Year of New Beer: Barreled Black Gold Porter: Mexican Chocolate, Country Boy Brewing (Lexington)

Written By: Dion on 01/31/2015
Bottle #2 in the trio of birthday beer releases next weekend will be this spicy little gem. Brewed with Mexican coffee, jalapeños, and cocoa nibs, it throws some heat in your face right out of the gate. Whereas the Orange Truffle features a creamy milk chocolate and bourbon aroma, Mexican Chocolate showcases a subtle coffee tone backed by pepper and (with warmth) a definite charred oak note. On the tongue, cocoa sweetness is quickly pushed aside by a moderate heat that builds but never becomes overbearing. Traces of smoke linger on the tongue. Interesting to note is how relatively slight the bourbon barrel aging effect seems to be on this one compared to the Orange Truffle. The jalapeño seems to practically neutralize the bourbon intensity. Even at a hefty 11%, I found this to be light and easy to drink. So if you prefer things a little spicy as opposed to sweet, head on down to Chair Avenue next Saturday as the Boys release a limited number of bottles. And while you're there, get them to tell you about "the name that almost was" in regards to this beer. I think they missed an opportunity!