Pass or fail? Moonstruck Chocolate’s beer truffles

Pass. Unequivocally. I see beer truffles going nicely with my daily intake of hop pickles, spreadable beer jelly and frozen beer foam. We applaud Moonstruck Chocolate Co., which launched its crafty truffle assortment with the introduction of the Oregon Craft Brewers Collection on Sept. 9.

In partnership with four of the state’s founding craft breweries, Moonstruck’s artisan chocolatier, Julian Rose, has developed (wait for it) beer bottle-shaped(!) truffles in four craft brew styles: Wheat, Brown, Porter and IPA. These non-alcoholic truffles authentically evoke the rich, nutty sweet, dark, fresh and hoppy flavor profiles associated with these beer styles.

“Chocolate and beer are naturals for pairing because their characteristics work so well together. Rich and fatty cocoa butter is a great companion to beer’s intense flavors and carbonation. Plus, both make us feel good,” said Julian Rose, master chocolatier for Moonstruck Chocolate. “Each of these craft beer styles has a signature flavor profile that we’ve captured in a single taste experience.”

Moonstruck Chocolate’s Oregon Craft Brewers Collection is packaged in a 12-piece collection, and here’s a rundown:

Deschutes Brewery Black Butte Porter Truffles

A dark beer with a light hop bitterness and a roasted chocolate finish, Deschutes Brewery’s Black Butte Porter was a natural choice for Chef Rose’s inspiration. Rose recreated the beer’s intense, complex flavors and creamy mouthfeel with a blend of Moonstruck dark and milk chocolate ganache and a Black Butte Porter reduction.

Full Sail Brewing Co. IPA Truffles

Full Sail Brewing Co.’s IPA is an Indian pale ale with aromas of citrus that lead to a light, malty body and a crisp, hoppy finish. Chef Rose recreated the hop-forward flavor of this ganache with a crafty blend of milk, dark and ivory chocolates and just the right amount of beer reduction to bring out the full IPA flavor.

Rogue Ales Hazelnut Brown Nectar Truffles

A twist on the traditional European brown ale, Rogue Ales & Spirits‘ Hazelnut Brown Nectar features the aroma of roasted hazelnuts and a smooth, malty finish. Chef Rose’s Hazelnut Brown Truffle blends Moonstruck milk chocolate ganache with a generous amount of roasted hazelnut praline, malts and hop, and just a hint of coffee to bring forward the nutty beer flavor.

Widmer Brothers Brewing Hefeweizen Truffles

The original American Hefeweizen, Widmer Brother Brewing Co.’s “Hefe” delivers rich wheat and yeast flavors with hints of citrus in the finish. For Chef Rose, this inspired a ganache made from a balanced blend of Moonstruck white chocolate and a whisper of dark chocolate, to bring forward the bready notes and aroma that are distinct to this beer’s style.