Humo
Switchback Brewing Company

Drinking in a sampler at the brewery.
Nice looking stout head.
Respectable imperial stout nose.
First sip somewhat weak and tinny, but the jalapeño is detectable
Later it grows on you, but somehow the imperial stout taste is still not there

 

 

I tried this beer at the brewery. It poured an opaque dark with tan head that did not leave any lace. The scent had subtle cocoa and roast accented heavily with pepper spice. The taste was doninated jalapeno lean with hints of horchata and a very spicy finish. The mouthfeel was lighter in body with good carbonation. Overall it's an interesting beer.

another awesome and clever smoked beer from these guys, part of their flynn on fire smoked beer project, which is just so cool! this one is a big stout done with jalapenos and some smoked malt. it seems like the peppers have to be roasted, there is this charred richness to them, earthy and fleshy and mature tasting, not raw and green, but it could be a product of all the smoke on this, which is quite a bit more pronounced than it was in some of the other smoked beers we had in here. shiny and near black in the glass under a short off white head. the aroma is fire roasted peppers from the farmers market, a real hatch chili vibe to this more than a jalapeno to me, with some sweetness and cocoa notes in the dark grains and some campfire smoke. the flavor is about the same, but its rich and full bodied stout first, smoke second, and pepper really late. bold as it is in the nose, i get almost all of the chili character after the swallow. its not hot, but there is a late onset, deep throat heat that does linger a little bit, a small fire, bit it remains lit awhile, and it stays with me into the next beer, unwelcome at that point. i could see the potential for some heartburn here, but i like the way the bitter roasty dark malt and earthy smoke offset it, showcase the deepest essence of the pepper, and finish relatively dry for a bigger stout beer, definitely for the pepper beer folks, but i was impressed with the quality and balance here. this smoked beer series they are doing is absolutely awesome!