Just picked up a Mexican Cake from Hazel's today. They are definitely out, but Liquor Mart might be getting some either today or tomorrow. Just wanted to give you guys a heads up.
They barely touched the shelves up here in fort collins yesterday. I'm convinced there were some truck chasers... I heard most places only got 1 case (of 9) and realize this is a highly sought after beer, but these were gone stupid fast...
Regular cases of that beer are 12. If they are telling you 9 it's probably because they held 3 for employees or other customers. It's possible they got 6, but 9 seems strange and it would be a one time thing at that store
Word, thanks. I was either lied to, mis-heard the guy, or talked to a worker who was talking out of his azz. Frankly all scenarios are just as likely.
I find this a little surprising (not really tho b/c of all the hype around MC) how fast it flew off the shelf considering we have both Praire Bomb! & Copper Kettle's Mexican Chocolate Stout
I've never really gotten all of the buzz around all of the various spiced stouts, especially Mexican Cake. I think it has to be a trade value thing. Then again, I've never really understood the Westbrook love in general.
Having just visited the brewery in Charleston last week... completely agreed. COAST Brewing is right by them and blows them away in almost every category. I'd gladly trade any of Westbrook's offerings I've tried for a can of COAST's Kolsch.
Personally, I'd trade Westbrook for Olde Mecklenburg in a heartbeat. With Westbrook, I've always thought people either confused them for or lumped them in with Prairie and Perennial because they all got distro'd around the same time. I don't get it.
Westbrook Gose is really high class but Mexican Cake is definitely outclassed by some of the offerings available here. Bomb and Copper Kettle topping that list.
Cake crushes Mexican Chocolate Stout in taste and crushes Bomb for price so I completely understand the desire, plus, it's much more limited so people want to buy it right away whereas Copper Kettle and Prairie sit on the shelves year-round virtually.
IMO, it's the worst of the spiced stouts (unless you count Huna) but is one of those beers people are supposed to want because it's uncommon. I'm not even sure anyone actually drinks it. I think it just gets passed around from trader to trader or it sits in cellars for a tasting where someone has never had it before.
I love spiced stouts when done right. Something about the mix of sweetness and heat that just does it for me, especially in the colder months. If I was lucky enough to grab some I wouldn't have traded it I would have been drinking it all by myself.
Haha further proof on how completely subjective taste is. My ranking would be Huna > followed by Cake/Abraxas/Bomb - all slightly different in their own way so it depends on what you are in the mood for - Cake is def the spicier option with lots of chocolate, Abraxas is heavy on cinnamon and chocolate, very light spice, while Bomb is more balanced like a toned down Cake. Copper Kettle's Mexican Chocolate is just too hot for me, it was good the first time I tried it like 3 years ago but it has gone downhill for me personally. As for actually drinking Cake, I have opened 3 bottles myself to share and I've shared 2 more that others opened so it's definitely not just cellar dwelling.
Drank Mexican Cake and Huna side by side this past weekend. Both 2015. Mexican Cake easily over Huna. It's been months since I cracked Abraxas. And even longer since Bomb. But I'd go Abraxas > Mexican Cake > Hunahpu > Bomb!.
Personally, I'd take Copper Kettle's over any of the other ones. In spite of some of their deficiencies (like making hoppy beers), they have that style down pat. Hence the GABF gold for it. I'd probably put Abraxas and Bomb next, although the different Bomb batches vary quite a bit. Some are world beaters, some are just good. Cake's next, but it's nothings special like most of Westbrook's stuff. Huna is a giant con job probably perpetrated by the same people were giving Dark Lord 5's a few years ago. I like most of CC's beers, but that one's a mess.
