What The Hatch
No Label Brewing Company

 

Appearance: Deep amber body, with a small, scattered off-white head, with faint retention. A scattering of foam adorns the glass wall.

Aroma: Chili notes vie with modestly toasted malts, yielding a presence that recalls Jalapeno bread. There is less of a sweet malt malt presence, than I would have expected.

Taste: Opens with a modest bit of chili burn, soon followed by toasted malts. These two carry well throughout the taste, when at the close the chili spikes a little.There is a mild, slightly spicy hop presence, as well. I am made to think of cornbread dusted with chili powder

Mouth feel: Fairly full, pleasant, with a little slightly harsh carbonation.

Drinkability/notes: Overall, pretty good. Would pair well with spicy foods, particularly Tex-Mex, or South Asian dishes.

Presentation: Packaged in a standard twelve-ounce brown glass long neck bottle with a pry-off crown, served in a South American-style Pilsener glass.

 

Love love love this beer. Have been a fan of chilli beers since NZ started its craft beer revolution. Hope you guys do a chilli chocolate porter this winter. Hard to find a beer that not run of the mill. I’m usually a one beer person. Now I’m having my second. What can I say. Yum. Someone should have told me the season was so short for these wonderful things. I only preserved a couple of batches.

 

Orange amber in color. Head is off-white with minimal retention. Lacing is very little and splotchy.

Smells and bit malty with lots of chilies. I haven't had to many of these chili beers but she sure as hell smells like chili peppers straight up.

Taste like a light pale ale with fresh green chilis added. Has a litte spice to it. Not too much. The heat lingers in the back of the throat and on the sides of the tongue.

Mouthfeel is light. Feels slick with soft carbonation. The spice adds an interesting element.

 

Too bubbly. More just spicy beer, little hatch taste.

 

 

Orange-like color with a fizzy, slightly carbonated head which has no retention. No lacing to be seen.

Smell is so faint it almost doesn't exist, but what is there is a mild bell pepper sort of smell with malts.

Taste follows through but without the name I'd have never associated this beer's taste or smell to chilis of any kind. It has a thin malty backbone and a nice refreshing drinkability. A little smokey. As it warms I get a slight taste of some pepper. A light lingering bite which is enjoyable.

I too miss Don Jalapeno. This is not a bad beer but does lack the character. Still, they played it safe and I can see how this would appeal to many.

 

I was hoping for the pour to be a bit cloudier, and the smell to be rich in chilies. It has a dark, roasted smell and taste that resemble malts more-so than smoked hatch. While the base of this beer is more complex, I very much so enjoyed the presence of the jalapeno in Don Jalapeno and was hoping for a bit more smoky fire than toasted chocolate.

 

 

 

 

12 oz. bottle poured into tight nonic

L: red gold, mostly clear with a bit of wispy residue in it, pushes up 1-inch head of beige foam off hard pour; some sticking but little to no lacing, keeps a thin collar of beige foam

S: smokey jalapenos, sweet light malt -- like jalapeno jelly at times

T: smokey jalapenos with little to no pepper heat, lots of smoked wood flavor, almost peaty; a pinch of malt sweetness way in the background

F: solid all around, medium weight, decent carbonation

O: great beer and good enough that I'll buy it again; tastes very much like No Label's jalapeno beer but with a lot less pepper heat; the smoke flavor is fantastic