Happy February, everyone! Love is in the air, but more importantly, so is the smell of roasted malts and chocolate. Since February is officially National Stout Month, Leesl and I decided to lean into the dark side.

In honor of Groundhog Day, we lived our own version of the movie: we woke up, tried a stout, and then did it all over again until we found the perfect one. After “reliving” the experience through six different beers—including heavy hitters like Martin House’s Extra Crunchy (8%), Anderson Valley’s Huge Arker (15.5%), and Sierra Nevada’s Barrel-Aged Narwhal (11.9%) — we finally broke the loop with a winner that was as delicious as it was unexpected.

Our Winner: More S’mores (Boulevard Brewing Co. in partnership with Whitman’s Chocolates) 🏆

This beer was the shock of the month. To be honest, we weren’t sure if a collaboration with a classic chocolate box brand like Whitman’s would be too gimmicky—but we were so wrong.

At 8.2% ABV, it’s a flavor powerhouse. You get the campfire marshmallow fluff on the nose, 🔥☁️followed by that signature Whitman’s chocolate richness and a graham cracker finish. 🍫 It’s balanced, nostalgic, and surprisingly sophisticated. Unlike Punxsutawney Phil, this is one discovery we hope stays around for much longer than six more weeks.

🥈 Our Runners-Up

The competition was fierce, with these two nearly taking the crown:

• Pecan Pie Temptress (Lakewood Brewing Co.): A seasonal 9.1% ABV imperial milk stout. It has everything we love about the original Temptress but with a buttery, nutty warmth that feels like a Texas holiday in a glass.
• An American Pastry in London (903 Brewers): Our Honorable Mention. At a staggering 13% ABV, this is a “boss level” pastry stout. It’s thick, rich, and unapologetically sweet.

The Playbook Pairing: The Valentine’s “Cheat Code” 🍽️

When you’re drinking stouts that taste like s’mores and pecan pie, you can go one of two ways: balance the sugar or lean right into it. We did both.

• The Savory Side: We suggest a classic smoked brisket slider. The salt and smoke from the brisket would act as the perfect foil to the sweet marshmallow and chocolate notes of the More S’mores.
• The “I Forgot the Whitman’s” Side: In the spirit of total transparency, we didn’t actually have a box of Whitman’s chocolates on hand while testing this—but we did have a secret stash of Kit Kats. 🤫 We paired the two somewhat as a joke, but it was a revelation! The crunch of the wafer with the silkiness of the stout was a match made in heaven. It led us to a brilliant realization: the ultimate Valentine’s gift this year isn’t just flowers; it’s a classic heart-shaped box of Whitman’s paired with a 4-pack of this Boulevard stout. ❤️

Final Call: A Box of Chocolates!! 🍻

They say life is like a box of chocolates—you never know what you’re gonna get. In this case, we got a world-class stout. Boulevard and Whitman’s managed to bottle up a childhood memory and give it a very adult upgrade.

The Question for Our Readers: If you had to relive one “Beer Day” over and over again like Groundhog Day, which brewery or beer would you choose? Drop a comment below! 👇