Maximón (Bourbon BA Special)
Sori Brewing

 

 

#1724 - Blind-tasted except for the beer's name and brewery/country, ABV% zero reviews/lables below read (yet!)...
L- Pitch black, held to a halogen bulb not a single photon gets through. Pours with thin tan head that instantly vanishes.... at 12% that's inevitable due to lack of surface tension etc. Looks dark and brooding...
S- OMG! It's a warp back to child-hood. Your parents are out for the evening, you're 12 and have no idea what errr... shots of Baileys+Tia Maria+vodka might taste like... well this is what it might smell like. Lactose+liquor.
T- BOOOOOM. It fast unfolds upon thine palate. Mega whiskey notes, really intense. A shocker is in the tail there is serious spice. I spent years in Asia and this to me is still serious, I am sure that whole chili has been added to this; it is well beyond 'a note of [x/y/z]', this is full-bore, not pepper, but chili. Only chili gives this top-level zing on the palate, with no peppery sub-text. Then you notice the deep cocoa...
The whiskey + chili combined are - simply - absolutely - massive. Is the ABV% zing or chili-torch across the palate bigger? Only you can decide... but, how on earth do you rate this; for drama?
F- Massive statement. Mega unashamed liquor/whiskey. There is spice and then there is outright unadorned chili heat. ...
O- ... this is a very different and quite extraordinary beer. The very opposite of a go-to or session beer. One to slow-sip and ponder. I'm aware that this is quite high ABV% (I consider 15%+ as high) but bleedin' 'ell is it impactful. One of the Top-20 most impactful beers I've had. And oh as it warms a touch the whiskey note just expands like a nuclear mushroom cloud on the palate of 'whiskey' note > facet > aspect > side > BAM all-consuming!
Review/scoring all done, now the reveal, I get to read the bottle lables to see what I missed! Pretty lable for such a beast of a beer. Added cocoa and chili [a-ha!!].
330ml bottle £8.75 BB: 23/10/2025 - Batch 521. Bought from TremblingMadness, York/UK as part of a large pick-your own consignment to London.

Bottle at Las Buenas Pulgas, served in a balloon glass. Almost black color, small brown head with medium retention, some sticky lacing. Aroma of cherries, bourbon, oak, rubber, chocolate, some vanilla, coffee and coconut. Medium to full body, viscous texture, normal carbonation, spicy finish. Taste follows the aroma, but a big pepper tone and more coconut. Wonderful.

Batch 521. Thick, black, small creamy head. Big smell of bourbon, alcoholic, some sweetness. Smooth mouthfeel. Nice chilli kick first, then sweet chocolate, and loads of bourbon. Too alcoholic, but the base and spices can almost take it. Unbalanced yummy.