3.4 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 13/20
Growler shared by a friend. Dark brown pour with a medium tan head. Caramel malt nose with chocolate and hot peppers. Pepper flavor hits you right away. Not overly hot, but definitely a pepper flavor. Then caramel and chocolate step in along with some creaminess. A bit of heat in the finish.
2.9 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 4/5 TASTE 5/10 PALATE 2/5 OVERALL 11/20
From notes. First reviewed 1/12/2011. Served on tap at Black Lotus in a pint glass.
Sepia colored, with ruby tint at the edges. A pillowy off-white head rests on top, fading to a ring and a cap. A bit of lace drifts down the glass.
The aroma is dominated by smoked Thai peppers, heavily roasted or burnt malt, and a light molasses sweetness.
The flavor is lightly sweet, with dark roasted malts. The focus of the flavor is the chilis, and they step in next. A blend of Thai peppers, habaneros, and jalapenos were used; they were put in at the end of the mash. No real hop presence, but the heat is noticeable and rises a bit toward the end.
It is creamy to start out the sip. A chili heat stays in the mouth throughout the whole glass, but it never overwhelms or manifests itself on the tongue. There is medium carbonation, but the body really falls off at the end. The thin feeling is not pleasant.
I definitely liked the idea behind the porter flavor. The concept was excellent, as was the use of chilies, but the beer was mediocre. Since I really liked the use of chilies, I might give this another shot.
3.5 AROMA 7/10 APPEARANCE 3/5 TASTE 7/10 PALATE 3/5 OVERALL 15/20
Growler courtesy of a traveling HSC member. The beer pours dark brown with amber around the edges. Thin beige head that burns away quickly. Short strings of lacing on the glass. Aroma of smoked malt and peppers. Medium body with a smoky and peppery character that is fairly mild, along with some roasty malt. The finish is lightly peppery with a bit of heat lingering. Where Ed’s Cave Creek is a blunt instrument, this beer is more honed. Decent overall.
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