Cocoa Caliente by Wild Leap Brew Co. is a flavored Imperial Stout and is being evaluated as a Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer (category 30A from the 2021 BJCP Beer Style Guidelines). Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beers should have a harmonious balance between the spices, herbs or vegetables with the base beer style. Imperial Stouts are noted for their strong, rich chocolate and roasted malt flavors, black color, full body and smooth mouthfeel. Cocoa Caliente was brewed with liquid cocoa, cinnamon and a blend of Habanero and Serrano peppers.

Cocoa Caliente pours black in color, is opaque and sports a medium brown head. The aroma is strong roasted and chocolate malts contrasted by moderate spicy chili peppers. The flavor is moderately strong roasted and chocolate malts with moderate chili peppers; the chili peppers provide an excellent contrast to the light sweetness of the malt profile. The beer finishes moderately bitter with prominent roasted, coffee and chocolate malts and a light sweetness that is tempered by a moderate chili pepper, which lingers with a little heat in the back of the throat. 

Cocoa Caliente is a well-brewed imperial stout that adds contrasting flavors of the heat of chili peppers. The high-quality cocoa melds perfectly with the dark malts and does not add the odd, sharp bite of some cocoa products. Enjoy this well-brewed, spicy imperial stout. This will make a perfect nightcap on a cold winter’s night.