Muskoka brew named top new beer for December

Bracebridge, Ont. – Muskoka Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout from Muskoka Cottage Brewery has been named the month’s number-1 new brew by online beer authority RateBeer.com.

RateBeer.com is a highly regarded beer rating system that claims to have reviewed more than 110,000 brews from over 9,680 breweries worldwide. The California-based company also acts as a forum for beer lovers around the globe to share opinions and information about favourite brews.

Muskoka Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout is small-batch brewed in Bracebridge, Ont., and features a blend of Belgian chocolate, local cranberries, roasted dark chocolate malts, real cocoa and a hint of vanilla. The warming winter stout, part of the brewery’s seasonal series of beers, is rich and sturdy, with eight per cent alcohol by volume.

“Our seasonal beers are expensive to make and they tie up our tanks for extended periods of time, but the unique ingredients, extra effort and the process of making people think about beer differently is what makes them very important to us,” says Mike Laba, marketing manager for Muskoka Cottage Brewery. “And according to RateBeer.com, we have created something really special with our Double Chocolate Cranberry Stout. It has become a must-try for beer lovers.”

The stout is available in Ontario at the brewery or through the LCBO in a 750-mL swing top bottle selling for $9.95.