Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Maumee Bay Total Eclipse

When most people think of warm-weather beers, they think of patio pilsners, lawn-mowing lagers and backyard blonde ales. Dark beer is a mere afterthought during the summer months. In fact, people tend to forget about dark beers as soon as they put their sweaters away after the first spring thaw. That’s a shame. A super-frosty breakfast stout is the perfect cold dessert on a hot summer evening. My favorite is the Maumee Bay Brewing Co.’s Total Eclipse from Toledo, which hits the cool spot when the weather is brutally hot.
Total Eclipse is an imperial stout that is made with oatmeal, milk sugar and locally roasted espresso beans from Flying Rhino Coffee & Chocolate. It pours a jet black in color with aromas of mocha, milk chocolate and rich caramel. The beer is softly carbonated, which only enhances its creaminess and delicate texture. Velvety flavors of chicory, cafe con leche and vanilla envelop the palate. The finish is soft, smooth and luxurious with the coffee adding the perfect amount of bitterness to counterbalance the rich flavors.
If you are feeling adventurous, add a generous dollop of vanilla ice cream into a frosty mug of Total Eclipse for the ultimate adult version of an ice cream float. In fact, you can call it a beer float – or, maybe a bloat. Either as is or as a dessert, Total Eclipse is a tasty treat to savor when the thermometer reaches the unfathomable.
It is available in six packs for $14.99. It is distributed locally by Columbus Distributing Co.

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