Burial Beer Hawkbill

“Dank, woody aroma with pine, green onion, tropical fruit, diesel, and orange. Confident hops on the palate: Sweaty tropical fruit waves flow across a solid malt foundation, borderline heavy-handed. Resinous, dank hop notes emerge as bitterness lingers.”

“Very clean and well-made, with restrained but effective ingredient choices. Pours a clear, almost brilliant yellowish deep straw—very attractive. While not over the top in terms of hop aroma and flavor, it does have a solid bittering punch with a long, dry finish and hoppy aftertaste. Medium grassy grapefruit and slight piney, both in aroma and flavor, with no conflicting malt character—the hops are the star without being in your face. Hop flavor is slightly restrained, creating such a nice presentation. Quite an approachable IPA that does not disappoint.”

**Aroma:** “Cinnamon, cayenne, ashy roast, dark and milk chocolate, and yes, tobacco. The ash is a little unpleasant, but everything else works well together. Moderate mint, with cinnamon and light chile pepper. Deep richness, with notes of tobacco and leather. Chocolate, with a hint of mole spice, and some fruity notes of cherry, as well as chile powder, earth, and maybe a touch of Brett.” **Flavor:** “More chocolate that other Mexican chocolate stouts, with the cinnamon and cayenne being fairly subdued up front. The flavors grow the longer the beer sits on the palate. Chocolate mint, with cinnamon, vanilla, and just a hint of vanilla spice. A rich, creamy mouthfeel reminiscent of oats or lactose in the grain bill. The capsaicin and alcohol heat hits, then fades into the aftertaste, leaving a vague Thin Mints finish, along with more heat. A very balanced finish.” **Overall:** “Love the body of this beer, mainly because it is so chewy, but then it finishes dry and hot, making you want more. So much complexity, which is typical of the style, but it blends together better than most. It’s quite smooth for a beer with chile spice—nicely subdued, but still present enough to add an interesting background. It’s a nice mix of sweet, chocolate, spice, and roast.”