Year of New Beer: Mexican Chocolate Stout, Country Boy Brewing (Lexington)

Written By: Dion on 05/04/2016

To celebrate Cinco de Mayo, the Boys have decided to spice things up a bit. Building on the success of both the 3rd Anniversary Mexican Chocolate Black Gold Porter and the Barreled Jalapeño Smoked Porter, the guys have gone and bulked up a stout with coffee, cacao nibs, ancho chilies, and cinnamon. And as if that wasn't enough, they dropped it into a rum barrel for a while. The nose is full, with early notes of bittersweet chocolate and mild coffee. As the glass warms, the cinnamon steps up, aided by a seemingly smoked pepper skin underneath. On the tongue, chocolate and coffee again present first, but those subtleties are short-lived as the ancho heat kicks in, building with each sip. Cinnamon and rum spice add to the burn as the temperature of the glass rises both literally and figuratively. Charred oak, faint dark fruits, and hints of smoked meat round out a slow, simmering burn. I would love to see a touch more chocolate in this, and I wonder if it won't come out a bit more as these bottles age. My palate for spice has increased since my first taste of Jalapeño Smoked Porter, and for me, this is a nice step in that evolution. If you're like me, and you enjoy your beers with a little bite, head on over to Chair Avenue and pick up a bottle or two. While you're at it, enjoy the other draft-only options the Boys have whipped up for the Celebration. There will be an agave lime Cougar Bait (delicious), a pineapple jalapeño cider (my favorite), and a mango habañero Nacho Bait (spicy!!)