Introducing Dark Heart: A Decadent Collaboration Between Engkanto Brewery and Auro Chocolate

Two local brands that champion Filipino ingenuity, Engkanto Brewery and Auro Chocolate, have collaborated to bring the most decadent and intense premium beer of the festive season: Dark Heart Imperial Stout, featuring the finest local Regalo and Mana cacao nibs, handpicked only for this limited-release brew.

Dark Heart marks a celebration of creativity and partnership between two of the most internationally awarded local brands, since the high level of craftsmanship for an unprecedented product at this scale has never been done before in the country.

"Engkanto and Auro are aligned in being uncompromising in terms of standards and quality of products, so it's just a natural progression that we are going to work together," shared Mark Mendoza Ocampo, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Auro Chocolate. "We are from different industries, yes, but at the end of the day, both brands represent the Philippines and uplift the image of the country in terms of world-class products."

A dark beer style perfect for the collaboration
"Stout, as a beer style, perfectly lends itself to desserts in general, and chocolate desserts in particular," explained Michael ‘MJ’ Jordan, Brewmaster of Engkanto. "There's a lot of substyles of Stout, but we've chosen to go with an Imperial style, which is big and robust. It's been a really nice match to go with the high-quality chocolates from Auro."

Known for its distinct appearance, a Stout is a dark beer, typically characterized by its full body, creamy texture, and roasted malt flavors, and notes of coffee and chocolate, with differing bitterness, sweetness, and alcohol level.

"Among the different types of beers I’ve tried, I really loved Stout from when I first tried it," shared Mark of Auro. "It's so interesting because I love the balance between sweet and bitter, the chocolate and coffee notes, and also the dark honey notes. It's such a decadent beer that you can really enjoy it no matter what you pair with it."

Handpicked local cacao nibs at the heart of it all
Dark Heart is brewed with Regalo and Mana cacao nibs, made from Auro Chocolate’s internationally awarded cacao beans.

"We chose Regalo and Mana because they both have interesting notes that remind us of the profile of a Stout, from what it would taste like to what it would smell like," explained Mark of Auro. "And in the collaboration, they were amplified, since the chocolate profiles really shine with their unique flavors in the beer."

"We've never done anything like Dark Heart before at the brewery," said Brewmaster MJ of Engkanto. "For the brewing process, we've used a lot of different imported malts, handled a longer fermentation time, and completed two batches in two days. To top this off, we've brewed kilos and kilos of the cacao nibs. It's something I haven't done in this quantity, and it wasn't the easiest beer to make. But nothing great is supposed to be easy," he added.

A festive drink for passionate Filipinos
While an Imperial Stout beer of this scale hasn't been made before in the country, Brewmaster MJ of Engkanto believes it is the perfect time for the beer's release.

"We've had dark beers before as seasonal releases for the holidays, but not an Imperial Stout at the highest alcohol level we've ever done so far, and that alone makes it unique," said Brewmaster MJ. "It's a great beer for the season, with many gatherings for families and friends to do gift sharing.

"There's such a great interest in consuming and supporting local products now because we Filipinos are inherently passionate," shared Mark of Auro. "With Dark Heart Imperial Stout, we are finding ways to connect to our heritage and our identity through chocolate and beer, which have a long history in the country."

For high-quality craft makers like Auro and Engkanto, there's a great incentive and push to create great products locally, as we aim to produce world-class Filipino products proudly made here in the Philippines.

Sip into the dark side with Dark Heart
Dark Heart Imperial Stout is an 11.2% ABV (alcohol level) limited-release beer that's brewed with the finest Regalo and Mana cacao nibs. Experience a local premium beer unlike no other at the following locations: