Marz Cream Puff Paczki Stout 4Pk

Marz Cream Puff Paczki Stout 4PK is a double milk stout from Chicago's Marz Community Brewing Co. at 6.5% ABV, sold in a four-pack. Brewed with Peruvian cocoa nibs to replicate the chocolate pudding filling inside traditional Polish pączki pastries, this stout has earned a strong 3.9 rating on Untappd across more than 2,200 reviews.

Quick Facts: ABV: 6.5%  |  Origin: Chicago, Illinois  |  Style: Double Milk Stout  |  Brewery: Marz Community Brewing Co.

Production & Heritage

Marz Community Brewing Co. operates out of its brewhouse at 3630 S Iron St in Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood, brewing on a 15-barrel system with 15- and 30-barrel fermentation tanks. The Cream Puff Paczki Stout uses Peruvian cocoa nibs and lactose to build a dessert-forward profile that leans into roasted chocolate malts rather than relying on added sugars or artificial flavoring. The result is a beer designed as a liquid homage to the beloved Polish filled doughnut — a nod to Chicago's deep Polish-American community and bakery culture.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Roasted malts lead, followed by cocoa and a layer of milk chocolate sweetness. There is a faint bakery-like quality underneath that ties back to the pączki inspiration.

Taste: The entry is distinctly sweet with lactose creaminess giving way to baker's chocolate and roasted malt at mid-palate. Cocoa nibs add depth as the sweetness recedes, and a subtle roasted nuttiness emerges toward the peak. The double milk stout base keeps the body rich without veering into cloying territory.

Finish: A touch of bitterness from the roasted malts balances the residual sweetness on the close. The finish is moderate in length with a dry cocoa and malt character that lingers cleanly.

How to Drink Paczki Stout

Pour into a tulip glass or snifter at around 45–50°F to let the chocolate and roast aromatics open up fully. This stout is built for slow sipping on its own, but it also works in beer-based mixed drinks. A Stout Float with a scoop of vanilla ice cream amplifies the dessert character naturally. A Black Velvet — half stout, half sparkling wine — creates an unexpected contrast of effervescence and cocoa richness. A Chocolate Espresso Shandy blending the stout with cold brew and a touch of simple syrup plays up the roasted malt and cocoa nib backbone.

Best For

• Dessert course pairings at a dinner party
• Gifting to a craft beer enthusiast who appreciates pastry stouts
• Cold-weather weekend drinking sessions
• Sharing with friends who enjoy Chicago's craft brewing scene

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Paczki Stout taste like? It delivers roasted malt, baker's chocolate, and cocoa with a creamy lactose sweetness, finishing with a balancing touch of dry bitterness. The overall impression is a rich, dessert-leaning stout that stays drinkable at 6.5% ABV.

How does Paczki Stout compare to Left Hand Milk Stout? Left Hand Milk Stout is often considered the modern reference point for the milk stout style, with controlled sweetness and clean cocoa-coffee notes, especially on Nitro. Marz's Paczki Stout leans sweeter and more dessert-forward thanks to the Peruvian cocoa nibs and a more pronounced lactose presence, making it a bolder choice for drinkers who want a pastry-inspired profile.

Is Paczki Stout good for sipping neat? Yes — poured into a proper glass at cellar temperature, its layered chocolate and roasted malt character rewards slow, deliberate sipping. The 6.5% ABV keeps it sessionable enough to enjoy a full glass comfortably.

Where is Paczki Stout made? It is brewed at Marz Community Brewing Co. on South Iron Street in Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood. The brewery operates a 15-barrel brewhouse in the heart of one of Chicago's most storied neighborhoods.

What foods pair well with Paczki Stout? Vanilla bean cheesecake highlights the chocolate and lactose sweetness. Smoked brisket or pulled pork provides a savory counterpoint to the roasted malts. Dark chocolate truffles echo the cocoa nib character. A sharp aged cheddar creates appealing sweet-savory contrast. Traditional pączki pastries themselves are the obvious pairing for the full thematic experience.

What sizes does Paczki Stout come in? It is available in a standard four-pack of cans.

Is Paczki Stout worth the price? Positioned within the craft milk stout and pastry stout segment, the Paczki Stout sits at a mid-range price point that reflects its specialty ingredients — particularly the Peruvian cocoa nibs — and the reputation Marz has built in the Chicago craft scene. For fans of dessert stouts, the quality-to-value ratio is competitive.

Why Paczki Stout?

What separates this beer from the growing crowd of pastry stouts is its specificity of concept and restraint in execution. The use of Peruvian cocoa nibs rather than generic chocolate flavoring gives the cocoa character genuine depth and a roasted bitterness that prevents the beer from becoming one-dimensionally sweet. The cultural reference point — Chicago's Polish pączki tradition — is more than a marketing hook; it informs the actual flavor architecture, bridging bakery sweetness with serious stout construction. With a 3.9 Untappd rating across thousands of reviews, this is a stout that has earned sustained community enthusiasm rather than fleeting hype.