Review Date 1/19/2012
Try?
Re-buy?
I’ve said this a hundred times, and I’ll say it again: beer lovers are a fickle lot. We’re extremely brand un-loyal, because we’re constantly looking for something new with which to slake our thirst. The smart brewer varies his production, always giving his customer something new to chase down and buy. That being the case, there’s probably no more savvy brewing company in America today than Boston Beer.
Boston Beer and its golden-throated founder Jim Koch helped spark the modern day craft beer evolution buy admonishing us to declare our independence from foreign beer back in the eighties. Today, they keep us on our toes by releasing a steady stream of new beers. In some cases, we get to decide which ones see the inside of our beer fridges (Brewer’s Choice series), while others we even get to formulate (Long Shot Homebrew beers).
In the past few months as I type, Boston beer has released a coffee stout in their winter sampler, a kellerbier for spring, a few new selections in their wood-aged Barrelhouse collection, and four new beers in 22-ounce bottles under their Small Batch series. In this review we will be considering The Vixen Chocolate Chili Bock.
Per the label, the Vixen is made with Mexican chilis, Asian cinnamon, and European cocoa nibs. More traditional beer ingredients include an impressive array of malts: Munich, Caramel 60, dehusked malt, Two-Row Harrington (a Boston Beer staple), Copeland Pale, and Metcalfe. The beer is hopped with Hallertau Mittelfreuhs.
Further:
The Vixen is smooth and rich with an enticing touch of sweetness and ends with a spicy heat. For this unique brew we used carefully roasted malts and dark cocoa nibs for a full bodied and slightly sweet flavor. To this roast and chocolaty base we added an element or warmth and spice with cinnamon and chilies. Dark and alluring, the brew will keep you captivated.
Let’s dive right in.
Samuel Adams the Vixen Chocolate Chili Bock pours to a dark brownish black color with a prodigious creamy tan head formation and a rich powdery cocoa nose. The palate screams chocolate, dark bittersweet cocoa expertly accented with a hint of hint of pungent cinnamon. But where’s the chili? It’s subtle, to be sure, but lies under the chocolate if you look for it. In the finish, it becomes more apparent, peppering the tongue with spicy heat, which comes in side by side with a bit of contrasting alcohol warmth.
I like this beer! I like the way the cinnamon and chocolate work so well together, yet the beer is not at all sweet. I do get the light peppery spice at the back of the throat and on the tongue, though I think the beer would benefit from more heat. As the beer warms you can get the spice a bit more easily, but it's more of a peppery tingle than a downright bite. Subtle, but there, though I'd like more for my part.
The Vixen Reminds me of the first Chocolate Bock with a little kick added in, I think. It’s a potent brew at 8.5% alcohol by volume, and pricey, too at $8.99 for the bomber bottle. That’s a departure for Sam Adams. This beer would be better priced at about $5.99. That said, I’d probably buy it again-if they make it again.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
