Chocolate Raspberry Stout with the NewAir Beer Fridge
Have you ever tried layering beers? This Chocolate Raspberry Stout is a fun combination of flavors! It starts with raspberry at first, but finishes with chocolate. Cheers!
This Chocolate Raspberry Stout post is sponsored by NewAir, but the recipe and opinions are entirely my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Spiced!
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Proost! Several years ago, Laura and I had the chance to visit Brussels. I admit that Brussels wasn’t a city that was on my short list of places to visit, but we couldn’t turn down the opportunity – after all, we love to travel. That’s when I remembered beer…and chocolate. Belgian beer and Belgian chocolates are both renowned worldwide, and we certainly enjoyed plenty of both on our trip!
If you ever find yourself in Brussels, just remember Proost! Proost is the Dutch word for Cheers! Raise a glass of Belgian beer, make eye contact with your friends and offer a toast to good health. When it comes to the actual beer in Belgium, one of the most important things to know is the Trappist monasteries.
Many of the iconic Belgian beers are actually brewed by monks in Trappist monasteries. The term ‘Trappist beer’ is a controlled term (like ‘Parmesan’ cheese). In order to qualify as a Trappist beer, the brewery must be located in a monastery, the monks must play an active role in brewing the beer and sales from the beer must go to support the monastery and its’ programs. There are only 12 Trappist breweries in the world, and 6 of them are in Belgium.
In case you’re curious, the 6 Belgian Trappist breweries are Achel, Chimay, Orval, Rochefort, Westmalle and Westvleteren. We’re fortunate that at least 3 of these are relatively easy to find here in the States. We’ll occasionally pick up a couple of these beers, and sip on them while watching Netflix or just hanging out on the back deck.
Lambics are another popular style of beer in Belgian. Lambics are wheat beers, and often feature strong fruity flavors – the fruit gets added before the final fermentation stage of the beer. Kriek is made from fermenting Lambic with Morello cherries. Similarly, Framboise is made using raspberries. While a bit less common, other fruity lambics are Pomme (apple), Peche (peach) and Cassis (black currant). I used Framboise to create this Chocolate Raspberry Stout, and we’ll circle back to the recipe in a moment.
NewAir 46-Can Freestanding Mini Beer Fridge
First, though, I want to chat about beer fridges. I recently featured the NewAir Freestanding 43-Bottle Dual Zone Wine Fridge, and NewAir reached out to see if I would be interested in writing about their 46-Can Freestanding Mini Beer Fridge. We’ve been very pleased with the NewAir wine fridge, so of course I jumped at the chance to test out this mini beer fridge.
NewAir makes a variety of compact appliances, both freestanding and built-in. Calling this 46-Can Freestanding Mini Beer Fridge a beer fridge is a bit of a misnomer. A ‘beer froster’ is a more accurate term as this fridge can go all the way down to 23°F. That’s colder than most beer fridges, and it’s perfect for quickly chilling down a couple bottles of beer.
Have you ever stuck a beer in the freezer in order to cool it off quickly? I have. Have you ever forgotten about said beer in the freezer? I have. I spent the next day cleaning out my freezer – it wasn’t fun. Thankfully, that chore is one that I won’t ever have to do again thanks to NewAir’s beer froster. Set this fridge to 23°F, and that beer will be ready to drink in no time!
Speaking of beer temperatures, did you know that different styles of beer have different recommend temperatures? The NewAir website has a great guide about beer temps. The temperature of the NewAir 46-Can Freestanding Mini Beer Fridge can be set anywhere between 23°F-72°F. That way, you are set no matter what kind of beer you like to drink!
Before switching back to our fun Chocolate Raspberry Stout recipe, I do want to mention the size of this NewAir Mini Beer Fridge. At first, I was a bit concerned about size as I wasn’t sure where I’d put it. However, the fridge is quite compact (just 20″ tall), and the stainless steel finish is rather sleek. And speaking of sleek, I really like how the temperature control for this fridge is located right on the front. And like the NewAir Wine Fridge, this Beer Fridge is super quiet. If you are thinking about getting a beer fridge (talk about a fun Christmas gift!), just ask. I’m happy to help.
Chocolate Raspberry Stout
Now that we’ve talked all about storing our beers, let’s switch gears and talk about a fun beer recipe. That’s right – a beer recipe. No, we’re not brewing our own beer here today. (Although that is on my foodie bucket list for one day. Laura hopes that one day is a long, long, long way away, though.) Today we’re talking a fun and easy layered beer.
Have you ever layered one beer on top of another? It’s actually not difficult to do at all. You start by filling a glass halfway with the first beer. Next, you simply hold a large spoon upside-down over the glass while you slowly pour the second beer on top. The Snakebite (½ stout and ½ hard cider) is one of the more common layered beers. In fact, the Snakebite was one of the first beers I ever ordered once I turned 21. If you think stout beers (like Guinness) are too heavy, then try layering them with hard cider. It’s a surprisingly tasty drink!
Inspired by the Snakebite, this Chocolate Raspberry Stout is another fun layered beer. Instead of Guinness, I used a chocolate stout for an extra deep flavor. And then I used Framboise lambic instead of hard cider. Depending on where you live, you might need to go to a specialty beer store but both of these styles of beer are fairly common. We served this Chocolate Raspberry Stout for happy hour the other day, and we fondly chatted about our memories from that trip to Belgium.
If you’re looking for a fun layered beer, then this Chocolate Raspberry Stout deserves a spot on your list! Cheers…or should I say Proost!
Did you make this Chocolate Raspberry Stout at home? Leave a comment below or snap a photo and tag me on Instagram (@Spicedblog). I’d love to see your version!
Chocolate Raspberry Stout
Ingredients
- 8 oz. raspberry lambic such as Lindemans Framboise
- 8 oz. chocolate stout such as Samuel Smith’s Chocolate Stout
Instructions
- Pour the lambic into a pint glass.
- Turn a large spoon over and place over glass. Slowly pour the stout over the back of the spoon. Let mixture settle for a couple of minutes before serving.
Looking for more fun recipes with beer? Check out these other favorites, too:
No Knead Cheddar Dill Beer Bread
I too remember visiting Brussels and sampling the chocolate and beer David. Although I have to admit it was a long time ago in my student days. Ha ha! Lynne won’t let me have a beer fridge as she says it would be just an excuse for me to drink more beer. Boo!
Haha! While I do understand Lynne’s line of argument on one hand, I think you could counter with the fact that a beer fridge could be used to store other things…like a bottle of wine. Would that get her interest a bit??
Ok, that beer fridge sounds pretty awesome! And that beer kinda reminds me of a local beer I recently had that was a black forest cake stout! Heavy, but tasty.
Would love to travel to Brussels one day too. I always love trying new foods and drinks when we travel (it’s my fave). Cheers friend! Have an awesome week ahead 🙂
Black forest cake stout? That sounds interesting! I bet if you layered a chocolate stout with Kriek, then you’d end up with something quite close. In fact, the cherry + chocolate combo is on my list of things to try soon! Oh, and I do highly recommend a trip to Brussels whenever it’s safe to travel again. I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed Belgium!
This is like a dorm fridge for adults! And filled with all the important stuff! 🙂 I could use one of these, for sure! I’m going to your raspberry chocolate stout this weekend! Sounds fun – Proost!
Haha – yes!! You nailed it, Kathy. This beer fridge is an adult version of a dorm fridge. And it’s filled with far better stuff than my dorm fridge used to have in it, too. 🙂 Proost!
It’s a great idea if you drink a lot of beer, and want it perfectly frosted. I mean, I certainly appreciate my wine fridge. But it seems like we drink less and less beer as we get older. And my husband only drinks Guinness. When we bought this house, we inherited an old refrigerator in the basement. Don’t tell New Air this, but it might as well be a beer refrigerator. Good for champagne, too. I can’t even store food in it because it will freeze, but boy is it handy for cold drinks! I’ve never even touched the dial it’s so perfect. So far, 17 years and counting… I love your recipe idea, but I’m not the stout person. Maybe in stature, but not in taste !!!
I totally understand the old refrigerator turned into beer fridge. That’s how we rolled in our previous house. The old owners left it, so we made it our beer + overflow food fridge. It was quite handy! But I have to say this beer fridge (err, froster) is perfect for keeping our favorite beers at the perfect temp. 🙂 Oh, and if your husband drinks Guinness, then he might be a fan of some of the layered beers. Cheers…or should I say Proost!
David, we’ve been fortunate and also enjoyed Brussels more than once. Your talking about the beer and chocolates of Belgium brought back found memories of walking around Grand-Place and stopping for a chocolate at each of the shops. Oh, now I’m thinking about the chocolate covered waffles they sell on the street.
Slick little chiller, if I could get one here I’d consider putting one in the summer kitchen.
Interesting beer layering idea. I don’t think I’ve ever had a layered beer. Now, I’ve got to try this. OK, if you ordered a Snakebite for your first drink when you turned, what you order before you turned 21?
Ah yes, we totally did the same thing as you and enjoyed wandering Grand-Place. The chocolate shops there are out of this world amazing! And those street waffles!? 1 Euro. How can you beat that!? I’m pretty sure we ate one of those each night after leaving the bar. Haha!
This beer fridge (err, beer froster) is quite handy for small spaces. And it’s perfect for keeping a nice selection of your favorite beers ready to go. I do highly recommend the layered beer idea. A good Black and Tan, Snakebite or this Chocolate Raspberry Stout are fun ways to play around with flavors. And as far as that Snakebite and ordering beers before 21? Nice try, my friend. Nice try. 🙂
Honestly, I am not a beer fan (Just don’t like the way it tastes and smells), and I even don’t know the difference between a beer and stout. I have also never been to Brussels, and if I had, I guarantee I would have been into Belgium chocolate and waffles – not the beer:) However, I must admit that chocolate stout sounds pretty delicious, and combined with refreshing raspberry notes, that cold be good even to my liking. I might take a sip or two, after all!
So I used to feel the same as you about beer. I only ever had cheap beer in college, and I never understood the appeal. But then I discovered the Snakebite which was 1/2 Guinness and 1/2 hard cider. I found that I was able to sip on it…and enjoy it! Of course, that was years ago now. My taste buds have continually pushed me towards darker and more flavorful beers. Moral of the story? Try layering cider or Framboise/Kriek with a chocolate stout. You might be surprised!
we visited belgium on our backpacking trip years ago and we loved it. Loved the chocolates and the food and the architecture etc. a beautiful place.
I’m with ya, Sherry – I didn’t expect to love Brussels as much as I did. In fact, I’d love to go back – the chocolates and beers were insanely good! Cheers…or should I say Proost!
Ohhh you have brought back so many memories with this lovely post David! I worked in Brussels for a time, and you are so so right, the beer and chocolate cultures there are so fun! (Enjoyed chocolate everyday, and went to a couple beer festivals in Brussels. Nothing quite like it anywhere!). Wow this is one amazing fridge! Sounds and looks absolutely perfect. And I am so intrigued by your drink! Love the layering of raspberry and chocolate, what an excellent combo!
Wait. You worked in Brussels!? Ok, now I need to know that story. I’ve always dreamed of living in Europe, and in another life I would’ve moved there right after college.
You’re right about the beer and chocolate culture there. It’s unique…and delicious! If you’re into beer, then totally try layering some together. You gotta be careful with which beers obviously, but the chocolate stout + something fruity is a good start. Proost!
That’s a handy little temperature chart, David. I saved it for future reference. And yes, Belgian beers are fabulous. Some can get pretty pricey but Leffe is very reasonably priced and I think it’s delicious. And the Belgians have a really interesting cuisine as well!
I totally agree with you about that temperature chart, Frank. I knew some beers (mainly cask beers) were better at warmer temperatures, but I didn’t realize the others. I’m with you on the price of some of those beers, too. That’s the thing we loved about Belgium – all of the beers that are pricey here were ‘normally’ priced over there. Now if only we could go back, right? And Leffe (both blond and dark) are some of our favorites here…as evidenced by that photo. Cheers – err, Proost – my friend!
Wow, a beer fridge. That sounds awsome! I have never heard of layering beers. Very interesting. I need to try this.
Yes! I know folks who say they don’t like beer…until you make a fun layered beer like this one with chocolate stout and Framboise. The Snakebite (Guinness + hard cider) is another fun one as I noted in the post. Cheers, Dawn!
Layered beer sounds amazing! Belgium is a beautiful place, love the chocolates Belgian Waffles, so delicious! Mini Beer Fridge seems a must have, compact
size, and looks perfect for any room! Have an amazing week, David!
Ah, yes, the Belgian Waffles. They were totally a street food over there, and we would often get one as a treat at the end of the day. So good!! And the beer…and the chocolate…so many good things about Belgium! 🙂 And, yes, this beer fridge is a great size for any room. Thanks, Aarthi!
Wow I am jealous, you have a beer fridge, I want to have one too.
Haha! I know how you can make that happen, Raymund. 🙂