Thursday (2020)
Cycle Brewing

L:. Pours a pitch thick oily black with a small white head and no lacing on the glass.

S:. Lots of rich chocolate intermingled with a strong cinnamon and vanilla, hints of brandy and a light apple note, don't really get the peppers.

T:. Rich chocolate, a hint of marshmallow, a slightly burnt cinnamon, a sweet vanilla, followed by some heat from the peppers, a note of strong booze and a hint of sweet apple.

F: Smooth big body

O:. Overall this is a complex and unique beer that creates a great beer.

 

Poured at 53 degrees; black with dark tan head; minimal cap retention; thin ring; spots of lace; black with thin ruby edges; thin legs at best. Aromas of chocolate fudge brownie and cinnamon assault the nose; vanilla stands its own ground; spicy boozy liqueur (like a cinnamon Red Hot shot) exhale; so fudgey on the nose, yet...; Taste follows nose, lots of chocolate fudge, vanilla, and cinnamon but with hot green chilies sauce right behind; some fruity sweetness (apple?) and booze; the finish is layers of chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon and spicy hot peppers. Spicy hot tongue coating - peppers heat tingle; full minus body; velvety feel (but not not syrupy or adjuncty); full on face flushing/mouth warmth from 11.5% abv and Ancho and Pasilla peppers. Overall a multi-layered treat, as if Xocoveza were fudgy and aged in Brandy Barrels, and kinda like one of Westbrook’s more complex barrel aged Mexican Stouts...this beer had plenty of fudgey chocolate and vanilla (Mexican and Ecuadorian beans), oak, and a distinct fruity apple/brandy/liqueur vibe, yet spicy hot with peppers and cinnamon; so pleased that at 9 months out that the vanilla holds its own nose/taste-wise; so hot, yet so cool!

Let's start this Cycle race. Big stout, as you'd expect from these people, packed with flavours. Pretty sweet, of course, and reasonably lightly spicy. Cinnamon, nice but light chilli, and some vanilla. The barrels give some lovely apply. Christmassy.

 

 

Black with hint of brown speckled, brown collar. Cinnamon, peppers, cocoa, and vanilla hit the nose before apple brandy booze slathers them all. Odd but pleasing. Taste is way too hot, brandy booze dominates the other flavors, which are all there but dulled, with wood, roast, and brandy sweetness culminating per sip. Feel is hot with booze, sweet and spicy in texture and decently complex once you get past the shellac of sweet booze.