Marz Raspberry Paczki Stout 4Pk is a raspberry-infused double milk stout from Chicago's Marz Community Brewing, sold as a 4-pack at approximately 6.5% ABV. This seasonal variant builds on the brewery's popular Pączki Stout line, which holds an 87-point rating on BeerAdvocate, layering fruit character over a rich foundation of Peruvian cocoa nibs and lactose.Quick Facts: ABV: ~6.5% | Origin: Chicago, Illinois | Style: Double Milk Stout with Raspberry | Brewery: Marz Community Brewing CompanyProduction & HeritageMarz Community Brewing Company operates out of Chicago's Bridgeport neighborhood, founded as a community-focused craft brewery with a distinctive artistic identity. The Pączki Stout line pays homage to the beloved Polish-American filled doughnut — pączki — that holds deep cultural roots in Chicago's Polish communities. The base recipe is a double milk stout brewed with lactose for body and sweetness, along with Peruvian cocoa nibs selected to replicate the chocolate pudding filling found inside traditional pączki. The Raspberry variant introduces fruit into that framework, adding a tart berry dimension to an already layered stout.Tasting NotesAroma: Roasted malt and cocoa arrive first, followed by a wave of raspberry jam sweetness. Underneath, subtle milk chocolate and a gentle lactic creaminess round out the nose.Taste: The entry is smooth and sweet, with lactose providing a pillowy mouthfeel before cocoa nib bitterness and roasted malt emerge at mid-palate. Raspberry fruit surfaces in the second half, contributing a bright tartness that cuts through the residual sweetness and baker's chocolate character. The interplay between fruit and roast creates a pastry-like quality reminiscent of a chocolate-raspberry dessert.Finish: Medium in length with a gentle roasted bitterness and lingering raspberry. The cocoa fades slowly while the fruit note persists, leaving a clean, slightly tart conclusion.How to Drink Raspberry Paczki StoutThis stout drinks best slightly below room temperature — around 45–50°F — poured into a tulip glass or snifter to concentrate the cocoa and raspberry aromatics. Its sweetness and fruit character also make it a surprisingly versatile ingredient in beer cocktails. A Raspberry Stout Float pairs it with vanilla ice cream, letting the lactose and fruit amplify the dessert effect. A Black Forest Flip shakes it with a whole egg, chocolate liqueur, and a dash of nutmeg for a rich after-dinner drink. A Stout Shandy combines it with tart raspberry lemonade for a lighter warm-weather serve that preserves the fruit-forward character.Best For Sharing with friends during a weekend dessert pairing session Gifting to a craft beer enthusiast who collects seasonal and limited releases Celebrating Fat Tuesday or Pączki Day with an authentically Chicago tribute Capping off a hearty winter meal as a liquid dessert course Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat does Raspberry Paczki Stout taste like? It delivers rich cocoa and roasted malt sweetness from Peruvian cocoa nibs and lactose, layered with a bright raspberry tartness that evokes a chocolate-raspberry pastry.How does Raspberry Paczki Stout compare to the original Marz Pączki Stout? The original Pączki Stout focuses on chocolate pudding-inspired cocoa nib and lactose flavors without a fruit component. The Raspberry variant adds a tart berry layer that lightens the perception of sweetness and introduces more complexity on the finish.Is Raspberry Paczki Stout good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — the moderate ABV around 6.5% and smooth, full body make it very approachable as a standalone sipper, especially when served lightly chilled in a proper glass.Where is Raspberry Paczki Stout made? It is brewed by Marz Community Brewing Company in the Bridgeport neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, a historically working-class area on the city's South Side with deep Polish-American heritage.What foods pair well with Raspberry Paczki Stout? Dark chocolate truffles echo the cocoa nib character. Raspberry cheesecake mirrors the fruit and creamy lactose body. Smoked brisket benefits from the stout's roasted malt bitterness as a counterpoint to fat. Polish sausage with mustard plays into the beer's Chicago roots. Vanilla bean crème brûlée offers a classic sweet contrast to the roast and berry notes.What sizes does Raspberry Paczki Stout come in? It is commonly available as a 4-pack of cans, the standard retail format for this seasonal release from Marz Community Brewing.Is Raspberry Paczki Stout worth the price? It positions as a small-batch, specialty craft stout with premium ingredients like Peruvian cocoa nibs and real fruit additions, placing it in the mid-to-upper tier for craft 4-packs — reasonable given the ingredient quality and limited seasonal availability.Why Raspberry Paczki Stout?What separates this beer from the crowded pastry stout field is its specificity of inspiration. Rather than chasing vague dessert descriptors, Marz built the Pączki Stout line around an actual Chicago food tradition — the filled Polish doughnut — and used Peruvian cocoa nibs to deliberately replicate a chocolate pudding filling. The Raspberry variant adds a second dimension without burying the original concept, creating a beer that tastes intentional rather than gimmicky. With an 87-point BeerAdvocate score anchoring the base recipe's credibility and nearly 2,300 Untappd ratings reflecting broad community enthusiasm, the Pączki line has earned genuine standing among Midwestern craft stout drinkers.
