Ska – Autumnal Mole Stout

Ska is based in Durango, CO and these guys started brewing home brew in high school.  The ended up going into the brewing business and they make some very tasty beers.  When I saw Autumnal Mole Stout (5.5% ABV) and was release at the Autumnal Equinox.  Mole Stout is brewed with peppers, cocoa and spices.

Chili Beer – http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/163 - BeerAdvocate

Appearance – Dark with a one-finger dark tan foamy head that receded quickly.  No light would get through this beer.

Aroma – There is a lot going here on the aroma side – peppers / chilies, chocolate, coffee / espresso, and subtle spices (cinnamon / nutmeg).

Taste – Very much like it smells and while there is some hesitation on my part for fear of a high Scoville rating, Mole Stout focuses on pepper / chili flavor and not heat – yes.  Chocolate, coffee, and spice are present too and make for a well-rounded beer.  Stout provides a perfect base for what Ska is doing.

Overall – A-  This is one of the best Chili Beers I have had.  It would be excellent to use in cooking and I think it would be a very good combination with Southwest cuisine. 

Commercial description – "The Autumnal Mole Stout is an ale brewed with cocoa nibs, spices and three varieties of chile peppers: Mulato, Ancho and Hatch green chiles, (also known as Anaheim Peppers.)"   Note – There was no description found on the website.

URL – http://www.skabrewing.com/

Twisted Pine - Billy's Chilies

Twisted Pine offers a Chili Beer named Billy’s Chilies (5% ABV and 10 IBU).  Billy’s Chilies pours cloudy yellow with a small head that quick recedes.  Carbonation is good as Billy’s Chilies keeps bubbling in the glass.  The aroma of chilies is amazing and you can easily smell the pepper influence on this beer.  I was really impressed with the taste too; there is a nice wheat beer taste with the peppers in the background.  The heat is not too hot; it is present, but not overwhelming.  I paired this beer with some chicken nachos and it was a very nice pairing.  Twisted Pine’s website description of Billy’s Chilies is spot on and I was surprised to see that 5 different peppers are used in brewing this beer, “This light-bodied ale has an amazing chili aroma that jumps out at you.  We infuse wheat beer with fresh Serrano, Habenero, Jalapeno, Anaheim, and Fresno chili peppers.  Surprisingly, the chili flavor is strong but not overpowering and comes through without lending too much heat.  Billy’s Chilies is a very drinkable beer and pairs especially well with food.  It finishes dry with a spiciness that will leave you thirsty for more.”  I was almost afraid to taste Billy’s Chilies because I thought my mouth might be set afire – this was not the case – Billy’s Chilies was my first Chili Beer and it was a great experience.