Lips Of Faith - Cocoa Molé - New Belgium Brewing

Ed-Hill

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

My experience with chile beers is quite minimal, and I did not know New Belgium was producing this one until I saw it at a local pub last night and had it first thing. The beer poured nice and dark and had a nice head that dissipated soon. The aroma was fantastic, lots of roasted chocolate and spice came through as well as some cinnamon. The mouth feel was good, a little thin but not in a watery way, more of a pleasant lightness. The taste was absolutely excellent. Lots of roasted chocolate malt comes through (and I emphasize the roasted), as well as lots of chili. The flavor sticks around and some more hints of chilies come out in the aftertaste. And to top it all, the beer improved as it warmed a little. Definitely captures the mole character without any single element overpowering any other. An excellent surprise for a Tuesday evening.

Serving type: on-tap

04-18-2012 17:44:24 | More by Ed-Hill

johnmichaelsen

Oregon

4.2/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Mahaffey's the other day.

The beer pours a very dark brown color with fair head retention and decent lacing. The nose is attractive as well, showcasing chocolate brownie, light vanilla and a hint of coffee. Interestingly, while I really didn't pick up a lot of chile in the nose, on the palate, I really pick up considerable heat. The flavor profile replicates the nose otherwise, but I really enjoyed on added dimension of the chile flavor in this beer, and the heat that seems to come on strong in the finish. Mouthfeel is medium bodied otherwise in this moderately sweet beer, with a long, sweet, spicey hot finish. Alcohol is very well integrated into the flavor profile, and drinkability is pretty good.

Very interesting beer. I'd definitely order this again.

Serving type: on-tap

03-26-2012 13:50:46 | More by johnmichaelsen

Phelps

Arizona

3.95/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Enjoyed in a snifter at Papago.

The color of a dark cherry — deep purple-brown, yet surprisingly clear. Half a finger of fuzzy tan head fizzles away after a while to nothing.

Cinnamon sticks, milk, mexican chocolate and a touch of peppers in the nose. It's like a spicy, chocolate horchata. Some tangy fruit in the background — orange, maybe?

An enticing flavor, with lots of chocolate. Peppers arrive in the form of heat in the back of the throat. A little vanilla, dark chocolate, cinnamon, some fruity tang. A blast of oak at the swallow blends with the other flavors. All the while, chile heat lingers.

Medium-light body, pinching medium carbonation, a tiny but of watery fizz. Peppery heat builds and builds, but never gets intolerable.

Cocoa Mole is one of the most unique beers I’ve tried in a while. Very interesting, and pretty tasty.

Serving type: on-tap

03-22-2012 22:11:34 | More by Phelps

NoLeafClover44

Delaware

4.03/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served in a standard pint glass at Billy Jack's in Harrisoburg, VA.

A - Pours an extremely dark amber color with a one finger nearly white head that dies quickly. Doesn't leave much lacing.

S - Smells like rich cocoa, apple-cinnamon, and spicy chile powder.

T - Intensely sweet and spicy with the same flavors that were in the nose. The hot pepper spice becomes more apparent as I drink. The aftertaste is similar to a brown sugar cinnamon pop-tart. This is not at all a bad thing.

M - A medium-thick body and great carbonation. Maybe a bit chalky; I almost feel like I can feel the fine-ground cinnamon on my tongue. A little spicy on the finish and the strong flavors hide the alcohol well.

O - I couldn't resist trying this beer when I saw it on draft because I love spice and this is the number one beer of the style on this site. The flavors and aroma are powerful, but never out of hand. The spices really come out as it warms. If I see this beer again, I will definitely get it. Very different from other beers, but suits my tastes well and the high ABV is hidden.

Serving type: on-tap

03-20-2012 04:27:09 | More by NoLeafClover44

Gatch

Massachusetts

4.63/5  rDev +16%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On-tap at Taste of Tops in Tempe, AZ.

A: Dark brown in the glass but a beautiful deep, brownish red when held up to light. A bit of lace and a bubbly ring of white foam around the edge. Foamy, quickly-fading off-white head when swirled around the glass.

S: Lightly roasted malt, cinnamon, fruity-holiday spice, chocolate. Awesome.

T: Fantastically unique. Fruity, malty, spicy. Complex yet simply delicious. Great stuff.

M: Smooth with tons of flavor. Easy to drink. Leaves a pleasant taste on the palate. No alcohol presence whatsoever.

O: An amazing beer. Great cold straight out of the tap or warm after some time sitting. The hype is real on this one. Easily the best Chile Beer I've had although it seems to fall into another style. New Belgium really knows how to brew these "Lips of Faith" beers. I would without hesitation order this again.

Serving type: on-tap

03-15-2012 00:50:31 | More by Gatch

mscudder

Georgia

3.98/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a snifter from a fresh growler. Cheers to the local Craft Draught for carrying this rare brew!

A - Pours a dark brown with a light tan head. Slight ruby gleam to it, overall nice looking brew.

S - Wow this is unique! Strong notes of cinnamon and some sweet cocoa. Little bit of spicy aroma coming from this one. Truly unique.

T - Complex flavors happening here. Starts with a strong bite of cinnamon and the spicy residue lasts throughout the duration of the flavors. In my opinion this is a tad overwhelming. There is also a smoked character that should be mentioned. It leaves the palette rather quickly, due to the spicy nature of the brew. It leaves a certain heat particularly at the end, which while nice, is not quite my forte. For the style, very impressive.

M - A medium body with perfect carbonation for the style (hell ya for the growler!). I feel the beer thins out as the spicy chiles take over. While I am not particularly familiar with this style, I feel this is a good example of how the mouth feel should be done.

O - Overall this is exceptional for the style. The ABV is masterfully hidden and one cannot dismiss the controlled complexity in this beer.

Serving type: growler

03-08-2012 06:30:14 | More by mscudder

ccrida

Oregon

4.43/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On draught at Bailey's, served in a small nonic, Cocoa Mole is garnet with a small off-white head leaving scattered lace.

Smell is spicy, cinnamon toast, fairly vibrant.

Taste is very complex. Big cinnamon toast crunch cereal vibe, kind bark, but with a nice heat on the back finish. This is by far the best example of this trend I've had.

Mouthfeel is dry, spicy, medium bodied.

Drinkability is pretty good for such a beer. I really like the sneakiness of the heat. The flavor is robust but not overwhelming. Dig it.

Serving type: on-tap

03-08-2012 01:31:17 | More by ccrida

zeff80

Missouri

4.23/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at 44 Stone, Columbia, MO

A - Poured a jet black color with a one-finger, light brown head of foam. It left thin rings of sticky lace on the glass.

S - It smelled of chilies and spice with a touch of roastiness.

T - It tasted of chocolate, toffee and roastiness. The spices from the chilies are mild but nice.

M - It was crisp, sharp and smooth. A medium bodied ale with a dry finish.

O - This is a very good chilie beer. I really like the roastiness to balance the chilies.

Serving type: on-tap

02-27-2012 01:53:38 | More by zeff80

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

4.18/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

4 oz pour at Bottle Revolution. Big thanks to Ted!

Looks very murky brown, kind of reminds me of Sugar Plum Brown from CCB. Small head.

Smell isnt much to look at. Didnt realy get much out of it.

The taste is, well, wow. Initially, cinnamon dominates all the way. But actually the cinnamon fades leaving hints of malt and a touch of peppers. The heat comes in the back end near the end of the beer.

Outside of the pepper heat, the body is light, and it feels like a brown ale plus peppers.

Serving type: on-tap

02-04-2012 18:47:40 | More by VncentLIFE

duckrabbitfan

North Carolina

4.22/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

on-tap at The Busy Bee Cafe in Raleigh, NC

pours a deep mahogany with offwhite/beige head, some lacing, looks sexy.

smells exactly as advertised. very enticing. chocolate is there but the spices are more dominating

same with the taste. it's a really nice, slow burn, and the spices are just right.

this is a really unique brew. so glad to have gotten it on tap. had it again in the bottle and there was an appreciable difference as far as the burn and the spices are concerned. i think everything would be a 1/2 point lower if i were reviewing the bottle. just fyi.

(additionally, just for the sake of information, i followed this up with a terrapin 2010 gamma ray, also on tap at the busy bee, and it was probably the best/most unique 1-2 punch i've had in some time, if not ever.)

Serving type: on-tap

01-30-2012 03:01:52 | More by duckrabbitfan

tdm168

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at Wine 101 in Wake Forest.

Poured a dark caramel-brown with little head. The nose is distinctly cocoa powder and cinnamon. The flavor is very intricate. At first cocoa dominates. As I took a few more sips the spices began to come through. There is some cinnamon and nutmeg as well as some cayenne pepper that leaves a tingly spice in the finish. Just like a good mole sauce, there are more intricacies here than one can explain. This is a medium bodied, smooth, lightly carbonated beer.

This is an intricate, complex beer. The flavors are unique and enjoyable. The ABV is big but it's still drinkable. If you enjoy cocoa and spices, you'll love this.

Serving type: on-tap

01-27-2012 21:08:54 | More by tdm168

wedge

North Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

@ Busy Bee

Dark ruby color with a fine, filmy head and a slim, creamy ring around the edges. Spotty lace. Warm cinnamon is prominent in the aroma…very much like apple crisp with increasing chocolate as it warms and only a faint hint of chilies. Cocoa, caramel, and spice are brought together in a smooth blend of flavors. Sweet, but not too sweet, vanilla and peppers providing some heat in the finish. Pretty damn tasty! Medium bodied and warming with fine carbonation. Very nice…

Serving type: on-tap

01-26-2012 03:48:24 | More by wedge