Chocolate & Beer Candy?

The front page of today's WSJ has an article about the growing trend of beer-flavored chocolate candy. 

Um, ok.

This doesn't sound appealing to me, but according to the article, I'm not the target demographic.  Confectioners have been trying to find a way to narrow the chocolate gender gap.  The aim is to entice more men to buy sweets for themselves.

The US chocolate market is a $17.5 billion enterprise.  90% of women buy chocolate, compared to 82% of men.  And, it seems, men often buy chocolate not to eat themselves, but to give to women.  According to a food analyist:

"Men buy chocolate for women because they're in the doghouse," Ms. Mogelonsky said. "Women aren't in the doghouse because they own the doghouse. We buy chocolate because we're sad and stressed, so we need it," she said.

I can't remember the last time DP bought me chocolate...

Enter the new trend of chocolate and other candy treats being made with beer.  At Truffle Truffle, you can find the "Beer and Pretzel Collection" of treats.  Dean and Deluca is offering Roni-Sue's black-stout and India Pale Ale caramels.  At Vosges  Haut Chocolate, you can find a Smoke and Stout Caramel Bar.

I like my chocolate plain--good milk or dark chocolate, with nothing in it to distract.  Keep out the nuts, the caramel, or the beer.