This micro-craft beer, brewed at the Great River Brewery in the Quad Cities, is a bit off the beaten path. It’s one of those curiosities you find in the corner freezer at the Bread Garden Market, hoping to catch your eye with its bright yellow can, bold text, and image of a scantily dressed pinup blonde. That said, it’s pretty good.

TASTE: The chocolate flavor in this chocolate ale is distinct, but not so much that Dirty Blonde tastes more like Nesquik than a golden beer. According to Great River Brewery, this hint of sweetness is achieved by brewing the beer with dark bittersweet chocolate, giving it a “decadent” taste. I’m not sure I would put Dirty Blonde on the same level as a rich slice of cake, but it is certainly a welcoming twist on an otherwise average beer.

ADVICE: If you’re not a fan of “dessert wine,” Dirty Blonde would make a good, down-home alternative as an after-meal drink. It would also make a great gift for the chocoholic in your life — and it never hurts to support an Iowan brewery.