Judge’s Review: 88 Rating – Do Or Die: Spiced Chocolate by Orpheus Brewing

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By Rick Franckhauser

Judges Rating: 88
Aroma: 20
Appearance: 5
Flavor: 38
Mouthfeel: 8
Overall Impression: 17

Spiced Chocolate by Orpheus Brewing was judged as BJCP category 30A, Spice, Herb or Vegetable beer with a mixed-style base of Oatmeal and Cream Stout. 
The beer opens with a dark bitter chocolate aroma with a roasted nut character. Some herbal notes bordering on green pepper follow. There are some very low-level spice notes of cinnamon or nutmeg. Everything is deep and rich. The beer is jet black, and when held to the light, it laughs. Impenetrable black. Topped with a thick creamy brown head that drops out rather quickly. 
The flavor provides bitter dark chocolate and alcohol providing a fruity ester element. There is a nutty undertone often found in oatmeal stouts. Some spice elements of cinnamon and nutmeg are present but somewhat overwhelmed by the bite and heat. The heat carries from mid-palate well into the aftertaste. The bitter chocolate and spice linger on and on. The beer is balanced toward bitterness from hops, roast and peppery heat. This beer is a sipper for a cold winter night. Full-bodied and near-viscous with a low carb level. It is both creamy and sharp. The significant bite to the back of the throat lingers like after eating a hot pepper.
The beer was presented to me as an oatmeal cream stout with chocolate. After judging I see the can indicates the beer includes chili peppers, cocoa nibs, nutmeg, vanilla and cinnamon. This knowledge explains a lot and much of which I perceived but was a little confused by. Overall, this is a very interesting beer with lots to ponder. The spicing, the heat from the peppers combined with the roast malt acidity add up to a rather sharp experience for the palate. The flavors are complex and evolving. This is a beer that needs some time to be sipped and contemplated. I found it strangely enjoyable but somewhat challenging. I would prefer less heat as I found it distracting. There was little that was reminiscent of a cream stout or an oatmeal stout, but I suspect had these elements been absent, the heat and spice would have completely overtaken the beer. If you enjoy big stouts with hot peppers, you’ll likely love this beer. It’s an adventure in a glass.