The Vixen Chocolate Chili Bock
22-ounce brown glass bottle poured into a Samuel Adams Perfect Pint glass. Served too cold initially, right out of the fridge, but allowed to warm naturally over the duration of consumption. Pours a deep, dark mahogany; tinges of ruby show through when held to the light, but dark enough to nearly give the impression of opacity. A thick two fingers of light mocha foam rises up in a proud display, only to fall away with much snapping, crackling and popping to a thin crown without much lingering on the walls of the vessel. Not a whole lot going on in the nose, which is rather disappointing; even more Bock-like malt character would be welcome, nevermind the fact that ingredients in this beer include chilies, cocoa nibs and cinnamon. The dominant (if rather subdued) character is of cinnamon, with a faint hint of grassy hops. Some extra sniffing brings about a little of that melanoidin-rich malt character I expect in a Bock of any kind, nicely sweet and slightly toasty, but still extremely subdued. The palate opens up caramel-chocolaty sweet, with a body and mouthfeel rather lighter than perhaps would be expected from a brew with such a burly appearance. Cinnamon spice and a slight heat from the chilies combine in the middle with rich dark chocolate, bread pudding and burnt caramel, culminating in a character that is intriguing if nothing else; things fall away into a finish that is very long and mostly richly sweet, with a lingering hint of chipotle-like smoky heat. Alcohol is well-hidden, and the lighter-than-expected body combined with the balancing spiciness help turn what could have been a heavy, cloying brew into a constant (if somewhat slow) sipper. Interesting overall, but after the recent experience of Stone's 11.11.11 Vertical Epic Ale, spicy chili cravings left this beer wanting for a bigger dose of heat, which could have even made it a more well-rounded brew, as it leans a bit on the sweet side still. In afterthought, the combination of flavors is actually reminiscent of a peaty Scotch ale, with a similar weight and sweetness combined with that touch of smokiness in the finish. It seems that with this beer the brewers at Boston Beer Co. may have actually created, not a masterpiece, but a hybrid beer more worthy of its own "style" than the failed stylistic creation that is Infinium.