Mexican Coffee Cake | Westbrook Brewing Co.

4.25/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

3.54/5  rDev -20.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to BrutalFarce for this one, from his ninja box during Rookies BIF #2. 22oz bottle, poured into 12oz goblet. Poured the expected solid black color with 3/4 inch of tan head that had OK retention and lacing.

On top of the base "stout" scent, I picked up a hint of cinnamon, light licorice, just a teensy bit of coffee, some light chocolate (maybe from the malts?), and a couple notes I couldn't quite put my finger on. A busy olfactory experience indeed. All of the above applies to the flavor profile, with the addition of a hint of spicy pepperness.

The body was a bit thinner than I look for in the style, but was very smooth, and had, a bit surprisingly for all that was going on, a semi-sweet finish. Drinkability was very nice, it was the rare big stout that I would have drank a whole 22 of by myself. Overall, a very nice brew, would I would happily drink again. A must-try if you get the chance.

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4.5/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

4.79/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

4.46/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

4.38/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Shared with JLindros.

A - Poured into a Kate the Great tulip a nice dark black hue with a thin mocha head that fades to leave light wisps and a thin halo.

S - Aromas of decent amount of cinnamon and spice, nice pepper heat, chocolate, vanilla. The coffee is a bit subtle.

T - Taste is similar to the nose with nice heat, great cinnamon, solid vanilla and light coffee. The coffee is fruity as well which was unexpected.

M - Mouthfeel is lightly carbonated, creamy, alcohol hidden nicely.

O - Overall this was a rather solid imperial stout. I don't think this is better than regular Mexican cake, but, it's solid beer.

Serving Type: bottle

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4.39/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Another big thanks to rudzud, bottled 5/25/18
Pours a large dark foamy creamy thick pillowy head that fades slowly, nice sticky lacing, pitch black beer.

Nose is awesome, plenty of pepper, a bit spicy, then dark chocolate mocha, a touch roasty and big coffee and cinnamon, mild roasted coffee, nice spices, plenty of cinnamon dust and spices, doughy cake and donut like, sweet candy like notes too, big caramel

Taste brings sweet candy malt and caramel, candy like, big cinnamon and decent spices, baked cake and doughy cake batter, a little spice cake, cinnamon topping on coffee cake, decent roast, mild roast with a little coffee, touch spicy between peppers and cinnamon, some dark chocolate cocoa and a little fudge, touch of warming alcohol and pepper flavor late, fair bitterness later, finishes a little dry but sticky sweet and big bitterness and a bit of pepper

Mouth is fuller bod, spicy pepper and cinnamon, decent fluffy carb, bit of alcohol.

Overall pretty good, nice spice and cinnamon, nice cocoa and base beer, decent coffee, etc, very enjoyable

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4.46/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

4.37/5  rDev -1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Pours jet black with a two-finger tan head that has great retention and leaves strands of lacing behind

Smell: Mocha aroma, with notes of dark chocolate, coffee, cinnamon, nutmeg and a hint of vanilla

Taste: Mocha and chocolate forward, with cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla developing; after the swallow, coffee tones emerge and, finally, the hot pepper brings some heat to the finish

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with low to moderate carbonation; the heat lingers quite a while

Overall: A lot going on here beyond the base version; very enjoyable

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4.49/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

4.49/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

4.68/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

4.25/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

3.92/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

4.35/5  rDev -2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

I was quite surprised by how little of the spice of Mexican Cake has survived in Coffee Cake - the overriding adjunct is very much so the coffee.

But then, in the very last tiny pour from the bottle, there's a whoooooole lot of savory heat and spice.

My pour, however, was quite sedate with just a bit of spicy edge and lots of rich, acidic coffee. It's certainly no dessert stout, and definitely not on a level with bourbon barrel-aged Mexican cake - but this is a very worthy bottle with a lot going for it.

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4.47/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Tasted from bottle. Pours Black with dark brown head. Aroma of coffee, cocoa, chilies. Flavors up front of cinnamon, coffee, chocolate, caramel. Finishes with a nice pepper burn. Very well done beer. Would love to have the BA version.

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3.75/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

4.27/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

4.47/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

22 ounce bottle into snifter, bottled on 6/7/2017. Pours dense pitch black color with a 1 finger dense dark brown bread with good retention, that reduces to a thin spotty lace cap that lingers. Light spotty lacing clings on the glass, with a light amount of streaming carbonation. Aromas of big milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, nutty coffee, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, cream, cinnamon, chili pepper, fudge, marshmallow, and toasted dark/brown bread; with light notes of molasses, raisin, plum, fig, cherry, smoke, char, herbal, and roast/toasted earthiness. Incredible aromas with fantastic complexity and balance of dark/roast/bready malt, coffee, cocoa, and spice notes; with great strength. Taste of huge milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, nutty coffee, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, cream, cinnamon, chili pepper, fudge, marshmallow, and toasted dark/brown bread; with light notes of molasses, raisin, plum, fig, cherry, smoke, char, herbal, and roast/toasted earthiness. Light roast/char bitterness and cinnamon/pepper spiciness on the finish. Lingering notes of milk/dark chocolate, cocoa, nutty coffee, caramel, brown sugar, toffee, vanilla, cream, cinnamon, chili pepper, fudge, marshmallow, toasted dark/brown bread, molasses, dark fruit, light smoke/char, herbal, and roast/toasted earthiness. Incredible complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/roast/bready malt, coffee, cocoa, and spice flavors; with an amazing roasted bitter/sweet and spice balance; with zero acrid/astringent flavors after the finish. Lightly increasing dryness from roast bitterness and cinnamon/pepper spiciness. Light-medium carbonation and full body; with a very smooth, creamy, silky, and velvety mouthfeel that is fantastic. Light chalky roast and spice stickiness. Minimal warming alcohol for 10.5%, with slightly increasing pepper heat after the finish. Overall this is an insane spiced coffee imperial stout! All around incredible complexity, robustness, and balance of dark/roast/bready malt, coffee, cocoa, and spice flavors; very smooth and dangerously easy to sip on for the big ABV. One par with the best Mexican stouts out there. Very rich and complex, but never cloying; with perfectly balanced stout/spice flavors. Great pepper flavor with minimal associated heat. A highly amazing offering.

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4.94/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

4.25/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

4.39/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

4.64/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

2017 vintage.

A: Pours black with a thin cap of medium brown head that fizzles out to a ring immediately.

S: Dark coffee and a lot of cinnamon (but not too much), rich dark chocolate and vanilla, light roast, and a little sweetish pepper.

T: Dark chocolate and cinnamon, followed up by a bit of black coffee, earthy vanilla and a tinge of roast, very mild heat provides some nice complexity without asserting itself too much. Fairly dry, actually, though a mild sweetness supports the flavors nicely. Nice balance and complexity.

M: Medium-full body and medium carbonation, sharp enough to cut through some of the heft.

O: Really tasty and well executed adjunct stout. Flavors are almost perfectly balanced. Coffee is lighter than expected given this is a coffee stout.

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4.25/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

4.56/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5