This 2-Ingredient Combo Gives Stout Beer 10x The Flavor

Stout is having a moment in the United States, in large part thanks to Guinness — the Irish brew that is among the most popular imported beers in the country. While long a favorite of the Boomer generation, Guinness stole the hearts of younger beer lovers because of the "splitting the G" trend, where drinkers time their first gulp so that the foam line lands right in the middle of the logo's "G" on the pint glass. Fads may come and go, but stouts — including newer options like New Holland Brewing Company's Dragon's Milk and Left Hand Brewing Company's Milk Stout — have loyal followings. For a sweet and creamy beertail with a bit of kick, mix in chocolate syrup and a shot of espresso.

Espresso naturally complements stouts, which already lean toward notes of roasted coffee, toasted oats, toffee, or molasses. The creamy texture of a stout — especially Guinness — acts as a balance to espresso in a way that will taste pleasantly familiar to lovers of lattes, flat whites, and other milk-based espresso beverages. Chocolate, on the other hand, is a less obvious addition, but one that feeds into the decadence of a stout. As a beer that already tends to be more popular for evening or winter drinking, a stout with a teaspoon or two of chocolate syrup drives the coziness factor home. It makes for a pint that could lull you into a pleasant stupor, if not for the caffeine boost.

A freshly pulled shot of espresso is the preference for this drink. If you have an espresso machine at home, choose a high-quality coffee brand, many of which offer both whole bean and ground options. But for a quicker caffeine kick that doesn't require machinery, Trader Joe's makes a decent 16-ounce bottle of ready-to-use espresso for $9.99. At an ounce per stout, that bottle is enough to add an espresso kick to 16 beers, working out to about 62 cents per pour.

For the chocolate syrup, start with a familiar brand like Hershey's Chocolate syrup, especially if you already keep a bottle in the fridge for homemade hot chocolate. If you're shopping specifically for this drink, you also can't go wrong with Ghirardelli Premium Chocolate Sauce, the gourmet favorite of baristas for mochas and other chocolate-based coffee concoctions. We recommend starting with a teaspoon and adjusting for personal taste, keeping in mind that you want enough chocolate sweetness to balance the espresso without overwhelming the stout. For best results, mix the chocolate syrup into the espresso until well incorporated, then add your stout of choice. This way, the chocolate and espresso will blend with the pour, still leaving you with that iconic creamy stout head at the top of your glass.