Mexican Cake
Westbrook Brewing Co.

 

The increased pepper pop from using habaneros instead of the usual anchos is evident here, which is a plus in my book since so many of these style stouts have very little discernable spiciness. Main drawback is the base stout seems to be a RIS, and the intense roastiness and herbal hoppiness cuts into the vanilla/cinnamon/cocoa character quite a bit. Glad to finally have a chance to try

80/100

 

 

 

I’ve been after this one for a LONG time, but never happened to be in the right place at the right time - until this week. On a road trip to take the family to Disney, I found myself with the chance to snag one of the 4 packs of this year’s rendition.

With Mexican mocha being one of my favorite flavor profiles in a stout, I couldn’t wait to dive in.

The look of this beer is stunning; a beautiful, thick khaki head atop oily black. A cursory whiff yields chocolate, smoky pepper and a hint of cinnamon.

The first sip is a tad underwhelming; maybe I’m more of a cinnamon-bomb guy, but this needs more. I get a TON of smoky chipotle-esque pepper melded with milk chocolate and a nice spicy burn at the end, although I also would like more burn as well.

This is a very good brew, don’t get me wrong, but as far as beers I’ve had of the same style, for me, Abraxas nailed the flavors and Oddside’s Mayan Mocha Stout has the perfect amount of pepper burn. This lies somewhere in the middle.

Very, very good but I think I was expecting more. Maybe it’s because I’ve waited more than 10 years to try it. I did get the coffee and blended (Antiguo) versions as well, so we’ll see how those stack up too.

pours dark with nice malty smell - great malty taste - then you get the habanero after taste - not as strong as other pepper beers

 

Jet black, opaque body; thick, light brown head; creamy. Dark roasted grain aroma infused with chocolate and cocoa; dull, earthy spiciness; a suggestion of chili peppers. Huge bitter chocolate flavor infused with a nice chili pepper flavor; mild whiskey note; general spiciness. Heavy body; dense and velvety on the palate; residual sugar stickiness; chewy.

A dense and complex beer is what we have here. Rich and heavy hitting on the one hand, on the other, a very flavorful and and potent imperial stout. The habanero peppers and a fine counterpoint to the rich malts. Apparently vanilla and cinnamon are are involved with this beer. Reading after the fact, I can see those elements in the beer, too. Very enjoyable.

Pouring temperature: 45.9 ℉; canning info: 11/26?? 11/25
Source: @DoctorZombies

16oz can dated 04/25/23 and recently gifted by the good doctor.
Poured at fridge temp into a tulip glass shows a thick, viscous, oily dark maple, brown body and floats a 1/4 cap of tight tan bubbles that recedes to wisps and am edge-hugging ring leaving the glass coated in leopard spotted lacing.

Aroma and flavors develop with temperature so allow it to breath before the final verdict. Patience is a virtue, I hear.

Aroma starts with all the fruity characteristics of the chocolate, peppers, and cinnamon before heading underground to mine their earthy qualities including heat, spice, and bitterness. Such depth is unique. Rising temps expose the full panoply of senses. Cinnamon leads followed by cocoa and vanilla with the peppers lingering in the background.

Flavors match. I've 'enjoyed' a few beers with peppers (chipotle, habanero, ghost, poblano, and even green on the wrong side of coffee) and they can all dominate the taste and diminish the experience.
Not here.
I'm taking my time with this.

Mouthfeel is thicker, lusciously creamy, but not exactly tongue coating. The palate clears nicely with just a sense of cocoa powder and chili left behind. Almost a wet finish, more like a lighter beer, which actually encourages me to replace with another sip.

10.5%?!? I don't think so. No booze warmth, let alone fusel alcohol aroma. Very well hidden and nicely dangerous. It hurts so good.

Overall this has to be the one, but I am still holding out for better. What? It could happen.

L - Fantastic dark night/cocoa brown density, a little foam rise, not much lacing. Impressive looking and leaves some good pattern on top, here comes the night.
S - Vanilla chocolate-fudge notes on the nose first and foremost, some hint of the pepper to come but well hidden. Nice, too, that it's NOT bourbon barrel aged. Nice change-up.
T - Fantastic cascading, then converging, layers of fudge, vanilla, then whoosh comes the habanero but it doesn't dominate and it does NOT have an overly sweet, cloying aspect on the palate. Just fantastic, like drinking dark Oaxacan mole negro, and some lingering bite after... well made.
F - Fantastic, can feel a little one-note and continuous on the mouth because of the habanero, as it starts to work on the tongue, but really this is just a great impy stout with a spicy twist.
O - A very well made Imperial Stout provided by @DoctorZombies during a visit to Colorado Spring on May 18, 2023. Can was dated April 25, 2023 so was less than a month old when enjoyed. Muled across half the country. Thanks Dave! This was a real treat.

22 oz bomber dated 5/22/22 poured into a tulip

Appearance - dark mahogany body with tan head

Smell - fudge, chocolate, cinnamon, pepper, vanilla

Taste - Pepper upfront, chocolate, fudge, cinnamon, vanilla

Mouthfeel - Chocolate and pepper upfront, cinnamon in the middle and the heat from the pepper glows on the back end. Medium bodied, medium carbonation

Overall - this is a decent Mexican stout, the peppers predominate but the flavors of chocolate and cinnamon come through. Worthy of a try.

Price Point - $14.99/ 22 oz bottle

2021 Edition - Sludgy pour yields a minimal late to develop dark khaki colored froth with little or no retention... Color is a deep rich monotony and carbonation bubbles can be seen bursting through the surface... The nose is stellar... Rich chocolate, cinnamon and vanilla leaf with some faint lightly toasted malts... The palate is similar but the pepper notes are at the forefront along with the roasted malts... Everything else settles into the background to add much depth and complexity... On the lighter side of medium bodied... Some brisk carbonation... A slightly chalky finish... The habanero notes linger throughout the entire session... Excellent well rounded offering, highly enjoyable...

 

Had Mexican Cake poured from 22-oz. bomber, label stamped bottled on "5/24/22," into snifter.

Pours absolutely black with 1-finger dark tan head, which soon dissipates to a persistent ring and partial film, which pulls a tie-dye pattern of splotchy lace down the glass. Aroma of mild roast malts and chocolate off pour, with chocolate growing, soon joined by some vanilla, and then more than a little hot pepper, to give an edge to the solid malt and chocolate. Begins with a little spicy pepper and the cinnamon missing from the aroma, over much chocolate, with the pepper continuing into a caramel spell, before the underlying roast malts are uncovered to help the chocolate try but eventually fail to balance the growing spicy pepper in the overly sticky, moderately hopped finish.

Disappointed that after years of anticipation this turns out to be a gimmick (habanero) pepper beer, but can't complain because not misled (the name is "Mexican Cake"), and it's a good gimmick beer.

650ml bottle. Label is marked for bottling date of '5/16/22'.
Black colored body, with only the thinnest of red mahogany back lit edge. Fizzy dark tan head disappears quickly. Tiny ring.
Aroma is a mellow dark roasted malts with cocoa, vanilla, and cinnamon.
Taste introduces the habanero peppers, which are not burning hot but have a definite heat presence. Well integrated with the dark roasted malts is the cocoa and sweet vanilla. The cinnamon provides a spicy overlay. Really gets a peppered fudge vibe in the aftertaste.
Thicker mouth feel. Creamy and silky texture. Supportive carbonation.
Have wanted to try this and it does not disappoint. Higher ABV% is well hidden. Extremely well balanced. Not overly dramatic but still presents well. Sets a standard for a peppered cocoa/vanilla/cinnamon stout.

 

 

22 oz bottle, dated 5/16/22

Pours a jwt black color, daek tan colored head, good head retention. Aroma is chile pepper, chocolate, a little roasty coffee. Taste is similar, smokey, spicey, cinnamon. Thick, full bodied, slick feel.

Look: Pours an almost pitch black shade of brown with a one and a half finger, khaki colored head of foam. Excellent head retention, very little lacing.

Aroma: Dark fudge and chocolate liquor. Some sweet marshmallow and sticky toffee.

Taste: Restrained flavors of bittersweet dark chocolate upfront, almost like brownies and molasses. Leans into notes of short bread cookies and sweet iced coffee midpalate. Finishes on very gentle notes of prickly habanero pepper and cinnamon. Heat / Scoville intensity is very low. Flavor is very well rounded and gentle, almost supple and delicate for such a strong 10.5% Imperial Stout.

Mouthfeel: Silky. Velvety. Gentle. Rich. Low carbonation. Mid weight body. Sugars and spices never comes across to the palate as cloying, slimy or overtly heavy.

Overall: I'm very, very impressed by this. I love mexican hot chocolate style stouts. The peppers worked just perfectly here, they are neither too assertive or too restrained and I really appreciate the texture not being slick or syrupy.