Bite of the Beast
Hoppin' Frog Brewery

It's short can, high ABV time! Poured into a snifter, looks an interesting copper red color. Pretty unique. No head to speak of. Sweet, malty aroma with obvious notes of peppery heat. And the taste follows - there is a caramel-ish sweetness, but the chili is right on its heels, followed by a note of alcohol. Neither of the latter two are overbearing here; quite a deft hand made this beast. Very warming going down. Mid mouthfeel with solid carbonation. A bit of raisin and leather/tobacco going on as the heat lingers in my gullet.

Already felt a bit of a sway after a couple of sips. This is quite good for a sipper. Not everyone's cup of chili, of course.

(250 ml can, best by Sept 10 2034; purchased cold single at Pinocchio's last Saturday... poured at 54 F into my St. Bernardus chalice)

L: clear, garnet-ruby colored liquid; foam disappears in a few beats, thin collar remaining... no lacing, collar slowly recedes into near nothing

S: big brown bready overtone, bit of a cherry hard candy in the near background... hint of alcohol, little if any notion of chili... pretty textbook big beefy barleywine aromas; malt bomb ahead... gets meaty (jerky) after the first sip... as it warms, the full scope of its malty construct unfolds and expands

T: liquid bread core, almost mass-produced kvass-like in its dark, crusty edge and sweetish back note... the chili rush is immediate... flavors settle into a nice counterpoint halfway through, the undercut malt concentrate disappearing up a chimney flue, while the borderline molasses-y mar of unfermentables linger around, surrounded by a haze of pepper vodka

F: moderate heat with a mellow acidic sting... kind of stuns you after a few sips... its body has syrup texture which is quickly attenuated by the increasingly assertive surge of ethanol... tenuous balance, especially against the fire, but it works

O: not quite what I expected, better or worse in various aspects... overall, it's really too damn drinkable... I would get this again, I would get this for a friend - the end (2499)

 

The pour is deep copper color with a barely there manila colored head which leaves no lacing - for the ABV rather expected.
The taste leads with the bready malts and transitions very quickly to the chili heat - can't really taste the chilies themselves (which is good, IMO) but there is no mistaking their presence. Once it is noticed, it rather dominates. The barleywine is still there, just plays second fiddle it seems. Still, it leaves little doubt that it's a barleywine.
The feel is lightly viscous - ideal for the 16.66 ABV and the chili heat, this is not a beer you want to slam.
OA, not a daily beer, but it is excellent and I very much enjoyed it.

finger of light brown head quickly dissipated. No lacing.

Aroma is caramel, Thai chili pepper, and booze.

Taste follows nose but the Thai peppers step forward. There is noticeable heat, but it is well done and not over the top. The substantial malty sweetness keeps the peppers from making this a one trick pony though it may render the beer too sweet for some palates. There is no hop presence. No bitterness.

Mouthfeel is medium and enough carbonation.

 

250 ml can, best by SEPT 10 2034 stamped on the bottom. Served in a Hoppin' Frog snifter, the beer pours a somewhat clear reddish/copper color with about a half inch light tan head that stuck around a while. Not much lacing at all. The brew smells like caramel, chili peppers, and some dark fruit. Taste is similar to the aroma, but I think the chili pepper stands out here. There's also some breadiness noticeable too. Good amount of heat compared to a lot of chili beers but it's not overpowering. Mouthfeel/body is medium/full, it's a bit slick and rich with a moderate amount of carbonation. I liked this one, worth a try if you get the chance!

250ml can from Tavour. Dark, clear brown pour, fizzy head settles down to leave a light film of bubbles. Aroma is malty and sweet with a booziness that will singe your nose hairs. Taste starts with the booze, notes of caramel, sweet, leather, raisins. The warmth lingers for a bit, almost a burn, but a pleasant feeling all told.

Tasty, sweet, but not too hot. But enough about my old girlfriend. Hey yo! Beers brewed with peppers can be incredibly hit or miss. Some of my very few insta-dumps have been jalapeno beers and it's always the overwhelming vegetable taste and not the heat. Good thing too since I wasn't wearing my readers and completely missed the whole "bundles of Thai chili peppers" thing until I starting drinking it.

 

Pours amber or dark honelike with a tan head. Nose molasses and some tobacco. Slight irritation to the nasal cavity presumptively due to thai peppers. Initial taste reveals the peppers on the throat. Then the burnt caramel flavor and dark candy comes through. Slight bitterness but even that is overwhelmed by the peppers.

Pours reddish, light brown. Aroma is mostly sweet dominated by caramel with hints of the peppers. Taste has a nice start of caramel followed immediately by an intense punch of Thai chili pepper heat. Mouthfeel has a perfect medium barleywine feel. Overall, a solid barleywine, and if you enjoy intense pepper flavors, you'll love this.

 

Bite of the Beast – from Hoppin’ Frog. 8.45 fl oz cans. Picked up at their brewery, Akron, OH, 18/10/24, $ 10.60 (Including tax), $ 1.25/fl oz. Reviewed 21/10/24 (Review 3374). Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Bottom of can stamped “BEST BY SEP 10 2034”. Stored at 34 degrees at home. Served at 62.9 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature was 64.7 degrees F.
Appearance – 4
First pour – Medium Amber (SRM 12), reddish tint, clear.
Body – Ruby (SRM ?), opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear-lite, ruby, and clear.
Head: Average (Maximum 1.6 cm, aggressive center pour), wheat, high density. Reduces to a 0.2 cm crown and no cap.
Lacing – None; no surprise there.
Aroma – 4.5 – Weak caramel malt, sweet. No yeast, no hops. Slight burning of the eyes as I snort the vapors. No ethanol (16.66 % ABV according to the label).
Flavor – 4.5 – Follows the nose. Instant heat but not intolerable – decent burn on the palate, with a pleasing gastric heat. No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. No ethanol.
Palate – 4 – Medium; slightly syrupy; soft, barely noticeable, carbonation.
Style: Follows the style guidelines, as condensed by BA.
Final impression and summation: 4.25 Excellent barleywine, less hops than expected but also less burn from the Thai chili peppers, but more flavor than expected. Lacks the vegetal taste that accompanies most chili brews.

Dark copper red under a short tan blanket that quickly dies to a fluid surface surrounded by a tight chain.

Whoa. What an ass kicking

At first it has a pretty nice flavor profile of dark caramel, fig, etc., but that's only within a passing moment before up the gullet comes a flamethrower of abrasive spice. It blasts through hot and fast, but then you notice that it does not build. A bit of Belgian spice and banana bread is even able to surface.

Revisiting another can the next day, thanks to their approachably 8 ounce size, this is even more drinkable at room temperature. It's actually not all that scorched Earth after all.