It was only a few years ago, while managing a country pub, that I started to like beer; before then I had found the taste too bitter. But maybe something to do with the fact that I was serving many pints of it a day and taking care of the casks in the cellar changed my mind, and I grew to appreciate the bitterness. I have not however managed to grow to like drinking stout or porter, it is just too strong for me; but, pair it with chocolate and add to to ice cream (or cake) then it is a whole different story. Used in this way the deep, rich flavour complements and accentuates the chocolate and adds a malty flavour without overpowering. It is in short, utterly delicious.
I was kindly sent a sampler box of craft beers by Honest Brew, who are an online retailer of a wide selection of craft beers from around the world, many of which are hard to find; and also do a subscription service (called honesty box) that can be tailored to suit your tastes, as well as how frequently you would like to be sent boxes and how many beers you want them to contain. The sampler box contains six different beer styles, along with a craft beer glass, a tasting guide and a £10 voucher towards your honesty box subscription. The standout beer for me was the Beavertown Neck Oil Session IPA, which has a really light, refreshing, fruity/citrus flavour and is all too drinkable; it was the perfect beer to drink on a hot, sunny day at a festival (I took the cans with me to Bloodstock festival, no glass allowed) – it is definitely one that I will be buying again.
Whether you are a seasoned beer enthusiast, or just want to start getting into craft beers, then Honest Brew is perfect for you; and they are handily giving away one of their taster boxes to a lucky reader, just enter the giveaway at the bottom of this post for your chance to win.
I used the Railway Porter from the box to make this chocolate porter ice cream, but you could absolutely use a stout instead of a porter (I can’t tell the difference between the two anyway – can anyone inform me as to what differentiates them?). I took inspiration from David Lebovitz’s Guinness milk chocolate ice cream from The Perfect Scoop (THE book to get if you want to get into making ice cream), and used milk, rather than dark chocolate in the ice cream. The milk chocolate works perfectly, because the porter has quite a rich and bitter flavour, I think that had I used dark chocolate the flavour would have been too stong, whereas the milk chocolate adds enough creaminess and sweetness to balance the bitterness from the beer. The ice cream is creamy and chocolaty, with a malty flavour and a hint of bitterness and it is incredibly more-ish. I made some porter caramel sauce to serve with it, though it really doesn’t need it, and was more an excuse to use up the leftover porter – make it if you don’t want to drink the leftovers!

Chocolate Porter (Or Stout) Ice Cream
Ingredients
Chocolate Porter Ice Cream:
- 200 g (7oz) milk chocolate chopped
- 300 ml (1 + 1/4 cups) full fat milk
- 130 g (2/3 cup) caster sugar
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- pinch salt
- 5 large egg yolks
- 300 ml (1 + 1/4 cups) double (heavy) cream
- 215 ml (3/4 + 1/8 cup) porter (or stout)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Porter Caramel Sauce:
- 130 g (2/3 cup) caster sugar
- 2 tbsp water
- 75 ml (1/4 cup + 1tbsp) double (heavy) cream
- 115 ml (scant 1/2 cup) porter (or stout)
- 15 g (1 tbsp) butter
- pinch salt
Instructions
-
Place the chopped chocolate in a large, heatproof bowl and place a fine mesh sieve over the top; set aside.
-
Whisk together the milk, sugar, cocoa powder and salt in a sauce pan and heat until just boiling. Meanwhile, whisk together the egg yolks. Gradually pour the hot milk into the egg yolks, whisking constantly; pour the mixture back into the saucepan and place over a medium-low heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture has thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon, do not let it boil.
-
Pour the custard through the sieve onto the chocolate, stir until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth then whisk in the cream followed by the porter and vanilla extract.
-
Cover and refrigerate until completely cold then churn in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturers directions; transfer to a container and freeze for a couple of hours before serving.
-
To make the porter caramel sauce, place the sugar and water in a heavy bottomed saucepan over a medium-high heat. Cook, swirling the pan (don't stir) until the sugar has dissolved and turned amber coloured. Immediately remove from the heat and pour in the cream and porter.
-
Return the pan to a low heat and stir until smooth then bring up to a simmer and cook for five minutes or so until it has reduced and thickened a little. stir in the butter and salt, remove from the heat, allow to cool then refrigerate until cold; the caramel will thicken further as it cools.
I was provided with some products by Honest Brew but I was not paid to write this post and all opinions are my own.
I am sharing this with Fiesta Friday hosted by The Not So Creative Cook and A Pug In The Kitchen, The Food Calendar, Foodie FriDIY, Foodie Friends Friday and Friday Features
Honest Brew Taster Box Giveaway:
– One winner will receive the following: A sampler box of craft beers.
– The giveaway open to UK residents over the age of 18 only.
– The giveaway ends on the 14th of September 2016 at 11:59:59 PM.
– Entries using an automated process or software to create bulk entries will be disqualified.
– The winners will be randomly selected, announced in the Gleam giveaway box and contacted via their provided e-mail address shortly afterwards. Please claim your prize within 4 days of being notified.
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Honest Brew Craft Beer Taster Box
iain maciver
a cold cider
lucy
I love a pimms or a lager
Amanda
A large glass of sangria
Krzysia
You can’t beat a glass of homemade elderflower cordial!
Kevin000
Pimms with all the trimmings
Jayne
A fruit smoothie.
Michelle Ferguson
A lovely cold mimosa
Annabel Greaves
I love a cold lager
Helen Moulden
Gin and tonic!
EJ Dunn
Pina Colada
emma walters
a fruit cider with lots of ice!
Hannah Owen
Strawberry Pimms & Lemonade ♥️
Paul Wilson
I like a nice, chilled Perry Cider.
Emily
It’s lambic beers for me – sour ones with fruity flavours!
Simon tutthill
It’s has to be a lovely pimms mmm
Evelyn Lawrence
Anything with tequila in!
Laura
Pimms and Lemonade!!
Lorna Kennedy
I love a Mish-Mash (red wine and orange juice cocktail) 🙂
Rosalind
I love to drink a very cold Cider in Summer
John Tingay
In the summer, I love a Bucks Fizz
Holly
I think the perfect summer drink is a frozen strawberry daiquiri
Sarah
I rediscovered sangria recently, I’d forgotten how good it is when the weather is scorchio!
Leah
Pina Colada
Marycarol
A nice cold glass of rose
John J
Abbot Ale
Angela Boucher
My favourite summer drink has to be sangria, it is so light and refreshing and reminds me of being on holiday.
Becky Yeomans
Ice cold Cider!
Sarah Lambert
I love mojitos 🙂
Stevie
My favourite summer drink is dark rum with peppermint cordial and ice.
Jo Carroll
Can’t beat an ice cold lemonade shandy on a really hot day to offer some proper refreshment. x
Aimee C
Water because I can’t stand the heat haha love a Mojito though
Charlotte Foy
I love a good IPA in the sun
Rachel Arnup
Pimms & Lemonade
Tammy Tudor
I love traditional homemade lemonade with lots of ice on a hot day 🙂
Louise Asekokhai
Gin, elder-flower and tonic is my favourite summer bevvy
Keri brooks
Pink lemonade and vodka
ValB
an old fashioned lager and lime
Gemma Massey
Strawberry Daquiri xx
Chelsey Hollings
Processco
amy bondoc
ive just discovered berry cider ! love it 1
sharon stanley
malibu, coke and lots and lots of ice
Andrea Storey
A nice doube IPA.
Kerry Locke
Elderflower Spritzer
Emma Dormer
Pimms
Lisa Parker
A chilled pear cider x
helen tovell
A nice cold glass of dry white wine
Karen R
I like white wine and soda 🙂
bella smyth
I like white wine & soda with freshlime
Maxine G
You can’t beat a long cool beer on a hot evening
Emily Hutchinson
Ice cold IPA
Colin Gault
Lovely cup of ice tea
cheryl hadfield
Ice cold glass of cider
Corinne Peat
A lovely cold pear cider!
Solange
Gin & Tonic
Astra Coath
You can beat a proper lager shandy on a summers day! Yum yum x
jennifer thorpe
gin and tonic, so refreshing and yummy
Deborah Clarke
Bourbon and coke !
Miranda
Using beer in ice cream is such a fun idea! Yum!
Jess Powell (Babi a Fi)
I love iced Ribena in the summer, it’s fab! 🙂
Simon Tinsley
Generally anything wet, long and alcoholic
Carolynn Woodland
I have developed a passion for Mango Juice
Sally Collingwood
Rum and coke
Katie Skeoch
Gin & tonic, ice & a slice
rebecca nisbet
its got to be PIMMS yum!!
katrina walsh
i like nice woowoo cocktail
Darren Freeman
A cider
Mia Jade Fergusson
Got to love an icy cold beer on a hot summers day!
Tricia Cowell
Soda and lime with ice
Julie Ward
A good old ginger beer, alcoholic of course
Kelly Hirst
I love a fruit cider in the summer
ADEINNE TONNER
Nice glass of wine
Rachel Butterworth
A crisp, cold pear cider.
carole n
a cold cider
laura banks
cider and blackcurrant
tim smith
This is a tremedous prize, right up my street!
Michelle Carlin
A nice glass of Pimms.
Zoec
Love Pimms and lemonade with lots of fresh fruit
Becky John
Ice cold Chardonnay
amy fidler
Long Island Iced Tea xx
Angela Treadway
barcardi and coke! x
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A nice cold glass of tinto
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iced coffee
William G
I love any light beers or cider in the summer, and the occasional G&T, VAT or spritzer!
pete c
a cloudy lemonade
Kerry Purves
Iced coffee
claire woods
Pimms
Laura Pritchard
Archers & Lemonade
mick proctor
Pear cider over ice
Rich Tyler
It’s a toss up between cider or pimms!
Bev
Pimms or shandy!
Ruth Harwood
Apple juice, sometimes with a little shot vodka!
Tracy Newton
Pimms or an ice cold lager
Joanne Beale
Love a nice cold Cider or a Lager and Lime
Christine Caple
Rose wine
Jemma Dwyer
white wine 😀
Jacqui Bellefontaine
I have just got to try this recipe! It sound so interesting and I imagine the flavour works really well. I have two sons that I know will want to try it. Thanks for sharing.
Your photographs are lovely too.
Alison Johnson
I’m quite boring & just like a nice cold glass of 7-up light!
michelle o'neill
has to be a cold lager x
Kitty
Love stout and chocolate together! AND a stout caramel. Oh my!
Sarah Brokenshire
A pina colada xxx
Lynne OConnor
Strawberry Daiquiri
Jo LW
Do love the great of ice cold pins with mint and strawberries and things in
Susan Jane Gray
I do LOVE my Pimms and Lemonade
Marie Jacobs
Home made lemonade with a dash of vodka in
clair downham
gin and tonic
Margaret Clarkson
Pimms
maria blythin
coke with ice or a nice cold beer x
Kat Allinson
Ice Cold Rose Wine
Carly Belsey
I love a cider or a nice cold beer 🙂
Kirsty Hosty
I love a nice cold glass of pimms
Tao Jerng
just looking at the pics makes my mouth water!!
Rebecca Howells (@PeanutHog)
Pimms with all the fruit
Leanne joy
A blackberry bramble
Denielle Nicol
Vodka, lemonade and dash of lime. Soooooooo refreshing! Dxx
Louise A
Ice cold cider
Natalie Thomason
G and T
Jo w
A pimms with lots of ice
Anthea Holloway
I love a G&T with lots of ice and lemon.
Karl Tondelier
I love a nice Saison in the summner
Richell Lever
Lovely ice cold Gin and Tonic
Sarah Cooper
Elderberry cordial
Charlotte Oates
Your ice cream looks absolutely perfect and such stunning pictures (as always 🙂 ). I’d never have thought of adding beer and chocolate together but reading this I can imagine that it adds a nice maltiness that would be perfect.
hannahhossack
Thanks Charlotte! Yes it’s not an obvious combination but this ice cream is one of the best I’ve ever made, the malty flavour is delicious 🙂
Lyla
Ginger beer
lynsey Buchanan
Dark Fruits Cider
joanne casey
Gin & slimline tonic
Mary Baldwin
Pimms is my favourite summer drink – I really enjoy it, but drinking it out of season would be just wrong.
Allan Fullarton
A large glass of sangria
Robert Price
Ice cold cider
Pam Smith
Pimms and Tonic Water
Stacy Fenemore
cant beat a cold can of lager
Nikki Hayes
I like a nice cocktail in the summer – Zombie is my current favourite :o)
Vicky Hawkins
A Pimms and lemonade
Clara Bee
When it’s really hot I like a pilsner
Sheri Darby
Ice cold dry cider
Karen Durrant
Gin and tonic
Liam Bishop
You cannot beat an ice cold cider. Ultimate summer drink!
Alison Macdonald
Pimms
Julie Kenny
I love a Pimms in the summer x
olivia Kirby
Dry fizz, be it Champagne, Prosecco, Cava or an English fizz
sandy ralph
my favorite drink in the summer is pure pineapple juice, its so refreshing and full of vitimins
kim neville
A nice cold shandy
LEE HARDY
Lager & Lime
Lauren Old
Pimms and lemonade
Steve Davies
Fave Summer drink… a long Southern Comfort and coke over ice
Laura Nice
Pimms & Lemonade
donna l jones
barcadi and coke
Hollie Newton
Pimms cocktail
Caroline Signey
Mojito
Luke Evans
Wit beer please!
Adrian Bold
A nice pint of cider with plenty of cold ice.
Allan Wilson
G&T (Not just summer)
A.E. ADKINS
G&T (tonic needs to be Fevertree or Fentimans though!) with a slice of cucumber or juniper berries
Geoff Hibbert
Ice cold premium lager
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Pimms and lemonade
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Pear & elderflower cider
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Pimms – made with lemonade rather than soda
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A big cold glass of Pimms
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Ice cold real cider(scrumpy)
Emma Price
Sparking elderflower wine
jessica cook
a nice cold pint of cider over ice
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ice cold lager
Dawn Underwood
I like a nice chilled rose wine
Ann Williams
Elderflower cordial
GRACE COLLINS
homemade elder flower wine x
Sandra Jo Siddall
Mojito is my fave 🙂
Alison
An ice cold lemonade
Chris Fletcher
Depends on the situation, but you can’t beat an ice cold beer!
Laura H
A strawberry colada
Chris Minko
A nicely chilled Sauvignon Blanc
Michelle Wild
I’ve taken to gin recently. So many combinations so little time.
Deeceeha
Pimm’s, overpriced but tastes so good.
pippa saunders
a mint mojito
paula cheadle
I love a cider shandy
natalie blyth
pink lemonade
Michelle Sykes
Pimms and Lemonade
Jenny Prest
G&T normally, but as ive been pregnant this summer i have been drinking lime and soda water!
Lance Bellers
Sangria 🙂
Faye Reed
A strawberry daiquiri
Tim Woolfenden
I love a cold cider
Victoria Middleton
Archers and blackcurrant squash
Lara Latchem
Fruit cider here
Sylvia Paul
Berry Cider and Ice
Heather Jenkinson
Some local Scrumpy from Herefordshire! 🙂
amanda greensmith
i like a nice pimms
Rachel Low
Whisky and soda!
Tom York
A big glass of milk
AnnaH
A nice cold cidet!
Dj
Kraken and Ice
Rachel Craig
Chilled Lemonade
Hazel Rea
My favourite summer drink is Elderflower Cordial.
Jamie Berwick
I drink Ale normally but you can’t beat an ice cold lager on a hot summer’s day!
Kate Smith
Pimms and lemonade
Ellen Stafford
Malibu and coke
ellie spider
frozen strawberry daiquiri
Lesley Styles
Champagne!
Jane Middleton
apple juice with ice
Michael John McGrath
a nice golden ipa
Sam Furniss
Even though I’m usually a beer girl, I do love the odd Piña colada when the sun is shining.
alice lightning
fresh fruit (squeezed)cocktail with crushed ice so refreshing
Steven Beasley
Its gotta be a nice cold cider
leanne perrett
i love an ice cold ice tea with lemon 🙂 very refreshing
zoe somerfield
A Twisted Woo-Woo which is cranberry juice, lemonade, Archers and vodka
angela edmonds
lime and soda xx
Linda king
Scrumptious prize x
Lucy Chester
Pimms
karen watt
I love a pimms
Samantha Parkes
Pimms
Keri V
Iced coffee
Ruth Liddle-Howden
Pimms
karen clapp
lager and lime
Laura Whittle
Pimms is my fave x
Ruth Wollerton
Pimms
Vicky O.
Your pictures are amazing! Between this and whisky ice cream… I think I need to get myself an ice cream maker.
Aimee Wright
Pimms!
Natalie Crossan
A fruit smoothie.
sharon martin
a raspberry lemonade
Emma Anderson
Ice cold citra!
Lyndsay Harris
These look lush.. bet they would be my new faves
caroline tokes
pimms
Hayley Colburn
A nice ice cold lager
Karen Lloyd
A mixed fruit cider with lots of ice.
laura stewart
i love Pimm’s
George Williamson
A cold Guinness shandy
Tammy Neal
I love Bulmers Cider! xx
tammi nutting
vodka slush puppy
Diana
Cold lager 🙂
frances hopkins
Love a Pimms
Kaye M
Gin & Tonic over Ice & a slice of lime 🙂
Jemma Lawrence
Hendricks gin and tonic with cucumber!
Jade
Lemon iced tea
jackie beckett
AN ice cool beer shandy
Natalie Gillham
Fresh orange and lemonade on ice!
Karl Borowy
cold beer
Mickie Bull
Crabbie’s on ice!