In 2014, Stone Brewery produced Stone Xocoveza Mocha Stout using a recipe by Chris Banker who won Stone’s home brewing competition with his take on Mexican hot chocolate brewed with spices. That beer was meant to be a single release, but fans said otherwise, and Stone Brewery is now producing Stone Xocoveza as an annual holiday beer.
Stone Xocoveza is a Milk Stout and pours deep black with a thin head of foam. The aroma is semi-sweet chocolate, vanilla, coffee, and peppers. I let the beer warm up to release more flavors. The taste is coffee, cocoa, and vanilla on top of a strong stout base. The beer was brewed with cinnamon and nutmeg, but the only spices I pick up are the peppers. The flavors blend well into a single complex drink. There’s a bit of heat at the finish from the pasilla peppers.
It’s full-bodied with reasonable carbonation and smooth mouthfeel. It’s 8.1% ABV and 50 IBUs.
Stone Xocoveza, for the holidays and the New Year.
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