Stone Chipotle Smoked Porter

Brewed by Stone Brewing Co.
Style: Spice/Herb/Vegetable
Escondido, California USA

Purchased in my growler @ the brewery. Initial aroma is a light roasty smell with a hint of chipotle peppers in the background. Pours the same color as the original porter but will create minimum amount of head formation. The flavor is of dark roasted malt that dominates over the light smoked chipotle peppers. Very subtle with just a hint of fiery jalapeno, I guess I expected a stronger kick since it was Stone.

Tap @ the brewery. Not overpowering chipotle flavor. Possibly needs a little bit more peppery flavor. Very dry finish w/ just a hint of chipotle peppers.

Cask at Stone Winter Storm (01/25/09). Pored a black hue with a lacing off white head. Nose is full of smoky chipotle. Flavors are intensly smoky, almost double smoked with the adobe sauce chipotle peppers and the smoke from the porter. Mouth was harsh like a ball of smoke caught in your throat. No chance with the quality of the day but definitely lives up to its name.

On cask at Naja’s Place. A clear and very dark brown color, with a rich off-white head. Good lacing. Aroma is pretty similar to the regular smoked porter, with an obvious smokiness and big roasty notes. A bit of chocolate too. The peppers add a BBQ sauce spiciness. The chipotle influence is subtle but there in the taste. It manifests in a mouth-warming spiciness that complements the smoke nicely. Great for spicy food lovers. The usual porter suspects are also present, with roasted coffee and baker’s chocolate. Mouthfeel is great. Smooth and creamy, a good experience for my first cask ale. Not particularly drinkable as the hotness persists a bit much, but very interesting.

Dig it. The light smokiness in the porter is the perfect marriage to the Chipotle peppers, which surprisingly is not that spicy, but the mix of the Chipotle smoke, and the sweetness from the porter works really well.

Had this at BJ’s, Woodland Hills. It was Stone tribute night and Steve Wagner was the host which was very cool. Aroma was robust and smokey with a nice peppery smell. Flavor was subdued bbq smoke, chocolate, light hops and a lingering chili spice. The pepper really went well with the porter, and the aging made it all silky smooth. Too bad they only made two casks of this, it was delicious.

Sample @ Stockolm Beer Festival 2008. Light smoked aroma and flavor. A disappointment.

On tap at the brewery. Very much like the original but with a faint additional smokiness in the background of the flavor. This is recognizable as chipotle after further consideration. A fun beer with a great smooth body,