Chupacabra - Batch 5
903 Brewers

Pitch black. Big cinnamon, chocolate and coffee aroma & flavor w/ light cayenne notes. Not a lot of heat except from the alcohol burn. Rich and robust with lots of different flavors going on. Decently balanced but leans a bit sweet. Full bodied & warm.

Type: 16-oz. can
Reviewed as: American Double / Imperial Stout
Glass: North Park 9-oz. butterscotch snifter glass
Price: $7.19 (10 pct. of. $7.99)
From: San Diego Wine & Beer Co.
Purchased: April 18, 2022
Consumed: Oct. 9, 2022
Misc.: No canned on date

Stopped at San Diego Wine & Beer Company on the way home from a work function. Picked up six cans (five IPAs and a pastry stout). 903’s website called this release as “In the fifth release of the series, Chupacabra returns with its signature chimerical flair and gargantuan might. Emerging from the shadowy darkness of its murky depths is a blend of flavors inspired by Mexican coffee. Hypnotizing notes of coffee, chocolate, marshmallow, cinnamon, and cayenne prowl throughout this imperial stout’s vast frontier. Flavors of dark chocolate and roasted coffee corral the sweet low heat of the mild spice additions, luring daring drinkers into its mystery and legend. Indulge in all your superstitions while you enjoy this creature’s fifth sighting.”

Poured a pitch black color with 2-to-3 fingers of frothy-to-fizzy khaki-tan head. Could see a few bubble streams coming up along the sides of the glass. Excellent spotty lacing. Excellent foamy retention. (Sight - 4.50)

Smelled Mexican chocolate, marshmallow, cinnamon, nutmeg, hints of allspice, vanilla, coffee, cacao, oak and hints of tequila. Just as good out of the can. (Smell - 4.25)

Tasted better than the nose. In order got Mexican chocolate, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, nutmeg, hints of allspice, marshmallow, vanilla, black pepper, roasted coffee, cacao, toasted oak, tequila barrel and hints of black licorice. Crazy smooth for 12.6 pct. ABV. (Taste - 4.25)

Full body. Creamy texture. Average carbonation. Long, smooth finish. (Feel - 5.00)

Damn. Just an awesome beer. (Overall - 4.50)

4.39 | 97 | A

 

 

pour is black with a thin, fizzy khaki head. poor retention. no lacing
Nose is a bit of pepper, roasted malt, hint of marshmallow.
Taste is chocolate, coffee up front.. creamy marshmallow in the middle. Fudgy. Earthy hops. subtle cinnamon and a hint of cayenne pepper heat on the finish. neither the cinnamon or pepper over power - nicely blended in.
medium/low carbonation.
sweet - but not cloying, and balanced nicely by the cinnamon and pepper. good beer.

 

 

No canning date. A recent Tavour purchase. Poured at 54°. Black with ruby see through; fizzy thin dark tan head disappears as fast as I can take the pic, leaving no cap, ring nor lacing; no legs on swirl. Nose is the barest scent of cinnamon; some chocolate at beer warms. Some cinnamon up front with mild hot peppers; sweet milk chocolate middle; still looking for the coffee. Silky thinning feel; medium minus body; peppers tingle on tip of tongue; light carbonation; no warmth from 12.6% abv; dryish barrel finish. Overall, a very good milk stout, devoid of coffee but the right amount of mild cinnamon, and a nice hot peppers linger; a bit sweet, but the cayenne keeps the whole from being cloying.

Update 6/8/22. No canning date. A recent Tavour purchase. At 57° Pours opaque brown; fast fizzy dark tan head vanished before I could take the pic; no cap retention, ring nor lace; medium legs. Nose is sweet marshmallow whip; no coffee. Cayenne peppers on entry followed by sweet chocolate malt; sweet marshmallow middle; no coffee detected. Light body, dry oaky feel; peppers burn on tip of tongue; heat in mouth more from peppers than 12.6% abv; light carbonation. Overall this batch (5) bears little resemblance to other batch reviews I’ve read; it’s too sweet, has too much marshmallow and is too thin for abv; the spicy cayenne unbalanced the whole; a supremely C- imperial coffee stout that had no coffee.