Solano
Crystal Springs Brewing Company

Amber colored body; no head per se although the initial pour produces one, within a matter of seconds it fizzles to nothing. Strong, earthy chili pepper aroma; spicy. Bold chili heat and flavor; oily and fiery with chili pepper notes. Medium body; warm and spicy.

There is no information printedon this relatively recent bottle I picked up, so it's not clear when the beer was brewed (but my educated guess is fall, in line with the chili harvest time). Like many chili beers, there is no (or little) head, but this is definitely one of the more intensely aromatic and flavorful chili beers I've encountered (especially one focusing on Hatch green chilies). Chili beers aren't mainstream, but if it's a style you like, this one comes highly recommended.

Sad this is a discontinued beer. I just bought a 6pack of it, but it's already "archived". To me this is a wonderful niche beer. It fills the role of a spicy beer well. But be forewarned: the label on the can is misleading. It reads "less heat, great taste" and "slightly spicy". Now, I love spicy. I seek it out. I face repeated complaints from my wife and daughter about my proclivity to use curry & cayenne pepper in my daily cooking. And I find this beer to be quite spicy. Probably the hottest beer I've ever had. So I think Crystal Springs missed their mark in the making of this beer based on their description. But you know what? I love it! It's awesome. It does have a "smokiness" that reminds me of "roasted chiles". And it's also quite hot and not too sweet, which is great for an ale. I see this as a hot tub beer or a sunny hot day outside beer or a drink after skinning up Loveland beer. It may not be for everyone, but it's delicious, hot, and a full-bodied but clean and not sweet amber. I'm hoping Crystal Springs will bring it back or at least make it seasonally.

From a 12 oz can (no date) to a nonic glass.

A-The beer is a brassy, amber color that suggests honey. A thin finger of off-white head fades quickly to nothing. The beer beneath has quite a bit of carbonation. Pretty ho-hum, but appropriate for the style.

S-The aroma of the first can that I tried was heavy on green, vegetal chili flavors. I smelled less heat and more chili flesh. I also sniff some honey, bread crust, faint smoky notes, and a hint of malted barley grain. The second can that I opened (on a different night) was more balanced and sweet, with less astringency.

T-The taste packs more heat than the smell would suggest (unless that astringent chili note is a predictor of chili spice). I mean, the beer left my lips tingling. I like spicy, but this one may be too hot for a beer because almost all of the other flavors are wiped out by the heat. A few smoky notes give the chili an adobo/chipotle flavor on the finish.

M-The first can was watery and a bit flat. The second car was better with a mild carbonation and a little prickle.

O-I think my first can was off because the beer just seemed to lack "pop." The second can was better. If you like a spicy beer, this one might be worth checking out, but I don't know that I'll look for it again.

Look - Dark honey gold with no head to speak of.
Smell - An alluring roasted pepper overpowers anything else.
Taste - An excellent combination of bready malts is skillfully paired with just enough heat and all the best flavors of grilled roasted peppers. The lingering heat on the lips and tongue is really pleasant.
Mouthfeel - Full mouthfeel and low carbonation gives the beer a bit of a slick feel. But even this seems to work well with the prickly heat from the pepper.
Overall - This is a great beer if you love roasted peppers, and can handle a little heat.

Might never be seen again, but for Chili beer enthusiasts who like a balanced heat/taste profile this is one of the best I've run across. The powerful aroma of chili's hits you immediately, but upon tasting you get a blend of hops, chili taste, and slight carbonation that drives your thirst for more and doesn't overwhelm. Again for those that like powerful heat this will be a let down, but for all others ask that they find a way to bring this back.

 

 

 

for those who love chili beer, this is a must try. not a style i usually gravitate towards, but i liked this one a lot. i think the red malt base is a nice launching pad for the chili pepper flavors. its more substantial than the usual pale base, has a little sweet to fight the heat, and finishes a little longer, which helps mellow the pepper too. a great place to start from. the peppers are roasted here, fire charred and potent in the nose. im afraid this is going to be a really hot one, but it drinks a lot more mellow than it smells, which i love. the pepper flavors the beer extremely well, but there is only the slightest throat heat as it swallows, and then its totally gone, hasnt ruined my palate, or left my stomach reeling. i would rate this with the best chili beers ive had, and can see it working well in many contexts, especially with or in some foods. i like how the pepper nose and taste is so strong, but the heat factor is minimal. not easy to do, this must have had some pretty gnarly test batches! definitely worth seeking out for the chili beer aficionado.

 

 

 

 

Another chili beer for my gut to protest. "Hey shut up, gut."

Pours a reddish amber with small yet vigorous head.

Yes, chili peppers in the nose. Slightly roasted and green. A bit of bread. Kinda smells like a pepperoni/green pepper pizza.

The roasted green chili flavor is subtle but present. Bread dough and some grassiness in the middle. But the peppery side comes on toward the end. It's a nice burn from the mouth to the gut (so far). A bit more burny than Billy's Chili but not as much as Ghost Face Killah, both from Twisted Pine.

Goes absolutely great with Mexican dishes, and some rice dishes to....ehh...spice things up.

Poured into standard pint glass.

Appearance: Very hazy, darker golden color. Poured hard and yet there was minimal head which dissipated almost immediately. Minimal to non-existant lacing.

Smell: Dominated by the aroma of hatch chili peppers.

Taste: Again, dominated by the flavor of hatch chili peppers. Finishes almost sweet. The flavor of pepper lingers for a bit.

Mouthfeel: Light body with moderate to minimal carbonation. Fairly smooth and drinkable.

Overall: I enjoyed this beer. Chili beers are a bit of a novelty to me, but the flavor here is not overbearing or unpleasant. Would definitely consider drinking again, especially at that price (six dollars for 650 mL).

This is an amber ale with roasted hatch chili peppers. (Note that I didn't choose "chile beer" on BeerAdvocate because it's not a beer from chile, but rather a beer with chili peppers. Spelling matters.) Comes in a 650 ml bottle.

Poured somewhat hard into a tall Great Divide "goblet." Not much head (but a little). It's brownish-red, maybe a little cloudy.

Smells mostly of malt, but some green chili comes through - more the vegetable smell than the spice.

Taste is strongly vegetal, with some malt/hop "beer" background. Not too spicy for a chili beer. In fact, I might say not spicy at all. It's a dry amber -- not too sweet, not too strong.

Enjoyable. Pairs well with quesadillas. Not a favorite style so we might not buy another. But a decent entry from a great local brewery.