Chocolate Sombrero
Clown Shoes

Chocolate SombreroChocolate Sombrero
Beer Geek Stats | Print Shelf Talker
From:
Clown Shoes
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
American Imperial Stout
Ranked #1,793
ABV:
7%
Score:
87
Ranked #15,464
Avg:
3.9 | pDev: 10.51%
Reviews:
378
Ratings:
1,984
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 27, 2022
Added:
Feb 26, 2012
Wants:
  93
Gots:
  469
Roasted dark malts plus extra chocolate malts plus ancho chile plus cinnamon plus organic vanilla extract plus a chocolate eating, beer drinking, Clown Shoes wearing, multi limbed, gorgeous and glorious Mexican wrestler on the label. That’s the recipe for a Chocolate Sombrero!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by woodychandler:
Photo of woodychandler
Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania

4.34/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Have no fear, I am still working on the eradication of the Bottle Backlog here at Chez Woody! I recently took a managerial position at a local Carryout bottle shop, so I do not have as much time to dedicate as I did, but for me, it is a dream job. I have access to reps, delivery persons, ordering, distributors, a multitude of customers & BEER!

From the bottle: "Roasted dark malts plus extra chocolate malts plus ancho chile plus cinnamon plus vanilla extract plus a chocolate loving, beer drinking, Clown Shoes wearing, multi limbed, gorgeous and glorious Mexican wrestler on the label. That’s the recipe for a Chocolate Sombrero!" The label has changed slightly on the 12-oz bottle in that he is shirtless, wearing a somberero with a beer in each hand and attempting to outrun a pair of lasso-wielding & gun-toting chiles, respectively.

I was anxious & excited to try this one, having found it as a single during my latest foray to Dominion Pizza. As such, I
Pop!ped the cap & gave it a heavy-handed pour. I watched in fascinated horror as the pseudo-cascade began to billow forth with foam that put me in mind of early sitcoms with washing machines & soap suds. Backing off, it sensed my consternation & also backed down, settling into a finger of dense, foamy, light-brown head with good retention. Color was solidly Black/Opaque (SRM = 44), allowing ZERO light penetration, but evincing garnet highlights at the edges. Nose was chocolaty with a light spiciness & it reminded me of Christmas in California. My uncle's friend's wife was big on Mexican culture & had a massive Dia de los Muertos display as well as a penchant for Mexican hot chocolate during the winter months. Mouthfeel was full and creamy with a tingly heat on the tongue. Oh, this was going to be fun! The taste, while chocolaty, was not really all that sweet. Nor was it really all that spicy & hot. It was warm & it made me wish that I had a double-boiler here at Chez Woody since I could then heat it up and drink it like Mexican hot chocolate. I have some friends who are wildly into pepper beers, but this would probably be on the low end of the spectrum for them. For me, it was a very pleasant surprise, kind of like getting something really neat-o keen in a box of Cracker Jack. Finish was like Baby Bear's Chocolate Stout - not too sweet, not too hot, but just right. It was dry, certainly, due to the spice, but not gaspingly so. A gentle tingle remained on my tongue & lips as a reminder of its presence. Quite tasty & slightly piquant!

Today is Su, 31 March 2019. This is the seCANd of my New "Don't Call Me a 'Clown' Until You've Drank a CAN of Beer in My Shoes" Beer Sunday (Week 736) & naturally, it involves The CANQuest (tm).

From the CAN: "Our Mission: To Produce Beer without Pretension while Being Free and a Little Crazy"; "Mexican-Style Chocolate Stout".

The Crack! revealed a brimful craft CAN as I got a spritz across my fingertips! I decided to celebrate with a heavy-handed Glug, but when the luchador came rushing up at me in an unCANtrolled frenzy, I backed off. A pseudo-cascade then ensued, finally settling into just under two fingers of foamy, rocky, deep-tan/light-brown head with modest retention. Color was Very Dark Brown to Black/Opaque (SRM = > 34, < 44) with NE-quality clarity & cola highlights. Nose had the spiciness of MexiCAN hot chocolate! Mmm. Chocolate with spices - why doesn't Hershey's put out something like this?!? It is SO yummy & I am not big on sweets. Mouthfeel was like a big dollop having been scooped onto my tongue. I just allowed it to roll around like a playful puppy, getting the spices to really bloom in my mouth. Yummy! Finish was super dry, as should be expected when spices are used as adjuncts. I wouldn't want a steady diet of such a beer, but as a follow-up to a coffee-infused beer? Perfect!
Mar 04, 2017
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.94 by Tbone2131 from Connecticut

Dec 27, 2022
 
Rated: 3.9 by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

Oct 24, 2021
Photo of Griffin2
Reviewed by Griffin2 from Virginia

3.69/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 12 oz can into a snifter glass.
L - Pours a black color with a tan head that dissipates slowly.
S - Smells of chocolate
T - Tastes of chocolate and roasty with some vanilla. The spices and chiles come through lightly on the finish.
F - Medium body and lightly carbonated.
O - Pretty easy drinking stout. Hard to believe it’s ABV is 7%.
Sep 03, 2021
 
Rated: 3.87 by Bogdawg from Massachusetts

Aug 31, 2021
 
Rated: 3.37 by AGoodStout from Kansas

Jan 24, 2021
Photo of damndirtyape
Reviewed by damndirtyape from Ohio

3.77/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
12oz can, served in a tulip stout glass. Best before 01/31/22 254 08:51

Appearance: Very dark brown, with some light coming through at the edges with some mahogany color. Massive tan head with a hard pour, with plenty of lacing noted.

Smell: The aroma is quite faint with this beer - I'm not really getting the spices at all. I get a tiny bit of roasted malt and some vanilla, and that's about it.

Taste: Lightly roasted malt and vanilla come through, with a bit of underlying malt sweetness. The finish is where the cinnamon and chile shows up, but it's not as strong as the malt and vanilla. It's there for balance, but just barely.

Mouthfeel: Smooth, nicely thick. Just right carbonation. Quite nice.

Overall / Drinkability: At 7% ABV.....I'm not sure I would call this an imperial American stout, well, at least not by the way current American stouts are heading up in ABV. This is easily drinkable, but not very memorable. The spices don't sing out very much, they're quite mild after the upfront sweetness and vanilla flavor. I'm on the fence about this one - maybe on tap and with the right food I'd like it more, but otherwise I find it just okay for the style. But....if it was mixed in and rated with other "normal" American stouts, it might impress me more. I guess I'm just jaded when it comes to Imperial stouts and I need more extremes of flavor for it to be an Imperial stout.
Jan 18, 2021
 
Rated: 3.88 by Jcarriglio from Florida

Jan 11, 2021
Photo of cyclonece09
Reviewed by cyclonece09 from Wisconsin

3.82/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Day 7 of the 12 Beers of Christmas. Poured from a can into a pint glass. Pours pitch black with a light brown head. Smells of chocolate, little weak. Tastes of milk chocolate, very nice. Beer is medium/full bodied with good carbonation, yet still fairly easy drinking. Overall, a very good beer.
Jan 10, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by TeachChefs from Pennsylvania

Jan 05, 2021
 
Rated: 4.15 by RBorsato from Virginia

Jan 03, 2021
Photo of mushroomcloud
Reviewed by mushroomcloud from Texas

3.62/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12oz can with a best by date of 1/31/22. Opened 1/1/21.
1 finger tan head, fades quickly to a cap.
Black to dark brown stout. No lacing.
Roasted malt and dark fruit initially. Some spice shows a minimal presence late.
Dark roasted malt flavors of coffee and dark chocolate. Cinnamon, dark fruit and a very mild spicy/smoky heat.
Medium body, thin for a stout...low-medium carbonation. Decent length in the sweet finish.
Good.
Jan 02, 2021
Photo of BeerAndGasMasks
Reviewed by BeerAndGasMasks from Virginia

3.66/5  rDev -6.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
From Can Number 07 from the Clown Shoes Christmas pack, it pours a dark brown color with a large light brown head. In the nose, it is boozy and a bit roasted malty. In the mouth, it is a slightly spicy roasted and black malty beverage.
Dec 26, 2020
Photo of Steve_Studnuts
Reviewed by Steve_Studnuts from Pennsylvania

3.06/5  rDev -21.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
MY can reads 7% ABV. Anyway, a massive tan head takes shape over a body more reminiscent of a brown ale than a stout. Leaves some sticky, spotty lacing. Smells like you'd think it would; a sweet, spicy stout. Plus it adds a metallic element that you probably wouldn't expect unless you're a goddamn madman. Tastes... muted. Light spice over a chocolate malt base. The spice is kind of reminiscent of a pumpkin ale. Light body, flat finish. Meh. This is easily the worst Mexican chocolate stout I've had. A shame; this was the beer I was most looking forward to in Clown Shoes' 12 Beers of X-Mas pack. Might have to pop a Xoco after forcing this down.
Dec 22, 2020
 
Rated: 3.2 by Allurex from Kansas

Dec 21, 2020
Photo of Pegasus
Reviewed by Pegasus from Texas

4.02/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Massive, dense, and persistent tan head crowns a dark amber body, with crystal-clear ruby highlights visible before a strong light. Interestingly, the lacing is purely Belgian in its style.

Aroma: The aroma seems deceptively simple, cold coffee and herbal hops. That being said, there is much more on offer: bitter cocoa, milk chocolate, wood, vanilla and cinnamon. Though subtle, brown sugar is also present. For the higher-than-typical ABV of 7%, the presence of alcohol seems quite muted.

Taste: The taste opens with strong cold coffee notes, chased by a dollop of molasses. As the taste moves on, bitter cocoa, vanilla, earth, and wood are on offer. Midway through the taste, the alcohol offers some spiciness, and a little warmth. Late in the taste, the bitter cocoa and wood become fairly intense. A late and modest surge of herbal hops clears the palate.

Mouthfeel: Soft and very full-bodied, with only a hint of carbonation.

Drinkability/notes: Really quite nice, very drinkable and pleasing. This would be a great dessert beer. Chocolate Sombrero is the seventh beer in the Clown Shoes "Twelve Days of Christmas" package.

Presentation: Packaged in a standard twelve-ounce aluminum can, served in a Duvel tulip. "Best by" date is 01/31/22.
Dec 20, 2020
 
Rated: 3.67 by Argail from Louisiana

Dec 14, 2020
 
Rated: 4.19 by BeerBeast from Florida

Dec 13, 2020
Photo of CodyBasden
Reviewed by CodyBasden from Texas

4.5/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
L: jet black in color with red hues 2 finger thick light tan head sudsy with lacing on glass that caps and hold retention
S: very light chocolatey coffee espresso
T: probably the best chocolate stout i had it goes in tasting like a light chocolate and toffee then after taste of the best coffee beans from Columbia
F: medium bodied light carbonation a little sticky at the lips
O: amazing chocolate stout so far no other chocolate stout ranks with it
Dec 12, 2020
 
Rated: 4 by chebode2 from Germany

Dec 11, 2020
Chocolate Sombrero from Clown Shoes
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 1984 ratings