El Chocolate Sombrero
Triple C Brewing Co.

A: Pours a clear yet opaque extremely dark cola brown approaching jet black in color with moderate amounts of active visible carbonation rising along the edges of the glass and moderate dark chestnut brown + mahogany + garnet red + ruby red colored highlights. The beer has a two finger tall dense foamy dark tan head that reduces to a large patch of thin film covering a little more than 90% of the surface of the beer and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Light amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate to strong aromas of dark + roasted + chocolate + caramel malts with a light to moderate amount of lactose sweetness. Moderate aromas of chilis + cinnamon + cacao nibs + vanilla. Light aromas of rye whiskey + toasted oak.

T: Upfront there are moderate to strong flavors of dark + roasted + chocolate + caramel malts with a light to moderate amount of lactose sweetness. That is followed by slightly stronger than moderate flavors of chilis + cinnamon + cacao nibs + vanilla which brings light to moderate amount of chili heat. Finally there are light flavors of rye whiskey + toasted oak. Light to moderate amounts of bitterness which fade away fairly quickly leaving lingering spicy cinnamon chocolate flavors.

M: Medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Slightly slick with a light amount of chili heat in the finish.

O: Drinks pretty easily considering the strength and the fact that it contains ghost peppers with a slick mouthfeel and well hidden alcohol. Really nice and complex Mexican hot chocolate flavors and aromas. Definitely one that I would grab again.

Dark chestnut brown, approaching black, with two fingers of mocha head. Great retention and thick lacing.

Big cinnamon in the nose, with chocolate, vanilla and slight smokey pepper behind. Smells like a fancy Red Hots candy.

Less robust taste: big cinnamon and some moderately-strong pepper heat, but not a particularly hefty base. Any chocolate, vanilla and barrel struggles to hold up against the cinnamon, although a sweet Vanilla Coke impression does linger with some pepper heat in the aftertaste.

Medium bodied with a nice slick feeling.

The pepper in this hits the right note for me, but the vanilla, chocolate and rye barrel get lost behind the cinnamon in the taste.