Dogfish Head Xocolatl World Wide Stout: A Toast to Chocolate’s Ancient Roots

Dogfish Head Xocolatl World Wide Stout

Dogfish Head is taking one of its most legendary beers in a bold new direction with the introduction of Xocolatl World Wide Stout, an intensely flavorful Imperial Stout inspired by the ancient chocolate beverage known as xocolatl. The new beer brings together the brewery’s fascination with history, culinary ingredients and boundary-pushing brewing in a powerful new interpretation of World Wide Stout.

First created in 1999 after Sam Calagione challenged his brewing team to make the strongest beer in the world, World Wide Stout quickly became one of Dogfish Head’s most recognizable and collectible beers. Over the years, the brewery has continued experimenting with the massive stout, creating new variations that add layers of flavor while maintaining its rich and roasty foundation.

With Xocolatl World Wide Stout, Dogfish Head looks thousands of years into the past for inspiration, incorporating roasted cocoa nibs, Madagascar vanilla beans, cinnamon, Cobanero chilis, black Urfa chilis and corn. The result is a decadent, warming and complex beer designed to reward both immediate enjoyment and patient cellaring.

Here is the complete announcement from Dogfish Head on Xocolatl World Wide Stout:

Chocolate hasn’t always been the decadent sweet treat we know and love today. Back in ancient Mesoamerica, it was enjoyed by Aztecs and other Indigenous cultures as a bitter beverage known as a xocolatl, a boldly flavored, caffeinated concoction that was worlds away from the chocolate we know today.  

Crafted from roasted cacao beans that were ground into a paste, xocolatl could be served hot or cold and was often flavored with chiles, vanilla, maize, spices or botanicals. While time has transformed how most folks experience chocolate today, that ancient combination of cacao and spice captured our imagination and sparked the inspiration for our brand-new brew, Xocolatl World Wide Stout.

A new chapter in the World Wide Stout Saga

Back in 1999, Sam was reeling from the mass exodus of tourists that hits coastal Delaware every fall and posed a simple question to the crew: “Why don’t we try to brew the strongest beer in the world?”

And just like that, World Wide Stout was born.

A batch of this cult favorite for stout afficionados was crafted in our original Brewings & Eats spot in downtown Rehoboth. Reaching the previously unheard of height of 18% ABV, it successfully earned the title of world’s strongest beer at the time … and while the crown only sat on our heads for a few months, we can confidently say that it was a pretty fun few months!

Now, 27 years later, World Wide Stout remains one of our most beloved brews that we’ve continued to push the limits on by exploring new recipes every year. Xocolatl World Wide Stout is the latest exploration in this stout saga.

An ancient inspiration … with an off-centered twist!

Built on the rich, robust foundation of our iconic World Wide Stout, Xocolatl World Wide Stout puts an ancient spin on the original recipe.  

This Imperial Stout is conditioned on roasted cocoa nibs, whole Madagascar vanilla beans, cinnamon and a carefully selected blend of Cobanero and black Urfa chilis. One of the most notable departures from the original World Wide Stout recipe is the addition of corn, a nod to the maize traditionally used in ancient xocolatl preparations.

The result is a beer that bridges past and present, honoring one of chocolate’s earliest forms while embracing the bold, culinary-minded experimentation that’s been part of our DNA since day one.  

Notes of rich chocolate and vanilla meld with a complex blend of earthy, fruity and gently spicy chilis, creating a singular tipple that’s equal parts decadent, warming and contemplative. It’s a beer built for slowing down, savoring and appreciating layer after layer of evolving flavor.

You might want to hold onto this one …  

Like the OG World Wide Stout, Xocolatl World Wide Stout is a great candidate for aging. Enjoy one now and squirrel a few away for later. The hardest part might just be leaving them untouched.

Want to learn more about aging beer? Check out our guide, 5 Things You Should Know About Aging Beer.

Whether you crack one open tonight or tuck one away for the future, Xocolatl World Wide Stout offers a delicious reminder that some of the most exciting beer ideas come from looking back. More than a tribute to an ancient beverage, it’s a celebration of chocolate’s earliest roots, reimagined through the off-centered lens of one of our most legendary beers.

Find Dogfish Head Xocolatl World Wide Stout near you with our Fish Finder. Happy sipping! 

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