Mexicake Bourbon Barrel
Tempest Brewing Company
- From:
- Tempest Brewing Company
- Scotland, United Kingdom
- Style:
- American Imperial Stout
Ranked #931 - ABV:
- 12.4%
- Score:
- 91
Ranked #8,690 - Avg:
- 4.19 | pDev: 7.64%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 7
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Apr 02, 2024
- Added:
- May 08, 2017
- Wants:
- 1
- Gots:
- 1
SCORE
91
Outstanding
91
Outstanding
It's been talked about in hushed tones and whispers for a while now, but it's finally here.
For the last 7 months, we've been barrel aging and bottle conditioning our incredibly well-loved Mexicake imperial stout. It's something a lot of people asked about, and something that to us made a lot of sense. However, we've aged in not one but two different barrel types; Bourbon, and Brandy.
Bourbon Barrel bring exactly what you'd expect; a little bit of whiskey on the nose and warmth on the finish, and enhances some of the best flavours in Mexicake. On the nose, you get an intense vanilla aroma, the slight spiciness of bourbon highlights the Ceylon cinnamon, and a touch of toasted oak. On the palate, you get much of the same with a super smooth mouthfeel, and a bit of boozy warmth. Pay close attention, and you'll also get a bit of char and smokiness from the barrel aided by the infusion of Mulato chillies famous for their leathery, tobacco smokiness.
A beautifully decadent beer, it's in very short supply and will not last long.
For the last 7 months, we've been barrel aging and bottle conditioning our incredibly well-loved Mexicake imperial stout. It's something a lot of people asked about, and something that to us made a lot of sense. However, we've aged in not one but two different barrel types; Bourbon, and Brandy.
Bourbon Barrel bring exactly what you'd expect; a little bit of whiskey on the nose and warmth on the finish, and enhances some of the best flavours in Mexicake. On the nose, you get an intense vanilla aroma, the slight spiciness of bourbon highlights the Ceylon cinnamon, and a touch of toasted oak. On the palate, you get much of the same with a super smooth mouthfeel, and a bit of boozy warmth. Pay close attention, and you'll also get a bit of char and smokiness from the barrel aided by the infusion of Mulato chillies famous for their leathery, tobacco smokiness.
A beautifully decadent beer, it's in very short supply and will not last long.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Sammy:
Rated by Sammy from Canada (ON)
4.04/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Jul 27, 2021
4.04/5 rDev -3.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Jul 27, 2021
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by stcules from Italy
3.96/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3.96/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Chile & Chocolate Imperial Stout - Bourbn Barrel Aged.
Black. Dark cappuccino colored foam.
Very intense smell, but with a good balance between chocolate - bourbon liquor - chile.
Vanilla. Alcohol.
In the taste is very, very smooth. Chocolate, vanilla, pepper. Again great balance. The alcohol is more hidden than in the nose.
Spices, vanilla, pepper, mou/caramel, cinnamon.
Pleasant, intense, full.
Apr 02, 2024Black. Dark cappuccino colored foam.
Very intense smell, but with a good balance between chocolate - bourbon liquor - chile.
Vanilla. Alcohol.
In the taste is very, very smooth. Chocolate, vanilla, pepper. Again great balance. The alcohol is more hidden than in the nose.
Spices, vanilla, pepper, mou/caramel, cinnamon.
Pleasant, intense, full.
Reviewed by LampertLand from Canada (BC)
3.97/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
3.97/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Tempest Brewing 'Mexicake' Bourbon Barrel @ 12.4% , served from a 330 ml can
A-pour is black from the can to glass with a medium size tan head leaving a spotty lace along the tulip
S-barrel aged Bourbon
T-big beer (from such a small can) Bourbon upfront , thru-out & on the swallow
MF-ok carbonation , big full body , warming , feeling the ABV
Ov-chile & chocolate are muted by the Bourbon
prost LampertLand
Nov 27, 2022A-pour is black from the can to glass with a medium size tan head leaving a spotty lace along the tulip
S-barrel aged Bourbon
T-big beer (from such a small can) Bourbon upfront , thru-out & on the swallow
MF-ok carbonation , big full body , warming , feeling the ABV
Ov-chile & chocolate are muted by the Bourbon
prost LampertLand
Reviewed by Snowcrash000 from Germany
4.29/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.29/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a pitch-black coloration with a medium, creamy, dark-brown, lasting head. Smells of caramel, slightly roasted malt, chocolate and vanilla, with lighter notes of cinnamon and just a hint of chilies, licorice, bourbon and oak. Taste follows the nose, with a great balance of caramel, slightly roasted malt, distinct milk chocolate and vanilla notes, lighter cinnamon and licorice and hints of chili heat, tobacco, bourbon and oak. Finishes with a light bitterness and some chocolate, vanilla and hints of cinnamon and chili heat lingering in the aftertaste. Full mouthfeel with a rich body and medium carbonation.
This makes for a very enjoyable Mexican Chocolate Stout with a great, subtle balance of sweet and spicy notes, with some roasted and bitter accents as well, while the lighty boozy, warming bourbon presence is rounding this out very nicely. Although I could have personally done with a bit more of that smoked chili heat from the Mulato chilies, the overall balance really is sublime here, making for a rich and somewhat complex brew that never feels overburdened by any of its additives.
Mar 06, 2021This makes for a very enjoyable Mexican Chocolate Stout with a great, subtle balance of sweet and spicy notes, with some roasted and bitter accents as well, while the lighty boozy, warming bourbon presence is rounding this out very nicely. Although I could have personally done with a bit more of that smoked chili heat from the Mulato chilies, the overall balance really is sublime here, making for a rich and somewhat complex brew that never feels overburdened by any of its additives.
Reviewed by EmperorBevis from England
4.46/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.46/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Bottled and bottled conditioned and that holy grail bourbon barrel aged
pours a jet black body with decent tan head
dark chocolate liquer aroma , full on high end gourmet
so its like drinking actually warmed up cocoa that's irished up but that chipolte does a dance with that bourbon barrel and it moves like subtle hints of tequila
May 08, 2018pours a jet black body with decent tan head
dark chocolate liquer aroma , full on high end gourmet
so its like drinking actually warmed up cocoa that's irished up but that chipolte does a dance with that bourbon barrel and it moves like subtle hints of tequila
Reviewed by Ciocanelu from Romania
4.25/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Really dark brown color with tan head. Aroma has scotch whiskey, wood barrel, dusty basement, earthy spices. Taste has some caramel malt, some toffee but the wood takes over with whiskey and light butterscotch on the finish, light roasty bitterness, a hint of chili heat. Medium plus body, medium to low carbonation. It's a quite good imperial stout but the base beer idea is somehow lost to the wood barrel intensity.
Feb 09, 2018
Reviewed by Beersnake from California
4.23/5 rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.23/5 rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Poured from fridge temp. Pours motor oil black with quickly dissipating tan head. Really nice looking with few bubbles. Nose is really interesting, and very different from any BA stout I have had. Some bourbon, but the chillies really come through on the nose. A good amount of chocolate and vanilla, but not a lot of cinnamon. Taste is amazing. Not much bourbon, but a really nice balance of cocoa and spice. Incredible job with this level of complexity. Getting some chocolate-dipped cherries and some marshmallow notes. Super smooth. Mouthfeel is thick and creamy. Overall, a fantastic BA stout, although I would say it's more of a spiced stout than a BA stout. It spent six month in barrels, but I'm guessing an extra six months would have done wonders.
Feb 02, 2018
Reviewed by Bruno74200 from France
4.61/5 rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.61/5 rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Well well well. This is a great beer. How can it not be? A magnificent base beer aged for 6 months in bourbon barrels.
L - pitch black, a nice mocha head
S - big bourbon presence, chocolate, vanilla, very balanced
T - some acidity, nice bourbon, cinnamon, cocoa, vanilla, very little pepper. Perfect balance and quite bold
M - Thick, low carbonation, very enjoyable
O - This beer has nothing to envy to beers like KBS. It's not a chipotle bomb but has all the attributes of a great beer
On a second tasting three years later : really less interesting, with a certain gushing and then some wet wood notes and nothing really special about it.
Sep 26, 2017L - pitch black, a nice mocha head
S - big bourbon presence, chocolate, vanilla, very balanced
T - some acidity, nice bourbon, cinnamon, cocoa, vanilla, very little pepper. Perfect balance and quite bold
M - Thick, low carbonation, very enjoyable
O - This beer has nothing to envy to beers like KBS. It's not a chipotle bomb but has all the attributes of a great beer
On a second tasting three years later : really less interesting, with a certain gushing and then some wet wood notes and nothing really special about it.
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