Mexican Standoff
Due South Brewing Co.

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From:
Due South Brewing Co.
 
Florida, United States
Style:
Imperial Porter
ABV:
8.5%
Score:
88
Avg:
3.91 | pDev: 13.81%
Reviews:
12
Ratings:
161
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Feb 14, 2022
Added:
Dec 30, 2013
Wants:
  5
Gots:
  24
Imperial Porter with Chocolate, Vanilla, Cinnamon & Chili Peppers
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by DaydreamerBC:
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Rated by DaydreamerBC from Florida

4.5/5  rDev +15.1%

Jan 13, 2014
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.81 by socon67 from New York

Feb 14, 2022
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Reviewed by jjamadorphd from Florida

3.83/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
This was one of those rollercoaster rides when it comes tasting and seeing what the beer is all about...

One the one hand, the look and taste were both very exceptional. The look very dark and robust, the taste equally as well. As an added surprise, the heat added an extra dimension that wasn't overly distracting and had a good flavor with the chocolate and vanilla notes. Now, onto the other hand. The smell was muted and the mouthfeel was very watery and astringent - a slight disappointment. Nonetheless, overall this was very good. Certainly something to have on hand to hand a guest and see what their thoughts on it would be.
Sep 21, 2020
 
Rated: 3.83 by BeerMe8 from Florida

Jun 19, 2020
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Reviewed by macrosmatic from Florida

3.52/5  rDev -10%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
Reviewed from notes. Poured from the 12 oz. can into a El Catador Barrel-Aged glass.

A: Dark brown, but remains distinctly brown rather than black. Nearly opaque, but still manages a fairly high amount of visible carbonation. Forms a two-finger light tan head with good retention.

S: Toasted malts, chocolate and some coffee roastiness, and chilis that are present but not overly spicy-smelling. Some nuttiness to the toasted malts as well. Not a huge aroma, but I'm hoping it may open up some as it warms.

T: Chocolate and roasty malts. Then WHAM, a way bigger spicy pepper kick than the nose hinted at. A significant presence both in flavor and in capsaicin heat. Some coffee, and more spicy peppers. Just a bit of cinnamon dryness near the swallow, with more dark cacao and wouldn't you know it…more peppery heat.

M: A decently thick body for a porter, though the inevitable comparison to Hunahpu (or Mexican Cake or Abraxas or BOMB!) makes it seem thinner. Alcohol presence seems low, and an average amount of carbonation sensation.

O: I would say the amount of peppers and heat do stop short of making this undrinkable, but it toes the line for me – and I enjoy spicy food for sure (though not always beer). But the peppers are too much for the rest of this beer - they almost completely hide the cinnamon, and the vanilla that was claimed on the label they may as well have skipped – I don’t find it at all. It makes the deft, balancing hands of some of the aforementioned chili stouts seem that much more impressive by comparison. Though this may not be quite a palate nuker, a la “Ghost Face Killah", it's still plenty to end up with some excess stomach acid and has more heat than I’m looking for.
Aug 03, 2019
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Reviewed by robotic_being from Illinois

3.87/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pour is a dark reddish amber brown color, with a dense, mousse-like head of beige foam. Nose of chocolate, cinnamon, hint of smoky, spicy chili pepper on the back end; a nice balance between sweet and spicy. The taste is forward with cinnamon, then the peppers, mixed with chocolate and coffee and a touch of vanilla. Medium to lighter body with a lively carbonation and a solid developed pepper finish, overall heat is more than tolerable and softened by the cinnamon and vanilla. This is not a novelty beer and is worth trying - highly drinkable.
May 06, 2019
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Rated by Oh_Dark_Star from Washington

3.84/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Very chilli but that's okay. It works alright for this thin drinkable stout.
Apr 21, 2019
 
Rated: 2.5 by jcarlosv from Florida

Feb 04, 2019
 
Rated: 3.8 by Bum4ever from California

Jan 19, 2019
 
Rated: 3.98 by Jonathan-Morgan from Florida

Jan 04, 2019
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Reviewed by degueulasse from California

4.03/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
This stout has a dark amber hue and a rich, spicy smell (I’m a little sick so don’t have too much of a sense of smell, but this came through). It tastes like coffee with a strong dose of chilis, and its crisp mouthfeel compared to most stouts makes this a great one.
Nov 10, 2018
 
Rated: 4.04 by Abe_Froman from Massachusetts

Aug 22, 2018
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Reviewed by GreesyFizeek from New York

4.29/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
This one pours a fairly dark black color, with a small head, and a good amount of lacing.

This smells like big and spicy pepper, but not vegetal at all- a bit toasted and very spicy, with cocoa powder, cinnamon, molasses, vanilla, and a hint of roasty Mexican-style coffee.

The pepper is the dominant flavor here, but it works well. It's definitely spicy, in a dark chili powder sort of way, but it's not overwhelmingly spicy at all, luckily. There's a nice sweet cinnamon character, bitter dark chocolate, some caramel, and vanilla.

This is medium bodied, a little bit crisp and pretty creamy, with a good level of drinkability.
Jun 28, 2018
 
Rated: 3.84 by Jcbroome from Florida

Aug 07, 2017
 
Rated: 3.46 by cd34 from Illinois

Jul 20, 2017
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Reviewed by Keene from Washington

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Sample from the brewery. Pours a deep, ebony black from the can with a dense, mousse-like head of beige foam. Inviting to behold in a glass. Lots of chocolate and cinnamon (especially) in the nose, with a tickle of smoky, spicy chili pepper just detectable in the background. Overall, the aroma fairly successfully walks the line between sweet and spicy. Medium- to full-bodied, Mexican Standoff hits the palate with dark malt complexity, followed by a bump of chocolate and cinnamon reminiscent of a cookie. The chili pepper's heat shows up with its prickly sensation immediately afterwards and lingers well into the slightly chalky finish. Full of character and flavor, this Imperial Porter has much to offer for fans of the mole beer category.
Jul 10, 2017
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Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
this is a rad beer, super intense with all the adjuncts happening, but its well done for being so flavored, and i liked it more than many stouts out there featuring the same ingredients. for once, i like the chili being so forward, sure it has some heat going down, but also an earthy smoked quality that brings the cinnamon forward and is sort of absorbed or at least tempered by the cocoa in here. its great. the other key feature of this compared to its peers is that the vanilla isnt overtaking, its not too sweet or strong and it doesnt come at the expense of the other adjuncts. so often vanilla runs away with these, but its perfectly in line here. the base beer seems sort of little more than a vehicle for these ingredients, like it doesnt jump out at me as full of character on its own, but its just right for all these extras. bitter cocoa and dark grain together in the finish with the pepper heat, never too sweet or dessert heavy, and as flavorful as it is, its not a novelty beer, i could actually drink this one. fun to try some of the more ambitious stuff these guys do, this was unique and very good.
Jul 03, 2017
 
Rated: 3.71 by 22Blue from Kansas

Jul 01, 2017
 
Rated: 4 by KeyWestGator from Florida

Jun 16, 2017
 
Rated: 3.81 by epyon396 from Pennsylvania

Jun 06, 2017
Mexican Standoff from Due South Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 161 ratings