Upland's Teddy Bear Besos packs a punch

• A chocolate-style bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout.
• Don't let the name fool you. This teddy bear packs a punch.

My take: The first thing that hits you is the chocolate. The beer's smooth texture allows the dark malts and slight bitterness of the roasted cacao to come through loud and clear with every sip.

• The second thing that hits you is the beer itself. It's fairly easy to drink from start to finish, but its true strength begins to reveal itself about halfway through.
• It sneaks up on you with a warming effect that feels like sipping hot chocolate by the fire on a cold night.

Cost: $8 for a 12-ounce glass.

If you go: I cuddled up to my teddy bear at Upland's Carmel Tap House, 820 E. 116th St.

• Open 11am-11pm Sunday-Thursday, and 11am-12am Friday-Saturday.
• Upland has eight other locations, including three in Indianapolis, two in Bloomington and one in Clay Terrace.