Ales for Dessert Lovers: Our Favorite Sweet Brews

Throughout the country, passionate artisans are pushing the boundaries of traditional beer craft, creating new blends and exploring new flavors. On a mission to introduce the greatest number of consumers to an increasingly more diverse and authentic variety of beers. Local brewers have been crafting sweet, dessert beers that are a perfect introduction to stouts for sweet drinks lovers. Here are our favorite brews.

#1 Dogfish Head’s Imperial Beauty

Can beer make rock concerts timeless? Dogfish Head’s Imperial Beauty does just that. Inspired by the Grateful Dead 30 years of touring and recording, and this perfectly balanced, imperial pale ale encapsulates the essence of American rock culture.

The artisans at this growing Delaware-based Brewhouse wanted to take the fans back to the experience of watching their favorite band perform. They conducted a survey among the fans of the legendary band to ask them to choose between 1,500 ingredients that represents the Grateful Dead the best.

The results? An adult creation based of roasted almond granola, a sweet and toasty complement to the barley and all-American hops – and apparently the preferred staple if you are a rock groupie on a diet of gas stations food.

#2 Rogue’s Woodoo Doughnut

Rogue’s Woodoo Doughnut collection is more than just exceptional packaging. The hot pink glass bottle topped with painted cartoons can make a great collectible item by itself. Don’t let its ultra-sophisticated appearances fool you: this is more than just a good-looking dark brown ale.

It has a sweet, interesting nose that breaks the codes of what you’d traditionally expect from beer. This over-the-top delicious smell is attributed to the use of bold ingredients and radical pairings that work surprisingly well.

A look at the beer menu says it all: from Doughnut Bacon Maple to Doughnut Chocolate, Peanut Butter, and Banana or Doughnut Lemon Chiffon Crueller, you’d think you were ordering dessert.

All novelty aside, the result is a surprisingly delicious, not overly sweet brew! Each ale incorporates a variety of twelve authentic ingredients traditionally used for baking, like vanilla, marshmallow, raspberry or chocolate. In short, the most perfect way to introduce beer to a person with a sweet tooth.

#3 Lagunitas’ Brown Shugga

Sometimes, the best recipes come from errors. Like the Tarte Tatin, Lagunitas’ Brown Shugga is the perfect example of that.

Originally a failed attempt at replicating a batch of Lagunitas’ Olde GnarlyWine Ale, this all-new-beer-style is deemed ‘irresponsible’ by the brewers themselves. This is a smooth beer that prances all over your tongue and finishes with a dab of bitterness.

Named after a popular Rolling Stone’s song, this dark amber beer incorporating but a small hint of brown sugar. Flavor-wise, the tangy hop of citrus, resin and herb are a perfect complement to the sweetness of malt and brown sugar.