Lake Champlain Chocolates, Brewer Collaborate on Chocolate Bar

To celebrate the 2013 Burlington Discover Jazz Festival, festival sponsors Lake Champlain Chocolates (LCC) and Long Trail Brewing Co. joined forces to create a limited-edition chocolate bar.

“After last year’s successful Boom Bam Bourbon Pecan Chocolate Experience Bar, we asked fellow-sponsor Long Trail Brewery to collaborate with us on a flavor for this year’s bar,” said Catherine Wisloski, director of marketing at LCC. “We are continually inspired by the local food and beverage producers in Vermont, and are always looking to combine ingredients in new ways to create something truly distinctive.”

The Bebop Hop chocolate is a hop-infused, deep malty caramel covered in a blend of milk and dark chocolate. LCC’s Research and Development Specialist Lauren Deitsch and Long Trail Brewmaster Dave Hartmann explained the process of using Long Trail’s raw ingredients for making beer to create a finished chocolate confection.

“While touring the LCC factory, we observed the caramelizing process,” said Hartmann. “And I thought it would be interesting to try caramelizing some concentrated malt extract, what we brewers call ‘wort,’ a house-made ingredient used in making our beers.”

“Like the style of music that inspired this creation, the Bebop Hop bar represents a harmonious fusion between the craft of creating amazing chocolates and the craft of brewing fine ales,” said Jed Nelson, director of brand marketing at Long Trail. “The flavor profile of this bar is extraordinary. LCC and Long Trail have really pushed the boundaries here and created something unique and full of flavor.”

All profits from the sale of the bar will benefit the FlynnArts LCC Youth in Jazz Scholarship, providing performing arts education for young musicians, as well as the FlynnArts Jazz programs. The Bebop Hop bar is nonalcoholic and will be available for purchase from May 20 to June 9.