Xocoveza (2014)
(Batch of Xocoveza)
Stone Brewing in Escondido, California, United States 🇺🇸
Collab with: Cerveceria InsurgenteStout - Pastry / Flavoured - Imperial Winter Out of Production
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Score
7.63
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Mocha Stout brewed with cocoa, coffee, peppers, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg
Collaborators: Chris Banker, Winner, Stone Homebrew Competition / Iván Morales, Brewmaster, Cervecería Insurgente / Mitch Steele, Brewmaster, Stone Brewing Co.
This year’s winner of our American Homebrewers Association-sanctioned homebrewing competition, Chris Banker, helped keep us grounded to our homebrewing roots by introducing flavors consistent with our regional palate. His chocolate, cinnamon, nutmeg, chile pepper and coffee-infused milk stout was built to mimic the flavors of Mexican hot chocolate, a beloved specialty from our neighbors to the south, as our collaborators from Baja California, Cervecería Insurgente, will attest. Layered with earthiness, spice and roast, this creamy, semisweet blue-ribbon beer confirms that the spirit of the American homebrewer is not only alive and kicking but thriving at an all-time high.
When we tasted Chris Banker’s winning beer at our annual AHA rally back in March, I think everyone on the brewing team was blown away by the multiple layers of flavor in this beer. Chris’ inspiration was Mexican hot chocolate, and he was able to perfectly replicate the flavors. The inclusion of Cervecería Insurgente for this collaboration was a fun addition. We first met co-founders Ivan and Damian at the 2014 Craft Brewers Conference in Denver, and given their brewery’s proximity to us in Mexico, and their approach to brewing, we thought they’d be a perfect fit for the third collaborator.
Collaborators: Chris Banker, Winner, Stone Homebrew Competition / Iván Morales, Brewmaster, Cervecería Insurgente / Mitch Steele, Brewmaster, Stone Brewing Co.
This year’s winner of our American Homebrewers Association-sanctioned homebrewing competition, Chris Banker, helped keep us grounded to our homebrewing roots by introducing flavors consistent with our regional palate. His chocolate, cinnamon, nutmeg, chile pepper and coffee-infused milk stout was built to mimic the flavors of Mexican hot chocolate, a beloved specialty from our neighbors to the south, as our collaborators from Baja California, Cervecería Insurgente, will attest. Layered with earthiness, spice and roast, this creamy, semisweet blue-ribbon beer confirms that the spirit of the American homebrewer is not only alive and kicking but thriving at an all-time high.
When we tasted Chris Banker’s winning beer at our annual AHA rally back in March, I think everyone on the brewing team was blown away by the multiple layers of flavor in this beer. Chris’ inspiration was Mexican hot chocolate, and he was able to perfectly replicate the flavors. The inclusion of Cervecería Insurgente for this collaboration was a fun addition. We first met co-founders Ivan and Damian at the 2014 Craft Brewers Conference in Denver, and given their brewery’s proximity to us in Mexico, and their approach to brewing, we thought they’d be a perfect fit for the third collaborator.
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6.9/10
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Appearance 10
Aroma 7
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6.5
Can. Very dark brown/almost black, huge lasting head. Cinnamon nutmeg nose, with a lot of coffee/rostmalz overtones. Flavor has a lot of Christmas spice notes, very dark roast astringency, big hop bitterness, a bit of chili spice. Not as sweet as you'd think for a stout like that. Oddly enough the cacao notes are pretty muted, covered by the rest. A bit too bitter/astringent for my taste.
Tried
from Can
on 26 Mar 2020
at 22:40
7.4/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 8.5
Can at home, black beer, fluffy medium head. Aroma is chocolate, malt, sweet, cocoa, vanilla, hint of spices?. Taste is the same, light pepper, sweet, bitter, dry aftertaste, smooth almost creamy, nice.
Tried
from Can
on 20 Mar 2020
at 22:00
6.2/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 9
Flavor 5
Texture 6
Overall 5
Almost seems viscous when pouring. Dark tan porous head. Intense almost cherry smell of vanilla, nutmeg and coffee. Intense burnt coffee taste with cherry vanilla in the background. A bit astringent bitter aftertaste. Can see the charm but not my thing.
Tried
from Can
on 07 Feb 2020
at 22:10
7.4/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
Can. Malty aroma and taste, cocoa, liggt coffee and roasty notes, vanilla, cinnamon, extra light chilly, light sweet, medium bitter. Medium to full body, malty chocolate and cinnamon bitter finish with light chilly notes. Good.
Tried
from Can
on 11 Jan 2020
at 22:55
7.2/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 8
330ml can from Beer Hawk. Dark brown with a very lively beige head. Sweet winter spice aroma, flavour is cinnamon and nutmeg, chocolate, toffee and some chilli heat coming through at the end. I didn't live it but decent enough
Tried
from Can
on 30 Dec 2019
at 23:08
8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 8
Bottle @ Dangerous Bottleshares #whoknowshowmany. Pours black with a small brown head. Aromas of cinnamon, spices, dark chocolate, cake, nutmeg, slight roast, nutty notes. Taste is dark chocolate, coffee, peppers, vanilla, cinnamon, licorice, roast. Pretty nice.
Tried
from Bottle
on 06 Nov 2019
at 16:55
8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 6
Overall 8
Bottle at Antenna America. Interesting! Aroma has spice, pepper, Chili, chocolate, milk. Chai latte! Taste is weirder, spicy, vegetables, bitter chocolate, cinnamon, vanilla creaminess. Extra marks for strangeness.
Tried
from Bottle
on 09 Sep 2019
at 16:02