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Half Acre's Chocolate Camaro
Half Acre's Chocolate Camaro
Courtesy of Half Acre

10 Outstanding Beers That Are As Good As Dessert

Chocolate, fruit, vanilla and more

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Half Acre's Chocolate Camaro
|Courtesy of Half Acre

It's that wonderful time of year when desserts become a highlight rather than an afterthought, which they sadly often are. In addition to Eater's Sweets Week, happening now, Halloween candy is overtaking kitchen counters, pumpkin pie and pumpkin spice mania has begun, and holiday cookies and treats will soon be in abundance.

Fortunately, Chicago-area breweries have taken your love for all things sweet and created a satisfying brew out of it instead. These well-made craft beers may vary in style, alcohol content, and ingredients, but the one thing they have in common is they are the perfect way for beer lovers to enjoy dessert so you can have your cake and drink it, too. The other vital similarity is all of these breweries have local tap rooms so you can swing in to satisfy your sweet tooth. This list of dessert-influenced beers is presented in alphabetical order of the fine brewery that made them.

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5 Rabbit Brewery

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chocolate0c ChocoFruit碧娜是一個結實的啟發overed fruits. The taste of dark chocolate is complemented by bright, aromatic pineapple. Pineapple puree and dark-roasted malts lend to the stout’s complex flavor.

All Rise Brewing Company

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All Rise Brewing in the West Loop presents Temporary Solution. It's dark chocolate, roasted coffee, red berry, and vanilla make way for a tasty medium body brew. The robust porter is brewed with multiple varieties of chocolate malts.

Andersonville Brewing

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It’s hard to compete with desserts at a place that serves deep fried twinkies with raspberry sauce and funnel cake fries adorned with fried ice cream. But this apricot wheat beer with classic fall flavors has done just that.

Baderbrau

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This Southside brewery may have been inspired by a Czech-style pilsner, but there’s another seasonal beer that’s a sweet treat. Described as “dessert in a glass”, Red Velvet bock is creamy and decadent.

Cruz Blanca

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Winnow is a rich American Porter served at Rick Bayless’s Mexican-inspired brewery and taqueria. The smooth-bodied beer is made with cocoa bean husks from Xoco’s very own chocolate program.

DryHop Brewers

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Pumpkin brews and stouts collide here for a sugary delight served on nitro for even more creamy goodness. Starry Night in Sleepy Hollow is brewed with classic pumpkin pie spices, sugar pumpkins and lactose.

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Goose Island Beer Co.

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Not to be confused with Goose's popular Bourbon County Brand Stout beers, The Muddy hits in at 9 percent ABV and is brewed with Belgian dark rock candy sugar, brewer’s licorice, dark chocolate malts, and molasses.

Half Acre Beer Company

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Chocolate milk meets beer in this sweet, smooth stout brewed with lactose and cacao. Chocolate Camara is a special release brew is released just in time to provide comfort during the cold winter months.

Courtesy of Half Acre

Lagunitas Brewing Company

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It can be a little dangerous that this delicious brew comes in at 9.8 ABV. Available October through December, Brown Shugga’ is made to be paired with baked holiday treats made with pumpkin-pie spices.

Myths and Legends

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The suburban brewery took their full-bodied, silky milk stout, appropriately titled Milk Truck, and took it up a notch with the limited release Ice Cream Truck. Vanilla, cocoa nibs, and fresh strawberries add a Neapolitan twist.

5 Rabbit Brewery

chocolate0c ChocoFruit碧娜是一個結實的啟發overed fruits. The taste of dark chocolate is complemented by bright, aromatic pineapple. Pineapple puree and dark-roasted malts lend to the stout’s complex flavor.

All Rise Brewing Company

All Rise Brewing in the West Loop presents Temporary Solution. It's dark chocolate, roasted coffee, red berry, and vanilla make way for a tasty medium body brew. The robust porter is brewed with multiple varieties of chocolate malts.

Andersonville Brewing

It’s hard to compete with desserts at a place that serves deep fried twinkies with raspberry sauce and funnel cake fries adorned with fried ice cream. But this apricot wheat beer with classic fall flavors has done just that.

Baderbrau

This Southside brewery may have been inspired by a Czech-style pilsner, but there’s another seasonal beer that’s a sweet treat. Described as “dessert in a glass”, Red Velvet bock is creamy and decadent.

Cruz Blanca

Winnow is a rich American Porter served at Rick Bayless’s Mexican-inspired brewery and taqueria. The smooth-bodied beer is made with cocoa bean husks from Xoco’s very own chocolate program.

DryHop Brewers

Pumpkin brews and stouts collide here for a sugary delight served on nitro for even more creamy goodness. Starry Night in Sleepy Hollow is brewed with classic pumpkin pie spices, sugar pumpkins and lactose.

Courtesy of DryHop Brewers

Goose Island Beer Co.

Not to be confused with Goose's popular Bourbon County Brand Stout beers, The Muddy hits in at 9 percent ABV and is brewed with Belgian dark rock candy sugar, brewer’s licorice, dark chocolate malts, and molasses.

Half Acre Beer Company

Chocolate milk meets beer in this sweet, smooth stout brewed with lactose and cacao. Chocolate Camara is a special release brew is released just in time to provide comfort during the cold winter months.

Courtesy of Half Acre

Lagunitas Brewing Company

It can be a little dangerous that this delicious brew comes in at 9.8 ABV. Available October through December, Brown Shugga’ is made to be paired with baked holiday treats made with pumpkin-pie spices.

Myths and Legends

The suburban brewery took their full-bodied, silky milk stout, appropriately titled Milk Truck, and took it up a notch with the limited release Ice Cream Truck. Vanilla, cocoa nibs, and fresh strawberries add a Neapolitan twist.

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