Beer and Chocolate Pairing at Equal Exchange and a Giveaway
Hubby and I hopped on the train last week on a rainy afternoon and headed down to North Station. We were chatting along the way about what a beer and chocolate tasting would be like. Would it really be just beer and chocolate? Seemed too much like a wine and chocolate pairing, only weirder…
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| Equal Exchange Cafe, Boston, MA |
After getting off the train, we headed over to Equal Exchange Cafe to see what this beer and chocolate pairing was all about. The cafe was a cute little space that we agreed Hubby should check out some time when he needs a coffee in the North Station area. He usually grabs a DD coffee in North Station when he takes the train home, but it would be worth the one block detour to try some of their free trade coffees.
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| Equal Exchange Cafe, Boston, MA |
Once we arrived, we met a variety of people from Harpoon Brewery, Equal Exchange, and chatted with a handful of other bloggers. We had the whole cafe to ourselves for the evening and to kick things off, we were encouraged to grab a beer.
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| Chocolate and Beer Pairing Guide |
Once everyone arrived, they encouraged us to grab a seat so we could begin the tasting. For each beer and chocolate pairing we first tasted the chocolate, then the beer, then the chocolate and beer together. I’ve done chocolate tastings in the past and it’s similar to tasting wine. First you smell the chocolate. It’s recommended to smell it in a bowl so that any residual smells from you hands won’t interfere with the smell of the chocolate. After noticing the aroma of the chocolate, you take a small bite and chew it a few times. Then allow the chocolate to melt on your tongue. Be sure to take note how the taste of the chocolate changes as it melts.
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| Harpoon UFO White and Dark Chocolate with Almonds |
The beer tasting was similar. We were instructed to swirl the beer around in our cup with our hand over the top to capture all of the aroma in the cup. Then smell the beer prior to tasting it.
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| Harpoon 100 Barrel Series Catamount Maple Wheat and Milk Chocolate |
Lastly, we would taste some chocolate and once it started melting on your tongue, take a drink of the beer. It was interesting to see how the flavors danced around in your mouth. Some started with a strong taste of the beer and others finished that way. It was also interesting to see how the two together had such different flavors than each component on it’s own.
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| Harpoon Dark and Caramel Crunch with Sea Salt |
I am NOT a fan of IPAs and we tasted a Rye IPE that I could not drink on it’s own. However when the chocolate was added to the mix, it tasted like a completely different beer. This was a really unique experience that I’m glad I got to try out.
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| The aftermath of the tasting |
And now on to the giveaway! They gave us goodie bags on the way out the door and I’ve decided to pass my goodies along to you. I can’t ship beer, so I’ll be keeping the bottle of beer they gave me (sorry guys).
Package contains:
– One Harpoon Brewery bottle opener
– Two Harpoon Brewery beer coozies
– Two Equal Exchange coffee mugs
– Three bars of Equal Exchange organic, fair trade chocolate
– One Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate Pairing wheel
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| Giveaway Package |
Giveaway rules:
– Winner will be chosen using Random.org
– US shipping addresses only
– Giveaway is open until 12:00 PM (noon) EST on Thursday, May 17th
– Mandatory first entry: answer the following question: What is your favorite kind of beer or chocolate? Have you ever paired them together?
– For an additional (optional) entry, Tweet the following “RT @beantownbaker Beer and Chocolate?!? Who knew they could be so great together! @EEcafe @harpoon_brewery”
AND, Equal Exchange is also doing a giveaway on their Facebook page. Be sure to check it out here where you can download a pairing guide and enter to win their giveaway. The grand prize is a tasting event for 20 people at Harpoon Brewery!
This event was provided free of charge, but the opinions are 100% my own. Special thanks to Terry from Antler for inviting me to the event!
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
This recipe looks fantastic, I would love to try it, any idea what I could use as a substitute for the frozen whipped topping? I think such a thing would be hard to find here, can I make it? x
wow that looks simple, and 3 muskateers are the “healthier” candy bar, right? hehe
Um, why is this recipe so easy? This could be deadly in my kitchen!
These are SUCH a good idea!! Seriously, I’m super impressed! 🙂
Sues
Who knew you could make 3 Musketeers?! I can’t wait to try this recipe!
Wow! They look just like the real deal, and that recipe sounds way too easy. So dangerous!!
Oh my goodness…these look amazing! Nicely done : )
Homemade candy makes my feel not as guilty when I’m devouring a whole bunch 🙂
Seriously, you’re an amazing baker!! I would never think to make these at home. They look fantastic!
I was afraid to read through the whole recipe in fear I’d run straight to the kitchen. they look amazing
THis is my boyfriend’s favorite candy bar… I have to make these! 🙂
These sound amazing Jen! Super simple- yet incredibly indulgent and definitely would satisfy a sweet tooth…or two…
Wow – I had no idea these could be homemade! They look delicious!
I must make this! It’s one of mine and my husband’s favorite candy bar! YOurs look so great. I can’t wait to try it.
This is my 2nd favorite candy. Now if only you could make butterfingers!! Love these, nicely done!!
I LOVE how easy this recipe is! *saving*
This candy gave me awesome mom status for quite a while. : )
You are so talented! I wouldn’t have the patience to dip each of those little bites 🙂
I could not be trusted around these treats. They look too good to have just one, two or three….
I just made these homemade 3 Musketeers. My family said they tasted like the real thing, only a little richer. Mine were definitely not as pretty, they are so ugly 🙂
Oh yea Kristi, mine weren’t very pretty. The only pretty ones I could find are in the picture!
Wow! You MADE those? So impressed.
Made these with my grandson and they were great! My husband now won’t eat a store bought musketeers bar.
beantownbaker — July 14th, 2013 @ 4:17 pm
Isn’t that the good and bad thing about making stuff like this at home? Then you’ll never go back to store bought again!
Could you tell me how many cups is in a 8oz tub of whipped topping??
beantownbaker — August 30th, 2013 @ 7:22 am
From Kraft’s website, an 8 oz. tub of cool whip yields 3 cups.