Beer of the Week

The beer: Chronicle Tropical Stout

Brewed by: Silver Branch Brewing Company, Silver Spring, Maryland

Description (from the website): "Tropical stout has evolved as it has migrated from its Irish birthplace to being brewed in the American, African and Asian tropics. Silver Branch’s Chronicle continues that ongoing story. We’ve married smooth roast with luscious malt to give you a beer reminiscent of dark chocolate, rich caramel, and coffee. The addition of unrefined Colombian panela sugar gives Chronicle a distinct rummy toffee finish."

Would I buy it again?: In a word, no. A few years ago Flying Dog made a tropical stout as one of its Brewhouse Rarities. It was very strange, a fruity tasting stout, but it was actually not too bad. That's what I was expecting with this. I did not get what I was expecting. What I got was a rather bland-tasting stout. There was nothing tropical about it.