Dec 16, 2014

Stone Brewing Xocoveza Mocha Stout

Stone Brewing Xocoveza — or rather Chris Banker/Stone/Insurgente Xocoveza Mocha Stout — was originally released back in September. It only took a week for me to be able to find a bottle of it on shelves after the initial press release hit the wires. this 8.1% imperial stout is the brain child of Chris Banker, a homebrewer who had entered the annual Stone Homebrew Competition & American Homebrewers Association (AHA) Rally.

The big brew is a myriad of flavors derived from outside influences based on the brewery’s location. Coffee, vanilla, pure cocoa, cinnamon, nutmeg and pasilla peppers all come together to create a flavor that is distinct and unique among stouts. Xocoveza is a rich beer that displays all of its ingredients well.

Appearance

Opaque black in color, Xocoveza sits with a large stack of brown foam.

Stone Brewing Xocoveza Mocha Stout photo

Aroma

Roast coffee, chocolate, cinnamon and nutmeg arrive first with a touch of smokey peppers in the background. Admittedly, the beer smells great.

Taste

The spice blend dominates the flavor from start to finish, but thankfully never really became overbearing as the other ingredients stepped up to balance out everything. The cocoa and roast coffee help keep them in check. A moderate sweetness arrives before fading slowly in the drying and lightly warming finish. I can’t say that I taste the peppers initially, but the lightest hint of heat begins to come through as the beer warms.

Overall

Xocoveza is not a stout for every one. The flavor profile is unique and driven heavily by a solid blend of spices — which I am glad never fully took over the experience. The brew has a dynamic flavor, solid richness and excellent mouthfeel that makes for a great experience. I may have enjoyed this beer a couple of months ago, but can certainly see it keeping me company throughout Winter.

Rating: 4.25/5

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