Look for Brooklyn’s Black Chocolate Stout in four-packs at your local grocer or liquor store. (Credit: Brenton Day)

South Louisiana’s winter season may be short-lived, but there’s one thing you can count on to warm you up on a chilly evening, and that’s a Russian imperial stout. Legend has it that Russian imperial stouts were brewed in the 1800s exclusively for Catherine the Great. They are the king of stouts, boasting lots of malt character and high alcohol content.

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout uses a blend of specially roasted malts to achieve a deep dark chocolate flavor that pairs wonderfully with cheesecake, ice cream, and fruit tarts – or skip the sweets and make Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout your dessert. This nearly pitch black beer has a roasted coffee and chocolate aroma with a hint of dark dried fruit. It tastes similar to its smell and has a big mouthfeel, yet it has a smooth finish despite its 10 percent ABV.

Look for Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout in four-packs at your local grocer or liquor store. But hurry, because once it disappears from the shelves you won’t be able to find it until next winter.

Read more about the craft beer scene in Louisiana at www.TheAleRunner.com and on Twitter @TheAleRunner.