Let me ask you this–could you contentedly quaff the thickest, darkest, highest-alcohol beers in equatorial climes? Hell, no. To enjoy a beverage like this, it has to be COLD out there–so cold that touching your face feels like being uncomfortably close to a stranger. So cold that your glasses fog up when you go indoors anywhere, leaving you in a dorky little cloud, helplessly smearing water vapor around your lenses. You certainly couldn’t enjoy Brooklyn Brewery’s Black Chocolate Stout, unless you’re well-versed in January’s indignities.

Dark, slightly bitter chocolate, malt, and alcoholic warmth predominate this pitch-black brew, which only gets better upon sipping. Despite the high ABV (10%), the chocolate flavor masks the alcohol fairly well, and considering the beyond-Belgian bang you get from 12oz, it’s also a good deal ($11.99 for a sixpack at Whole Foods Beer Room). Treat yourself to a bottle and then try to remember why you hated this time of year in the first place.

A- on Beer Advocate

Whole Foods Bowery Beer Room
95 Houston Street near Second Ave/Chrystie St. 8am-11pm