Blue Monkey Brewery is a relatively young brewery, founded in 2008, in Giltbrook, Nottinghamshire.. In 2022, Blue Monkey released the Mexican Mole Stout as part of its craft beer range. And as it came towards the end of the year - stout season was officially upon us, and the timing couldn't have been better for a review. The Mexican Mole Stout is a 7% ABV beer and comes in a standard can with the iconic Blue Monkey gorilla on it.
Visually, the beer is dark, almost pitch black, with a light toffee-coloured head. Upon opening the can, it exudes a fresh, spicy aroma, with a bit of cinnamon, and a roasted, chocolatey character. The aroma is not just one thing; it is a complex blend of very high aromatics, with a mineral-forward feel.
The flavour of the Mexican Mole Stout is complex and difficult to differentiate between individual notes. It is a unique experience that leaves an unsweetened, fiery chocolate sensation. On the first sip, it is rich, luscious, and packs one hell of a fiery punch. The beer has a chilli sensation at the back of the throat that warms the drinker up on a cold winter's day.
During the tasting experience, the beer presents a light chilli tingling on the lips and on the front of the tongue, which suggests a nudge of something with a little heat. This feeling is similar to what one would experience while drinking a high ABV wine or a liqueur. The second phase of the tasting is a little roasty, with a subtle bit of heat across the tongue, which eventually gives way to a light floralness, along with other spices, and rich cacao nib, which is very dark and unsweetened. The beer is not all too bitter, despite its undeniably roasty stout bitterness, as it is surprisingly smooth, even though it has a bit of bitterness at the back end.
The beer style's history can be traced back to the early 20th century, when the word "stout" was first used to describe a strong, dark beer. Over time, the beer style developed into two distinct styles: the dry stout, made famous by Guinness, and the sweet stout, which includes milk and oatmeal stouts. The Mexican Mole Stout could be classified as an imperial stout, which has a higher alcohol content and a richer, more intense flavour.
The unique flavour of the Mexican Mole Stout is attributed to the addition of mole, a traditional Mexican sauce made from a blend of spices, chilli peppers, and other ingredients, including chocolate. The brewery has taken this traditional Mexican sauce and incorporated it into the beer's recipe, which has created a complex, multi-layered flavour that is both rich and fiery. The result is a one-of-a-kind stout that has a distinct character and stands out in the crowded beer market.
In conclusion, the Blue Monkey Brewery Mexican Mole Stout is a unique and complex beer that is perfect for stout season. The beer's rich, luscious character, combined with the fiery punch of the chilli, makes it a perfect beer for a cold winter's day. The complex and unique flavour of the beer is a testament to the brewery's commitment to creating quality craft beers that are distinct from the rest of the market.
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