O’Connor Brewing Chocolate Chipotle Belgian Stout
I’ve been hearing good things about O’Connor Brewing for a little while now, but hadn’t come across any of their products until I spied this bottle from their Steel Battalion Series. Chocolate Chipotle Belgian Stout is about as good a description as you’re going to get for this one. It’s a 7.5% ABV Belgian-style stout with a healthy does of cocoa and brings a soft tingle of peppery heat to tease the palate.
Beyond that, there’s doesn’t appear to be a whole lot of information on the beer in particular. It’s a tasty beer and served as an excellent introduction to the company. Now, if I can only find some of the flagship products in shops, then I’ll be excited.
Appearance
The beer pours black as night with a dense head of foam that let behind decent lacing as it dropped.
Aroma
Subtle notes of cocoa, yeast and chipotle mingle nicely as spice notes and a touch of roast coffee linger int he background.
Taste
The beer is much earthier than expected with a good roast and latent tingle of chipotle peppers. Hints of dark chocolate and coffee fill in with a touch of yeast and burnt caramel. The yeast and pepper spiciness remind of cinnamon a touch. The beer is full-bodied with a slightly sharp carbonation. A moderate sweetness lingers int he warming and lightly drying finish.
Overall
I can think of nothing better than a good stout to start a relationship with a brewery. And O’Connor’s Chocolate Chipotle Belgian Stout is as solid an introduction as you can get. I like the flavor and late-forming pepper heat. I look forward to finding/trying more of their products in the future.
Rating: 3.75/5
