Personal Chain Letter - Ghost Pepper
Pollyanna Brewing Company

12oz bottle poured into a pint glass boasts a deep dark brown body that shows a tinge of red at the edges, the only place where light is allowed through, and floats a persistent 1/8 in cap of cream colored foam. Lacing is artistic with legs.

Aroma is sweet and hot. Stone fruit, both plums and peaches, roasted barley, cocoa, pepper(I want to say grilled pepper but I don't know why), and slight vanilla.

Flavors match with more pepper heat emphasis.

Mouthfeel is full, oily, creamy, and warming, with a not quite drying finish.

Overall first class. Try it with ceviche.

12 ounce bottle into a tulip snifter. Had 9/18/18.

Pours a dark brown, opaque, with a half inch head of darker foam and some foamy lacing. Aromas of chocolate, malt, vanilla, light peppers, some caramel, some cocoa. The flavor shows about the same- malt, chocolate, peppers, some caramel, less vanilla, light cocoa. There’s a nice level of heat from the peppers. Smooth, a good full body, well carbonated.

This was better than expected. The ghost peppers were skillfully executed, enhancing a solid base beer. Worth a purchase.

 

 

Taste: Dark roasted chocolate malt, spicy pepper heat, coffee, smooth finish on palette. Big chocolate malty nose. Black with a reddish hue, mostly opaque, delicate tan head and lace. Full body. Warming feel. 70 IBUs

 

 

 

This variant of PCL really spices it up! (Sorry couldn't resist) This beer does well to incorporate the hot peppers into the very fabric of the beer. It really does meld in nicely with the intense malts. High level of carbonation for an imperial stout, nothing bad just a bit surprising. Get more coffee on the nose which is nice.

 

Thanks to Joe for sending me a Personal Chain Letter. I guess I should respond.

With the pop of the cap, a soda like hiss emerges. It pours the deepest shade of brown, enough to fool you it's black once residing in a glass. The thinnest lightly tanned ring of tight knit bubbles hug the perimeter while little pops jump from the surface. Pops, not geysers. Again like soda. It's a pleasure to watch those beautiful hazelnut highlights between sips.

It smells roasty and nutty. Almost like toasted almonds. There is very little mention of the formidable Ghost Pepper on the nose, however I do perceive a charred pepper skin ever so faintly. Hell, it could even be my imagination. Also within the depths lie some notions of molasses and black licorice.

I'm making notes on my first sip just in case this goes awry. And I'm going big. Wow. The first thing that comes to mind is molé, as it explodes with sweet melted chocolate and a tingly pepper heat and flavor. Definitely getting some blistered peppers now. Again very nutty, with a cola spiced like finish. I am loving this.

Let's talk about the heat first. It's spicy, but done well. Not rediculous, but perhaps not for the spicy intolerant. For me, it works wonderfully. It compliments the sweet and roasted flavors seamlessly. And despite it's lack of presence, there is a good amount of carbonation that gives that tingling sensation that again works perfectly with the flavors and heat. I'd call this medium bodied and it has a good lingering sticky feel. It's also equipped with a decent amount of bitterness underneath all the fun making this ultimately pretty well balanced, but still just barely favoring the bitter end of the spectrum. But damn, that spice and alcohol heat works wonders on warming up the chest.

I love this. I wish I made some bomb ass pastor tacos to go with this like I said I would, but I didn't, so I'm just gonna have to enjoy these last few ounces and pretend I did. Al pastor, onion, cilantro, two tortillas, and a squeeze of lime. Paired with this... Sublime.

Thanks again Joe! Cheers.

Mild heat, but present. Pepper flavor is there though. Nice.

 

A-almost black in color with a thick head of dark tan head

S-dark chocolate, roasted malt, vanilla, and some chili pepper

T-a mix of dark and milk chocolate, vanilla, roasted malt, and chili pepper spice

M-thick body with moderate carbonation

Overall this is a solid addition to chili pepper spiced beers, really well done and a nice balance of sweet and spicy