Braxton Labs Mango Chile Porter
Braxton Brewing Company - Braxton Covington

 

Bringing the heat, Braxton's party of mango, chocolate and caramel hits a crescendo with a firework display of Thai chiles.

Pouring a basic brown and foaming with a loose and fleeting froth, Braxton Labs Mango Chile Porter draws the nose with those promised caramel, chocolate, toasaty, nutty and savory aromas but then taunts it with a hit of bright chile spice heading into taste. Early flavor impressions pick up on those toffee, caramel, chocolate and light vanilla flavors in anticipation of the spice to come.

As the sweetness fades, a more toasty taste of coffee, bread crust and roasted pecans come to mind and the beer trends more robust. But here comes the heat. The sharp and piquant head of the Thai chilies simmer like cinnamon at first but then grow into an intense heat late on the palate. As hints of woodsy hops and a soft glow of tropical fruit simmer in the background, the chili spice controls all taste from mid-palate onward.

Full bodied but somewhat relaxed on the tongue, the robust porter carries the taste of stronger ale but reminds us that it's a porter with its lighter density. Quite hot, prickling and numbing to the senses, the spices seem to have gotten away from the brewers as the capsaicin heat with deter even moderate spicy beer fans.