Westbrook Brewing Co. Barrel-Aged Mexican Cake (Willet)

**Aroma:** “Rich chocolate sweetness with no apparent chile note up front. As it warms, slight cinnamon with a light honey and chocolate note. Good stout aroma. Roast malt, a hint of ashy smoke that builds over time.” **Flavor:** “Rich chocolate flavor up front with a chile flavor in the middle followed by a long chile spice that starts to grow. It never gets very hot, but there’s no missing it. As it warms, a little bit of a honey sweetness tames the heat, and the heat cuts the sweetness. Roast flavors hang out in the background relative to the forward chocolate notes. Coffee and the chocolate with some nice caramel malt underpinning, plus a very light smoke note as well.” **Overall:** “From the aroma I would not have expected a chile beer but with the flavor, the chile spice grows and grows. It’s a sneaky heat and very well done! Very balanced expression of pepper and beer.”

__Aroma:__ “Big cinnamon and chocolate, with some sweet cherry, plum, and dark-fruit esters to boot. The coffee and tobacco shine through with the assertive—but not harsh—roastiness. And more notes of chocolate malt, alcohol, vanilla, bourbon barrel, caramel, cinnamon, Nesquik, and mellow coconut.” __Flavor:__ “Starts with the cinnamon and chocolate, and then a touch of tartness to make you think of chocolate-covered cherries. Huge coconut, German chocolate cake, and cinnamon spiciness, along with some good coffee roast and strong vanilla. Very subtle pepper warmth.” __Overall:__ “The blend of cherry, chocolate, coffee, and tobacco are stitched together by the cinnamon and vanilla. Enjoyable roasted flavors—it’s smooth, easy drinking, and not too gimmicky, even with the coconut. The spice balances and dries out the sweetness.”

__Aroma:__ “Sherry, tobacco, damascenone (red berries, tobacco), vinous. There’s very much an aged or cellared character that is certainly interesting. The cherries sneak in and have a red ‘classic’ cherry-candy aroma. Some rich malt. Rich caramel and toasted malt character, and some definite alcoholic heat. Bordering on some barleywine qualities.” __Flavor:__ “Classic Belgian quad with background cherry. Massive dark stone-fruit character floats on top of a traditional quad malt bill. The cherries are well blended with the fermentation esters and phenolics, and the alcohol is present but not hot. The finish is dry with some lingering perceived sweetness, and the high ABV kind of numbs your palate. A bit more carbonation would make everything pop just a touch.” __Overall:__ “A rich Belgium quad with a complement of dark fruits flavors and esters. Complex aged or cellar character. I could see wandering into the cellar and wiping the dust off a bottle you’d forgotten about. Interesting beer but in very small amounts. Enjoy and savor.”