Hops are a foundational ingredient of beer, and one of its buzziest ingredients. Because of their potentially bold tastes, flavors, and aromas, the character of hops can be divisive, leading many casual or non-beer drinkers to assume they don’t like “hoppy” beer. But hops and their use can be incredibly nuanced and varied. So what are hops, how are they used, and why should it matter to chocolate lovers?

Ritual Chocolate’s The Après Bar is a 70% dark chocolate bar made with sparkling white wine and raspberries. It’s a luxurious bar for celebrating the everyday, according to founder Anna Seear.

Pairing Namesake Coffee’s Ethiopia Shakiso coffee with Xocolatl Ripple Effect, a 60% dark chocolate bar made with smoked cacao and raspberries.

Tobias Cichon of Rabid Brewing writes about how Dungeons & Dragons can bring community and purpose to brewery taprooms.

IPA are the most popular styles in craft beer, and craft chocolate makers are working with IPAs and their fruity hop flavors to create craft chocolate bars to appeal to beer lovers and chocolate lovers alike.

Brewers from Athletic Brewing, Self-Care Brewing, and Untitled Art share the secrets behind brewing excellent non-alcoholic fruited sours.

Brewers from Self-Care, Athletic Brewing, Two Roads Brewing, and Sam Adams shares their secrets behind brewing excellent non-alcoholic Hazy IPAs.

Brewers from Athletic Brewing, Untitled Art Brewing, and Big Drop Brewing share their secrets behind brewing good non-alcoholic stouts and porters.

Belgian Dubbels can pair beautifully with several different types of craft chocolate, as Advanced Cicerone David Nilsen explains here.

Great Lakes Christmas Ale is a beloved beer in Ohio and around the Midwest. Here’s the story of how this legendary Cleveland beer came to be.

A quick Bean to Barstool round-up covering the latest craft chocolate bars we're excited about!

Chocolate educator Kathryn Laverack of Cocoa Encounters and pub owner Victoria Hopper of The Brown Cow in Louth, Lincolnshire, share the recipe for their delicious Cacao Cosmo cocktail using cacao nibs.

A quick Bean to Barstool round-up covering the latest craft chocolate bars we're excited about!

Goodnow Farms Chocolate makes three different craft chocolate bars using craft coffee from Nicaragua, Guatamala, and Sumatra. Here’s the story behind each.

The Midwest Craft Chocolate Festival in Rushville, Indiana, will introduce attendees from an area of the country centered around agriculture to the role of farming in craft chocolate.

A quick digest on Bean to Barstool covering the latest craft chocolate bars we're excited about!

A quick digest on Bean to Barstool covering the latest craft chocolate bars we're excited about!

The sisters behind Sisters A Chocolate in Ukraine are crafting beautiful craft chocolate bars in the midst of ongoing violence, hoping to bring a smile to their customers.

Goodnow Farms Chocolate makes several spirits-infused craft chocolate bars using spirits from Boston Harbor Distlllery and Downeast Cider, including Lawley's Rum, Demon Seed Whiskey, Putnam Rye Whiskey, and Unfiltered Hard Cider.

A quick digest on Bean to Barstool covering the latest craft chocolate bars we're excited about!