Westbrook Brewing Company Mexican Cake

__Aroma:__ “Dark chocolate and sweet, fruity peppers, coupled with a very complex barrel character, with hints of vanilla, graham cracker, cinnamon, almond, and sweet tobacco.” __Flavor:__ “Like the most complex, flavorful chocolate truffle you have ever tasted...milk chocolate, cinnamon, peppers, coffee, vanilla, all supported by a complex yet balanced barrel character. It brings it all together with oak and mild tannins. Just enough sweetness and alcohol lingering on the finish.” __Overall:__ “Incredible beer on all aspects: barrel character, base beer, and adjuncts. For such a complex beer, the balance is sophisticated and self-assured. Barrel notes of tobacco, coconut provide the perfect accent to any residual sweetness, and the pepper heat is dialed perfectly. Every sip is a rich and luxurious experience. Aces!”

**Aroma:** “Roasty, chocolaty, and sweet. Some sweet dark fruit character. Slight coffee. Hints of leather. A little bit of smoky phenol that may be roast char. Slightly salty umami aroma. Interesting.” **Flavor:** “Sweet malt character with some caramel notes and chocolate. This beer has some earthy vegetal flavors and sweet fruit and peppery notes as well. The warmth in the finish helps to cut through the sweetness. Flavorful expression of roast: coffee, toast, and bittersweet chocolate. Strong alcohol hit warms the mid-palate and then dries out the finish a little. Finishes with some oxidation.” **Overall:** “An interesting take on imperial stout. The tobacco and peppercorn that dominate play fairly well with the umami subtleties. This beer has some good bones. The roast quality is nice and I enjoyed the chocolate, but it did not come together as an extraordinary beer for me. Good, but not great. Chewy. Would pair well with sushi.”

**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.”