Hoppy Easter! Bring on the chocolate beer

​Essential Easter survival tip: send the youngsters on a lengthy egg hunt, then settle down with some choice chocolate beers, brought to you by the yeaster bunny.

Many stouts and porters display deep chocolate notes simply from darkly roasted grains, while others go the full Willy Wonka with real chocolate and a bean-to-brew approach, pairing those earthy grains with single origin cacao you'd be delighted to find in the kind of bar that comes with a wrapper.

Techniques vary: lactose in the mix brings all the beer lovers to the yard with milkshake creaminess, nitro infusion adds silky smoothness, and brewers play with a pastry kitchen of flavours, from peanut butter to cherry. From the seasonal Magical Easter Unicorn Chocolate Ale by Bridge Road Brewers, with its choc notes from dark malt, to La Sirene's Praline Belgian stout made spectacular with organic vanilla pods, Mexican cacao nibs and hazelnuts – there's a whole selection pack out there.

White Rabbit Chocolate Stout

$27 (6 x 355ml cans); 5.6 per cent ABV

Geelong's own Easter Bunny brings us this rich winter warmer made with organic Pana chocolate and a slug of brandy for extra comfort. Delicate chocolate notes with a lovely hint of bitterness from cluster hops.

Timothy Tamothy Slamothy, Moondog

$22 (4 x 330ml cans), 5.6 per cent ABV

Those Moondog mavericks have previously tinkered with Black Forest and pavlova, but their sweetest child has to be this milk stout tribute to our national biscuit. Lactose and cacao with caramel malt biscuit notes make a super-smooth brew made for doing the Slam. You'll never go back to tea.

Temptress Choc Porter, Holgate Brewhouse

$20 (4 x 330ml bottles), 6 per cent ABV

Enduringly popular since 2008, this Victoria-brewed English porter enriched with Dutch cocoa and vanilla beans is robust, rich and complex, with coffee and caramel notes. Pairs equally well with meat pie or mud cake.