Foothills Sexual Chocolate
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Tasting Notes
The aroma leads with dark chocolate, espresso, and a faint vanilla sweetness, with subtle roasted grain underneath. On the palate, it's dense and layered — bittersweet cocoa and dark-roast coffee dominate, with hints of dark fruit, molasses, and a mild boozy warmth that integrates well at this ABV. The body is full and velvety without being cloying. The finish is long and dry, with lingering roast and a quiet bitterness that keeps it from feeling heavy-handed.
About the Brewery
Foothills Brewing is based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, founded in 2005. They've built a strong regional reputation anchored largely by this beer, which has developed a cult following and once earned top rankings on major beer rating sites. Their lineup covers a solid range of styles, but the imperial stout program — including annual variants of this beer — is what draws the most attention from serious beer enthusiasts in the Southeast and beyond.
Food Pairings
A rich chocolate dessert like flourless chocolate cake mirrors the beer's cocoa depth without fighting it. Aged sharp cheddar provides a savory, salty contrast that cuts through the sweetness and makes the roast pop. Barbecue brisket works well because the smoky, fatty meat holds up to the beer's intensity and complements its molasses undertones. A scoop of vanilla ice cream — essentially a stout float — lets the beer's chocolate and coffee notes do the heavy lifting while the dairy softens the bitterness.
Style Guide
American Double or Imperial Stouts are essentially standard stouts pushed to their logical extreme — more malt, more roast, more alcohol, typically ranging from around 8% to 12% ABV or higher. The style draws heavily on Russian Imperial Stout traditions, originally brewed in England for export to the Russian Imperial Court, but American craft brewers adopted and turbocharged it starting in the late 1980s and 1990s. What sets it apart from a regular stout is sheer intensity: bigger body, more complex dark-malt character, and often a noticeable but not harsh alcohol presence. Adjunct versions — with chocolate, vanilla, coffee, or barrel aging — are common in the American iteration of the style.