Hubbard's Cave Rocky Road 2Pk

Hubbard's Cave Rocky Road 2Pk is a 12% ABV imperial adjunct stout brewed with almond, walnut, chocolate, marshmallow, vanilla, and lactose, sold as a two-pack. Rated 91 on BeerAdvocate, this pastry stout delivers a layered, dessert-forward drinking experience that stands among the brewery's most indulgent releases.

Quick Facts: ABV: 12%  |  Origin: Niles, Illinois, USA  |  Style: Imperial Adjunct Stout  |  Brewery: Hubbard's Cave (Une Année Brewery)

Production & Heritage

Hubbard's Cave launched in 2015 as a dedicated American-style ale project from Une Année Brewery, pivoting away from the parent brewery's Belgian-style focus. The brand takes its name from the Hubbard Street traffic tunnel on Interstate 90/94 in Chicago, near where the brewing operation was born. Rocky Road is built on an imperial stout base loaded with adjuncts — almond, walnut, chocolate, marshmallow, vanilla, and lactose — designed to mirror the classic ice cream flavor in liquid form. The brewery has carved a niche specializing in pastry-style imperial stouts, and this expression represents one of its most ambitious adjunct combinations.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Big marshmallow and roasted malt hit first, followed by almond and a distinct marzipan sweetness. Underneath, vanilla and a faint maraschino cherry note round out the nose.

Taste: The palate opens with decadent chocolate and strong almond flavor that dominates the entry. Mid-palate, marshmallow sweetness and vanilla build without becoming cloying, supported by the lactose body. Earthy walnut accents ripple underneath, adding depth and keeping the sweetness grounded.

Finish: Heavy-bodied with low carbonation, the finish lingers on roasted malt and marzipan. A residual vanilla-marshmallow sweetness fades slowly, leaving behind toasted nut character.

How to Drink Rocky Road

Serve this stout at cellar temperature, around 50–55°F, in a snifter or tulip glass to concentrate the aromatic complexity. The 12% ABV and dessert-forward profile make it best suited for slow sipping rather than mixing, though it works in select applications. A stout float — Rocky Road poured over a scoop of vanilla ice cream — leans into the dessert concept. A Black Russian variation using this stout in place of a standard dark beer adds chocolate-almond depth. It also holds up as a base in a beer cocktail with cold brew coffee and a dash of chocolate bitters.

Best For

• Dessert course replacement at a dinner party
• Sharing with a fellow pastry stout enthusiast
• Cold-weather evening sipping sessions
• Side-by-side tastings across the Hubbard's Cave stout lineup

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Rocky Road taste like? Rocky Road delivers dominant almond and marzipan flavors layered with decadent chocolate, marshmallow sweetness, and vanilla, all riding on a heavy, lactose-enriched body with low carbonation. It reads like rocky road ice cream translated into a thick, boozy imperial stout.

How does Rocky Road compare to other Hubbard's Cave pastry stouts? While the broader Hubbard's Cave lineup explores various dessert-inspired adjunct combinations, Rocky Road distinguishes itself with its pronounced nut-forward profile, particularly the strong almond and walnut character. Many of the other releases lean more heavily on chocolate or fruit, making Rocky Road one of the nuttier entries in the range.

Is Rocky Road good for sipping neat? Rocky Road is built for slow, neat sipping — its 12% ABV, heavy body, and complex layered adjuncts reward patience and attention at cellar temperature. Pouring into a wide-mouthed glass opens up the marshmallow and almond aromatics significantly.

Where is Rocky Road made? Rocky Road is brewed by Hubbard's Cave, the American-style ale project of Une Année Brewery based in Niles, Illinois. The Hubbard's Cave brand name references the Hubbard Street traffic tunnel on Interstate 90/94 in Chicago, near the brewery's original location.

What foods pair well with Rocky Road? Chocolate brownies with toasted almonds echo the beer's core flavors and amplify the marzipan notes. A cheese plate featuring aged Gouda or Stilton blue cheese offers a savory counterpoint to the sweetness. Salted caramel desserts complement the vanilla-marshmallow character. Pecan pie plays off the nutty profile, and dark chocolate truffles create a rich, layered pairing.

What sizes does Rocky Road come in? Hubbard's Cave Rocky Road is sold as a two-pack of cans, which is the standard release format for the brewery's pastry stout offerings.

Is Rocky Road worth the price? Rocky Road positions as a premium craft pastry stout, priced in line with other high-ABV, adjunct-heavy imperial stouts from specialty breweries. Its 91-point BeerAdvocate rating and the sheer volume of adjuncts involved in production support its standing at the upper end of the craft stout market.

Why Rocky Road?

Hubbard's Cave Rocky Road earned a 91-point rating on BeerAdvocate and holds a 4.0 out of 5 on Untappd with over 2,150 ratings — consistent marks for a limited-distribution pastry stout. The combination of almond, walnut, chocolate, marshmallow, vanilla, and lactose in a single imperial stout base is ambitious, and the execution avoids the cloying sweetness that plagues lesser pastry stouts. Hubbard's Cave has built its reputation specifically on this style, and Rocky Road represents one of the more complex adjunct profiles in its portfolio. For drinkers who take pastry stouts seriously, this is a benchmark release from a brewery that helped define the category in the Midwest.