Some good, some bad

I haven't posted in a long time because of so many annoyances-- my computer, Blogger, my domain name, the new kitty that attacks me whenever I put my hands on the keyboard. I figured I was done with this whole blogging business. But the fact is, I just have a soft spot for candy and I probably always will. I'll get all this techo crap out of the way eventually (the cat is another story); in the meantime, enjoy these candies that I've been stockpiling.

I absolutely loved this Fluffy Toffee bar made by Seattle Chocolates. I'm not exactly sure why I chose it, since I'm not a huge toffee fan, but I'm glad I did. This was perhaps the closest candy bar I've ever had to what I envision the bars in Charlie & The Chocolate Factory to be like. The chocolate was smooth and creamy, and the marshmallow was fluffy with just enough stickiness. The toffee added a nice texture contrast.

Then, there is this, which I HATED. I really wanted to like it, because I generally don't like Vosges chocolate and I was hoping that this would be the one. Unfortunately, it wasn't. There's a lot of flavor there, but it's a big mouthful of bitter and nastiness. (Call me unsophisticated. I don't care.)

However, I do have some standards, and so I just couldn't get into this: Rockin' Nut Road Snickers. It was supposed to be all marshmallowey and nutty, but instead it just tasted like a big chemical mashup. For the record, the Sugar Baby enjoyed it.

Mommy's Chocolate Drink

We had to go to a funeral this past Saturday, so afterward we did what probably everyone else did: stopped at the liquor store. This particular store is a boozehound's connoisseur's delight. It's huge.
I quickly ran down the beer aisle and scooped up a six pack of Dogfish Head IPA, but then I got mesmerized by all the crazy specialty beers. As I was looking, I heard an older gentlemen talking to two 20-something guys about beer. He looked over at me and he said to them, "You want to make sure that you find a wife who knows about beer." I suppose that was a compliment of sorts. In any case, the reason for this post: Southern Tier Imperial Choklat Stout. I've reported on chocolate beer before, so I was a bit hesitant to try this. But the ingredients called out to me: chocolate malt and actual bittersweet Belgian chocolate. I decided to go for it. As I walked around perusing the other potent potables, another employee came up to me. "Have you tried that yet?" he asked. He said he was anxious to try it, although he didn't care for Young's Double Chocolate Stout. (I agreed with him.)
So what did I think? The aroma is definitely a beautiful, rich dark chocolate with creamy malt. The taste-- very chocolatey with just enough hoppy bitterness to give it an edge. It was yummy, but it's definitely not a beer to drink with food. It's got to be drunk on its own, or with some sort of complimentary dessert. I'm thinking creme brulee or, even better, pour it in a glass with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Beer float, anyone?

Guinness Chocolate Truffle Bar: A Boozy Bomb

There's no denying it, folks. Like it or not, Facebook (and other social media sites) have changed the way we live. There's no going back now. No anonymity, no wondering about ex-loves or former co-workers. It's all out there for the grabbing.
I've found that, since joining Facebook, my "family" has suddenly got a lot bigger. I've "met" cousins and aunts and uncles that I never knew I had. Like Mr. Goodbar's cousin, Renee. I'm still not exactly sure how they're related, but they are, and she has become a loyal Yumster, which warms my heart.
Last week she sent me this:A Guinness Milk Chocolate Truffle bar.
I have a soft spot in my heart for Guinness, after going on a junket to Ireland where I stayed out until 5 a.m. drinking with the brewmaster himself. (The truth of the matter is, I was ready to crawl into bed at about 11 p.m. but had no idea where the hotel was and I couldn't get a taxi because I didn't have any Euros on me at all. So I stayed out with the rest of the journos in the group and watched an Ireland sunrise through Guinness-clouded eyes.)
In any case, I was quite intrigued by this chocolate bar, especially since Sweet Renee said that her friend said it was the best chocolate she'd ever had.
The bar got a little squashed in transit, but no matter. The ingredients are interesting: milk chocolate 59% (the milk chocolate containing 32% cocoa solids minimum and 20% milk solids minimum); plain chocolate (58% cocoa solids minimum); invert sugar syrup; sweetened condensed milk; alcohol; white chocolate; Guinness beer (0.2%) and flavourings.
So yes, there really is Guinness in there.
How did it taste?
Um.
Not so good.
Pretty gross, actually. The alcohol taste was overwhelming. Not the Guinness flavor, but just the boozy burn. I wanted to like it, I really did.
I left it out for Mr. Goodbar to try and he seemed visibly angry at it. "This is terrible!" he said, as if the bar was mocking him.
It's a sad tale, folks. A fun souvenir, perhaps, but definitely not a candy of choice. But hey, at least I've got a new cousin to chat with. And if you're looking for some Guinness tastiness, just grab a pint of the real thing. Now that's some yummy stuff!

Please Show Your I.D. Before Reading This Post

I've been wanting to try this Samuel Adams Chocolate Bock ever since I heard about it, although truth be told, I didn't expect it to be very chocolatey. I've had other "chocolate" beers before (stouts and porters) that tasted like, well, beer. But, according to the tag, this beer is aged on a bed of dark cocoa nibs from a Swiss chocolatier. Okay then, I had to try it.

I just came across it last weekend, and at $15 a bottle, I was hesitant. But I had reason to celebrate (as in, I finally got paid), so I splurged.

The young lad who helped me get it down off the top shelf said it was really good and actually tastes like chocolate, unlike other so-called chocolate brews.

Soooo... he was right! Wow. It really did taste like chocolate. Kind of like a cross between cold hot chocolate and beer. Hmmm. That sounds kind of gross, but really, it was pretty darn good. I tried to split it with Mr. Goodbar, but I ended up having about 3/4 of it, which gave me a tummy ache. I'd like to hear what Ms. Chops has to say over at Hops & Chops. Can beer and chocolate successfully meld? Our is it a combination fraught with difficulties, like say, bacon and chocolate? What do you think dear Yumster?