Lips Of Faith - Cocoa Molé - New Belgium Brewing

jlindros

Massachusetts

3.89/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

The LoF series has been very hit or miss for me, and same with chile beers, so hopefully this is good. Thanks to JonnyGalt (Reddit) for this one.

Pours a light fizzy barely covering head that fades pretty quickly, just a touch of lacing, maybe due to the abv, or possibly the chile, not sure, over a mostly clear cola brown colored beer with some mahogany light coming through.

Nose is interesting and kinda weird, there is some chile in the background, ancho or poblano like chile with a nice green chile aroma but doesn't seem much heat (at least from the aroma), as well as a weird chocolate aroma, cocoa that seems ot have been aged a bit too long, light creamy melted cocoa. Then some light cinnamon and hint of a nutty spicy like cardamom almost but not quite, as well as a biscuity like crusty bread crumbs almost like the edges of a pie or coffee cake. Under all that is some malts, caramel, molasses, some sweet brown malts.

Taste starts like hot cinnamon cocoa, a candy drink almost. Plenty of powdered fake cocoa mix like having a Swiss Miss hot chocolate, but there is plenty of cinnamon in there as well. Then heat kicks in, again not a ton but plenty to let you know it's there, as well as a green chile the ancho mostly, and some hot chiles, chipotle in the middle. Other light spices, again hint of an earthy nutty root like spice I can't really label, and light Xmas like spices but barely. Then malts kick in, some caramel, light molasses and biscuit again, hint of toffee, fair sweetness and other toasty brown malts. Light pie crust again, and coffee cake crumbs. In all that is a hint of booze warmth but that's mostly drowned out by the pepper heat. Finish is sticky and a bit syrupy, long lingering sweet caramel, molasses, some hot cocoa powder mixed to a thicker feel, some lingering heat from the peppers. The heat mostly dissipates fairly quickly, pops in to say hello, then goes back down below.

Mouth is med to a bit heavier bodied, plenty of pepper heat but not overbearing, lighter carbonation.

Overall pretty good, I like the pepper heat, it's a nice level that you def know it's there but doesn't destroy the beer, and even a light pepper flavor which is nice. The malts are nice as well, caramel mocha molasses, toasty bread crumbs, coffee cake, etc. I wasn't a huge fan of the cocoa as it tasted more like Swiss Miss hot cocoa powder rather than cocoa nibs and dark chocolate kinda taste. The cinnamon and other spices are interesting and a nice addition but I wish the cinnamon in particular was a little toned down. The lack of carbonation is probably the only real gripe I have. However, those are nit picking as this was a pretty good beer all around.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2013 03:07:56 | More by jlindros

djre4orm

Virginia

4/5  rDev +0.3%

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DrTSimon

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +12.8%

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Missouri

4/5  rDev +0.3%

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California

4.5/5  rDev +12.8%

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mportnoy

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -6%

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Duff27

Illinois

2.25/5  rDev -43.6%

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egrace84

Illinois

2.5/5  rDev -37.3%

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Novabrewer

4.75/5  rDev +19%

05-22-2013 20:47:53 | More by Novabrewer

beergorrilla

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev -12.3%

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Zaphog

Michigan

4/5  rDev +0.3%

05-18-2013 14:09:46 | More by Zaphog

jb123

Michigan

4.25/5  rDev +6.5%

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mrwelk

North Dakota

4.25/5  rDev +6.5%

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Absolut

California

3.75/5  rDev -6%

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rph97

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +6.5%

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District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +0.3%

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Kansas

5/5  rDev +25.3%

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djs467

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev -6%

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AdamBear

Pennsylvania

4.21/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

A-dark reddish brown with a thin light tan head

S-mix of cocoa and chili pepper, it's really the flavor more so than the heat. smooth scent, almost creamy. medium to good strength

T-comes in with a decent mix of cocoa powder, cinnamon, and chili heat. the taste of cocoa is weak but noticeable. the heat is pretty apparent, loss of the pepper flavor though unfortunately. quality is mediocre. after-taste is mostly the heat.

M-medium creamy carbonation with a semi-dry finish

O-it's a pretty decent chili beer. I've had few beers that can make a good cocoa/chili blend, but this is pretty close! i think they could've had a strong cocoa flavor while keeping some aspect of pepper flavor, though i'm glad the pepper was in the nose.

Serving type: bottle

04-26-2013 04:22:54 | More by AdamBear

blurredline

Oregon

4.75/5  rDev +19%

04-15-2013 02:41:26 | More by blurredline

blackie

Virginia

3.78/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

bomber, Nick's of Clinton

a: poured into a wide piraat chalice, a clear, deep mahogany brown in color, topped with a smattering of carbonation

s: caramel and chocolate malts form a base for notes of pure sweetened cocoa and roasted peppers - carries the smoky/sweet aroma representative of freshly toasted peppers - ancho, guajilo, and chipotle in this instance, mild cinnamon notes, mild to moderate spicy target hop aroma, it’s tough to pin down, but everything here comes together fantastically

m: lightly carbonated, medium-full with a sugar slickness

t: sweetened cocoa, caramel malts and some slight chocolate malts, and toasted peppers slip in together, smoky and dark sweet flavors with an enticing heat that builds past the finish to a strength relative to the time between sips, but never becomes hot - actually a bit of a tease, leaving me wanting more, it’s an interesting flavor set, but it doesn’t come together quite as well as on the nose, some alcohol on the back of the tongue, mild to moderate bitterness

o: a very interesting concept that i’d say was executed successfully, I’ve had decent pepper beers before, but in this case the play between pepper and chocolate adds an extra dimension of interest

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 03:10:53 | More by blackie

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Kentucky

4/5  rDev +0.3%

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Wisconsin

4.25/5  rDev +6.5%

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Kentucky

4.5/5  rDev +12.8%

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Colorado

3/5  rDev -24.8%

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