#242: Westbrook Brewing Co. » Mexican Cake (Imperial Stout)

Westbrook Brewing Co. » Mexican Cake (Imperial Stout)
ABV: 10.5% | IBUs: 50 | Rating: 9.7/10

This is my first go-around with Westbrook's lauded anniversary ale, Mexican Cake. A beast of a brew, this American Imperial Stout is packed with cocoa nibs, vanilla beans, cinnamon sticks, and fresh habanero peppers, and unlike many big stouts, it's recommended to drink fresh. A bit of a bumpy start to the week rebooted with great beer, A/C, and cartoons? Sign me up.

As with many well-hyped beers stuffed with a plethora of additives, I approached this one with a touch of skepticism, but also a great deal of excitement. While I haven't been wowed by every Westbrook, the ones that do, really knock it out of the park for me. Mexican Cake delivered on the latter.

This double stout pours up jet black with a thick, reddish, dark-mocha head. Smooth, sweet cinnamon & cocoa nib aromas rise up from the glass backed by mild notes of roasted coffee and vanilla.

The first sip is transcendental. This isn't even beer, it's a thick, beautiful desert cocktail. A smooth and silky mouthfeel, supported by lively carbonation makes for a pleasant, sippable canvas for a plethora of flavors.

The chocolate / pepper combo here is crucial and one of the most well-balanced habanero beers, or any hot-pepper beer, I've had yet. Big flavors smooth, cake-like chocolate and an ever-building pepper fire is rolled off with sweet vanilla and lovely hints of sweet, spicy cinnamon.

Overall, Mexican Cake is elegant for the over-the-top recipe, storming in unabashed, but never overbearing. Highly recommended and damn fantastic.

#203: Firestone Walker Brewing Co. » Parabola (Russian Imperial Stout) & §ucaba (Barleywine)

Two barrel aged brews, cellar aged for an additional year...

The Brewery: Firestone Walker Brewing Co. (Paso Robles, CA)
The Brew: Parabola (Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout)
Availability: 22 oz bottle/very limited draft (Proprietor's Vintage Series)
ABV: 13%% | 82 IBUs
Rating: 9.8/10
Location: Home
Found: Fingerlakes Beverage Center

The Beer? 
Unboxed, unfoiled, and uncapped, Parabola serves up deep dark brow with almost no head.

The nose? Holy hell... you'll get drunk off the fumes on this one. Bold aromas of bourbon, vanilla, lots of milk, dark fruit and faint molasses set up an alluring beertopia.

On to the palate, it's heaven - dark, sweet, with a ton of booze heat, like some whiskey-malt nectar. The mouthfeel is silky, sticky with a substantial mouthcoat. Flavors of bourbon, coconut, raisin, and cane sugar swirl around throughout, with notes of toffee, coffee, and dark caramel rising.

An incredible, artful brew, and true "reserve" warranted territory.

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The Brewery: Firestone Walker Brewing Co. (Paso Robles, CA)
The Brew: §ucaba (Barrel Aged English-style Barleywine)
Availability: 22 oz bottle/very limited draft (Proprietor's Vintage Series)
ABV: 13%% | 42 IBUs
Rating: 9.9/10
Location: Home
Found: Fingerlakes Beverage Center

The Beer? 
I wanted to have these brews back to back nights, but work travel and a bit of a cold going around town, put this one off a few extra days of high anticipation.

Formerly known as Abacus, the oddly-monikered §ucaba pours out a murky, brown-ruby with a fast fading head. A huge, drunken nose, full of booze, raisin, vanilla, and candy sugar follows up.

The flavor is incredible - I'm marrying this beer. Dark and semi-sweet with a dry finish. Even being cellared for a year, there's still a touch of hops peaking through the hot alcohol punch. Faint citrus and tropical fruits are threaded through more prominent notes of plum, red apple & skin, and sarsaparilla. It's delightfully creamy and never silky or oily.

Another slam-dunk from FW's Proprietor's Vintage Series and a must try for Barleywine lovers.