Copper Kettle Brewing Company Mexican Chocolate Stout

__Aroma:__ “Mild cinnamon, ginger, clove, and nutmeg—it’s like gingerbread dipped in stout. A mix of green pepper and mild chile pepper, with strong chocolate malt and some roast. A touch of chocolate and a medium amount of roast remind you that it is, in fact, a stout.” __Flavor:__ “The roast and chocolate malt hit first, with a nice mocha hug, then the mulled cider spices sidle in. Pepper, cocoa, bitter chocolate, with cinnamon and ginger. The heat is very mild, but pleasantly noticeable, and the alcohol is evident and lingers into the aftertaste with a soft, extended burn—perhaps a bit of a clash with the chile heat.” __Overall:__ “Some very complex flavors, but a bit overpowering—it builds to the point that a full pint might be hard to get through. It would be served well in a 4 oz glass after Christmas dinner. Tastes more like a porter than a stout, but is very enjoyable and drinkable.”

**Aroma:** “Rich sweet chocolate with a high malty sweetness. Reminds me of malted chocolate balls. Covers the spectrum of chocolate aromas. Moderate cherry sweetness as well. Other roast characters are present (slight toast, roasty notes), but they sit behind the intense chocolate aroma of this beer. Slight piney American hops.” **Flavor:** “With the aroma, I expected a higher sweetness from the flavor. The first hit is a rich-dark-chocolate-bar bitterness. As it sits on the tongue, the sweetness of the chocolate comes out but fades into an assertive bitterness with citrus and pine American hops. Finished dry with bitterness that lingers.” **Overall:** “This beer was full of intense chocolate flavors that dominated both the smell and taste, but so much potential in the amazing aroma doesn't all translate when you taste the beer. The aroma and flavor are like-able separately, but the aroma sets up an expectation that the flavor deviates from.”

**Aroma:** “Chocolate and toasty malt. Peaches. Slight roast and maybe a hint of smoke and slight vanilla. As it warms, aromatics start to come out a bit.” **Flavor:** “Sweetness up front with chocolate, toasty malt, grilled peaches, and a light smoky note leave an almost BBQ sauce impression. Sweetness fades into moderate bitterness, and a light but sharp acidity in the finish brings balance. Complex caramel and vanilla and possibly some cinnamon and nutmeg. Smooth and creamy with a nice saltiness.” **Overall:** “The acidity and the sweetness from the lactose and malt balance really well. The peach fruit character blends nicely with the toasty and chocolate malt. This would pair really well with BBQ food. There's a light smokiness that carries over and a roast and semi-dry chocolate in the lingering aftertaste. The caramel and salt add a fun aspect to this beer.”