A sweet partnership
Sarris Candies, Great Lakes Brewery collaborate on Easter ale
A beloved Pennsylvania chocolatier and an Ohio brewing company have partnered to give adults something special for their Easter baskets.
The limited-edition Chocolate Ale created by Great Lakes Brewing Company in Cleveland combines their brew with chocolate flavors from Canonsburg-based Sarris Candies.
“Nothing quite captures the experience of enjoying a box of Sarris chocolates, but we feel we got pretty close,” said Great Lakes Co-CEO Steven Pauwels.
Sarris’ marketing coordinator Chelsea Sammel said chocolate beers tend to be very rich in flavor, but the golden Chocolate Ale has a lighter taste.
Beginning this month, the 6% ABV Chocolate Ale will be sold in six packs at select Giant Eagle, Giant Eagle Market District and GetGo stores in Western Pennsylvania and Northeast and Central Ohio.
Sammel said the collaboration started after Great Lakes’ owners reached out to Sarris Candies’ president and CEO Bill Sarris.
“It was a good opportunity to bring the two brands together between the two cities,” she said.
Both also have a longstanding partnership with Giant Eagle, she said, calling it a “trifecta” of local businesses working together.
The Chocolate Ale is the latest partnership between Sarris Candies and a local brewery.
Last February, the candy company partnered with Penn Brewery in Pittsburgh for a Peanut Butter Meltaway Chocolate Stout. This year, they again collaborated with Penn for a Double Chocolate Stout. Sammel said this year’s stout was well-received. The inventory at a pop-up event at Sarris Candies sold out in less than 45 minutes.
Given the popularity of beer and chocolate combinations, Great Lakes produced a “much, much larger batch” of Chocolate Ale, she said.
Bill Sarris said he believes customers will enjoy the ale and appreciate the partnership of two family-owned regional brands that have “shared values of craftsmanship, tradition, community and innovation.
“Whether we fill Easter baskets, coolers or both, we are excited for this first-time partnership to hit Giant Eagle shelves and sweeten the season together,” he said.
In addition to Giant Eagle stores, the Chocolate Ale will be on tap at the Great Lakes brewpub and sold to-go in the brewery’s gift store.