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Xocoveza For The Holidays and The New Year

January, 2016

Stone Xocoveza

Stone Xocoveza

California
United States
Stone Xocoveza by Stone Brewing Co.
Description 

Our insanely delicious take on Mexican hot chocolate brewed with cocoa, coffee, pasilla peppers, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. First brewed in 2014 with San Diego homebrewer Chris Banker after his recipe won our annual homebrew competition, this imperial milk stout is layered with warming flavors from real spices, locally-roasted Mostra coffee, and house-made 100% cacao bars.

Beverage Profile
ABV: 
8.1%
IBUs: 
50
Hops: 
Challenger, East Kent Golding

 

 


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Judges Rating: 
88
Aroma: 
22 / 24
Appearance: 
5 / 6
Flavor: 
35 / 40
Mouthfeel: 
8 / 10
Overall Impression: 
18 / 20

The aroma for this beer includes lightly burnt roasted malts and no discernible hops, which is fine for this style, though I don’t detect any sort of spices indicated with this beer either (cinnamon, nutmeg nor chocolate). The beer poured a dark amber in color with low carbonation. It had low head retention and the carbonation dissipated quickly. This beer had flavors of chocolate, roasted malts and a recognizable flavor of cinnamon in the palate, but I didn’t detect any nutmeg in the flavor, though I’m sure it just got blended in with the other dominating flavors of this beer. It also had a slight, subtle hint of lactose (milk, cream-like flavors) due to the addition of sugar milk. The malt-to-hops ratio was also balanced nicely with the main focus being on the roasted malts instead of hops. A medium-low hop bitterness countered the roasted malts nicely. The beer had a medium mouthfeel with light carbonation that finished nicely with an alcohol warmth that was smooth and not harsh – something to be sipped slowly sitting near a nice warm fire.