theobroma by Dogfish Head is Mayan and Aztec history in a bottle. A tribute to my ancestors. This is a 9% ABV chile beer. Brewed with natural honey, cocoa nibs, cocoa powder, ancho chiles and grounded annatto. Brewers notes state:
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Theobroma or “food of the gods” is a recreation of the premier chocolate beverage of the Americas which was intended for the gods, kings and the elite. This liquid time capsule is based on the earliest chemical and archeological evidence of cacao in the New World, dating 1100 B.C and enhanced by natural additives of the later Mayan and Aztec drinks.

This Ancient Ale is based on chemical analysis of pottery fragments found in Honduras that revealed the earliest known alcoholic chocolate drink used by early civilizations to toast special occasions.The discovery of this beverage pushed back the earliest use of cocoa for human consumption more than 500 years to 1,200 B.C. As per the analysis, Dogfish Head’s Theobroma (translated into “food of the gods”) is brewed with Aztec cocoa powder and cocoa nibs (from our friends at Askinosie Chocolate), honey, chilies and annatto (fragrant tree seeds).

It’s light in color, not what you expect from your typical chocolate beer (not that you’d be surprised that we’d do something unexpected with this beer!).
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This is the second time I try this beer and needless to say, simply outstanding. The bitterness of cocoa with minor chile heat. Unlike the Champurado and hot flavor of the Cocoa Mole Ale as well as the Vertical Epic 11.11.11 which was more like chile bread, this is what you would call a grape and chocolate like chile saison. The heat is not strong but it is in there. The vegetable chile flavor combined with bitter cocoa, chocolate and honey give this saison/ wild bread like grape chocolate flavor. Quite unique type of beer. As well as unique for DogFish Head who always brews all these awesome historical beers. I want to say it is close to the Cocoa Mole Ale except for the fact that the beeractually explodes in more chocolate sweetness and chile heat. Being a big fan of chiles, like my mother and father, the heat is no problem. It is the spice that takes me back to the days of my childhood. Growing up always eating chiles :). This is a good beer that should not be passed up!!

Original Review:
A taste of the ancients. A tribute to my ancestors of long past. This beer is a sweet and refreshing brew. So many different spices and additives of the Mayas and Aztecs are in this brew. The sweetness comes from honey. The bitter sweet of the chocolate and the chile is felt in the after taste. A great blend of ancient history and a definite pick up for all who want to try the New World as it was before 1100 B.C.