Ah, Valentine’s Day, when thoughts turn to romance, roses, chocolates and beer.  That’s right, beer. What....you were thinking red wine? How cliche! So old school. Quite quaint, really. Your significant other or potential lover has been plied with red wine on Valentine's Day since she or he was old enough to drink. Possibly longer. What's so romantic about ruby-tinged teeth and a sulfite hangover? We have a few ideas for how you can impress your sweetheart, amorous quarry or lifelong soul mate with a libation not typically associated with Valentine’s Day….beer!
And no, we’re not talking about any ol’ brew. You’re going to have to be a bit more ambitious than that, fellow ale-o-phile.  We’re talking beers that make you wanna holler “Be My Valentine," and that show your shorty that you are a unconventional purveyor of pleasures.
Beer and Valentine’s Day chocolate? The beer style known as an "imperial stout" pairs with dark chocolate to create a symphony of flavor that will have your sweetie singing.
Southern Tier, an outstanding brewery in New York State, brews several stouts actually made with chocolate that are perfect for Valentine's Day. Southern Tier Choklat Stout is rated 100 (out of 100) on Ratebeer.com and 95 on Beeradvocate.com. Brewed with bittersweet Belgian chocolate, it is a unique and special shorty surprise that will show you are way hipper than the ex-Valentine with the Whitman sampler and red wine.  An objective consumer review on Ratebeer (ahem, Parental Advisory - Rated PG-13): "Belgian chocolate, fresh cream, wood, and vanilla blend in an orgy of sensual temptation. Eyes closed, I take a moment to bask in her heavenly embrace before delving into her liquid sex. Truly decadent and truly naughty in every single way possible...the best X-rated beer experience I have enjoyed to date." Whew! Who needs Viagra when the choklat stout's in the house!
Two more tiers of delicious beers to accompany dessert and desire, also brewed by Southern Tier.  Jah-vah Coffee Stout, brewed with Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee, has a Ratebeer.com rating of 99, and is like a beer-kahula flavor bomb of delish, ideal to keep your sweetie awake for late-night romance; the caffeine attenuates the alcohol's soporific effects.  The Mokah Stout is brewed with the Jamaican coffee and Belgian bittersweet chocolate. A delightful beer of intensely delicious flavor, when paired with a dark chocolate truffle or dessert this is truly special.
Other imperial stouts? North Coast Brewing’s Old Rasputin Imperial Stout is a fine example of the style.  It is widely available in Hampton Roads, 9% alcohol by volume, and has flavor notes of chocolate, coffee, and dark fruit. The slight roasted character prevents the overall effect from being too sweet. Other similar stouts that will also pair beautifully with dark chocolate are  Stone Brewing’s Imperial Stout, Great Divide’s Yeti Imperial Stout, and the world-class St. George Brewing Company’s Imperial Stout, brewed locally in Hampton. Rogue Chocolate Stout is a lighter American stout brewed with chocolate and it goes especially well with milk chocolate. Another lighter stout is Young's Double Chocolate Stout. This pairs well with milk chocolate and white chocolate. Please note that none of these stouts even remotely resembles the dry Guinness stout most people are familiar with, so whether someone likes or dislikes Guinness has little bearing on their ability to appreciate these very different stouts.
You could try sipping something sweeter with your sepia snack; try a Lindeman's Framboise from Belgium. Especially recommended if your boo drinks cosmos, has a sweet tooth, or is under the age of consent. A sweet raspberry lambic with a bit of quenching acidity, it matches up well to chocolate or cheesecake; added benefit: its ruby red hue connotes unbridled passion! For a sophisticated beverage, mix her a raspberry truffle, a truly fine genteel beverage. About half and half of the stout and the framboise is perfect for those who like sweeter drinks.  For less sweetness, tilt the balance toward the stout. Take this one step farther if you dare, and put a scoop of super-premium vanilla ice cream in that glass, and taa-daa, the perfect Valentine’s Day dessert. Spoon it or slurp it and soon you'll be imitating this tasty dessert drink.
Maybe some cheese with your squeeze on February 14?  Let’s say that when you're with your Valentine's Day darling you're in hog heaven, in which case a double deuce bottle of Avery Brewing's Hog Heaven Barley Wine is the perfect beer.  A bottle of that Hog Heaven and a brick of Stilton or sharp cheddar cheese and you will be as happy as pigs in mud. Another barley wine with a romantic moniker is Victory Brewing's Old Horizontal. Both are big, bold, high in alcohol, full of caramel malt flavor, and hop-a-licious; these ales can lead to lust faster than Tone Loc’s Funky Cold Medina.
These beers are all sold in the 22 ounce format for sharing. They should not be served ice cold; a few degrees warmer allows the flavors to shine. And please serve these special beers in a snifter glass. If you don't have a snifter, use a red wine glass or a chalice....don't use a boring pint glass or mason jar for these special beers, especially for a romantic Valentine libation.
Other beers to consider for Valentine's Day are tasty beers with heartwarming handles. Forbidden Fruit (Verboden Vrucht) Belgian dark strong ale from Hoegaarden (the artistic label was once banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration…apparently Adam and Eve need to wear clothing), Bell’s Two-Hearted Ale, The Love German style hefeweizen from Virginia’s own Starr Hill, Sixpoint Brewing’s Sweet Action, an unconventional cream ale, Naked Fish chocolate raspberry stout from DuClaw, Crown Shoes Lubrication black ale, Seduction from Ommegang (a dark ale brewed with Belgian chocolate and Liefman's Cuvee Brut Kriek cherry ale). If you can find a rare bottle of Cantillon’s Rose de Gambrinus, an authentic sour lambic with raspberries, the saucy label is definitely Valentine-worthy...where's the FDA when you need them?)
Most of the beers mentioned here are available at Grape & Gourmet in Virginia Beach, the Bon Vivant Market in Smithfield (and Suffolk), and/or Total Wine in Ghent (and maybe other locations). However, not many are available at all of these places, so give the shop a call to see if the beers you want are in stock. Happy Valentines' Day!

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