How to brew the BEST chocolate beer with Cholaca!

The beer making process with Cholaca was incredibly easy because we were able to let the fermentation go through and then able to infuse the Cholaca because of its liquid state! We then could layer the chocolate flavors with the beer flavors and it was the perfect fit!

– Tim Matthews: Head of Brewing Operations at Oskar Blues Brewery

The unique thing about brewing with Cholaca was that it’s in liquid form. It was easier using Cholaca in the brewing process because there wasn’t as much residue left behind for cleaning, as well as the unit of measurement was easier than actual chunked chocolate!

– Todd Thibault: Culture Czar, Breckenridge Brewery

Liquid is quicker to infuse in brew and easier to introduce as liquid vs nibs. Cleanup afterwards is nonexistent with liquid and you also don’t need to use a large amount of liquid vs. nibs where it involves a large amount to equal liquid (liquid is pre-pasturized).

– Dan Ditslear, 300 Suns Brewing Company

Cacao nibs are bulky and expensive, and if added directly to a tank, must be enclosed in a sanitized mesh bag, which is not optimum for infusion into the finished beer. If not enclosed as such, they may clog hoses, ports, pumps, valves, etc. Cholaca, being liquid, infuses more readily, requires no bagging, and thus requires less to be added and is therefore cheaper.

– Jason Yerger, Ghostfish Brewing

What we like better about Cholaca is the flavor. With just nibs, we tend to get a more waxy muddled chocolate flavor in the beer. With Cholaca, and the fact that the entire nib is liquidized, we get a much more complex and depth of chocolate flavor that actually tastes like a 95% dark chocolate rather than chocolate flavored wax. Its a simple superior product that allows for maximum flavor extraction and use in the beer. Will never go back to nibs. The aroma is superior as well. No need to touch it up with flavors or extracts.

– Bret Kollman Baker, Urban Artifact Brewing

We chose Cholaca because it’s much easier to use than nibs, has a great chocolate flavor and we love supporting a fellow local Colorado company!

– David Lin, Comrade Brewing Co

Cholaca is one the most exciting and innovative ingredients for brewers in a long time. Our pure liquid cacao contains only three ingredients: cacao, water and coconut sugar. The secret to its success is Cholaca’s ability to emulsify cacao in water – something that no other company has been able to do up to this point. Cholaca enables brewers to safely use chocolate without the worries of organisms like salmonella, E.coli and botulism commonly found in cacao nibs. Cholaca enables brewers to enhance their beer with a rich and smooth chocolate taste, by actually adding chocolate into the beer rather than trying to extract chocolate flavor from cacao nibs or powders. Cholaca sources its cacao directly from farmers and co-ops in Ecuador and Columbia.

The Brewing Process: Cacao Nibs vs. Cholaca

Chocolate Beers Brewed with Cholaca

Cholaca Technical Data Sheet

Cholaca Dosage rates

Note: Dosage quantities will vary based on how flavor forward you want your chocolate to be.

For craft breweries

½ gallon to 1 gallon should be added per bbl. Click below for more craft brewer dosage info.

Craft Brewer Dosage

For home brewers

Add 18-32oz per 5-gallon batch. Click below for more home brewer dosage info.

Home Brewer Dosage

HOW TO BREW THE BEST CHOCOLATE BEER WITH CHOLACA

Cholaca in the Brewing Process

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FAQ

What is Cholaca’s average dosage rate?

Cholaca dosage rates will vary on how flavor forward you want your chocolate to be. But, in general:

Craft breweries add 1 gallon of Cholaca per bbl
Home brewers add 32 oz per 5 gallon batch

Does Cholaca need to be refrigerated?

Yes!

What is the shelf life on Cholaca if it is refrigerated?

Cholaca’s shelf life is 1 year from the date of production. Once the container has been opened, it should be used within 30 days or frozen for long term use. Cholaca should be refrigerated at 40 degrees or cooler at all times.

How long is Cholaca good for once opened?

The product is good for about a month once opened. Unopened, it lasts for about a year.

How much will a 32 oz sample bottle of Cholaca make?

Typically brewers are dosing between .5 and 1 gallon Cholaca/bbl. That bottle is good for 7-10 gallons. There’s some info that you may find helpful at https://cholaca.com/brewmasters-cacao-nibs-alternative/

What if I find that the product has separated and solidified at the bottom, is that normal?

Sometimes, the bottle sits and solidifies slightly but just needs to re-emulsified. We suggest opening the bottle so more air gets in, putting the cap back on and inverting it while shaking it vigorously so the product will re-emulsify.

We’ve been using cacao nibs in our chocolate beer, what is the dosage conversion rate from cacao nibs to Cholaca?

Because Cholaca is typically added into the secondary process, comparing nibs/Cholaca is a bit of apples to oranges comparison. Nibs are being added at different rates depending on whether it’s added to mash, boil, or ferment.

You can compare what you previously used to any finished batch. So, if you have a 10bbl beer run, you would use between 5-10 gallons of Cholaca depending on how chocolatey you want the beer to be.

Is your product pasteurized?

Yes

Do you ship product internationally?

We can yes, but you will have to pay the shipping cost depending on location. Please email info@cholaca.com

Where does the cacao come from? And, is it fair trade?

By purchasing Cholaca, you support a fair-trade cacao supply chain and contribute to the sustainable economic development of both Peru and Ecuador.

Are there other ingredients and/or additives?

Our “raw” version includes just cacao and water. We also have an “original” version that includes a small amount of coconut sugar.

Can you add Cholaca to the beer post fermentation?

Yes!

Do you add it to the boil and/or fermentation process?

You can add it to the fermentation process, but the beauty of our pure “liquid” cacao is that you can add it directly to the bright tank post fermentation.

Is the cacao emulsified?

Yes, the cacao is emulsified with water.

Is Cholaca organic?

Yes.

Do we offer a special order Kosher Cholaca variety for brewers?

Yes. Email info@cholaca.com for more info

I just picked up a 5 gallon pail of unsweetened Cholaca from CMG. I was considering doing some barrel aging with it. Do you have any info from anyone who has done this yet and advice on how to best handle it?

We always added Cholaca after we have aged in the barrel. Then we flash pasteurize and centrifuge. We have yet to have it in the barrel. – Answer is compliments of Tim Matthews at Oskar Blues Brewery