Rio Grande Pancho Verde Chile Cerveza - Sierra Blanca Brewing Company (Rio Grande)

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine Issue #49 (Feb 2011):

With the pop of the cap, the nose is invaded by an even green-chili flavor. Crystal-clear golden color and fine bubbles keep the lacing alive. Fluffy crispness in this lighter-bodied beer. Green chili flavor is very prevalent from start to finish, very even, while still letting other flavors through. Beery flavors ensue, with fermented grain and a quick kiss of hops. Clean dry finish with a very mild chili warmth. It screams "lunchtime beer"--what a great way to wake up the palate. Without a doubt this is a very well put together chili beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2011 00:29:35 | More by BeerAdvocate

SportsandJorts

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev +4.5%

05-22-2013 19:39:21 | More by SportsandJorts

kp29

Arizona

3.79/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

First Chile beer here and as a lover of hot and spicy foods I am pretty excited.

Pours a clear gold with a moderate head. The smell is a little underwhelming, I pick up the green chile for sure but it mostly just smells like any ole standard lager. The more of the beer I drank though the more that green chile smell came forward.

The beer is crisp, clean, and has some mild sweetness to it. After that I do pick up the green chile flavor and a very very mild hot pepper kick lingers that has me going back for more.

Overall, this beer is quite drinkable and enjoyable. It's not amazing (wish it had quite a bit more kick to it!) but still a solid beer. If you aren't a huge fan of hot food this might be a good example of a milder chile beer to try. Perhaps if I have multiple in one sitting the hot pepper flavor will slowly build like it does when eating spicy food over the course of a meal. Guess I'll have to get multiple bottles next time to find out.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2013 00:51:43 | More by kp29

Vigilante

Nevada

3.5/5  rDev +4.5%

04-15-2013 16:54:57 | More by Vigilante

mactrail

California

3.39/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

A normal-looking lager in the glass, lemony yellow color with a decent foam. Not overly carbonated on the tongue. Light body, and light everything else. Some acidic sensation.

A hint of malty sweetness is followed by a nice flavor of green chiles. It's not a particularly roasted or other exotic flavor, just that vegetable chile taste with a zing of heat. And not a lot of heat, either. This would be perfectly drinkable by the schooner, and maybe really cold on a sunny day it would hit the spot. This is maybe the least hot chile beer I've had, which is OK with me, but it could use a little more flavor.

From the 12 oz bottle bought at Jubilation Fine Wines in Albuquerque.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2013 05:10:16 | More by mactrail

InlandTaipan

California

3.61/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Poured from a bottle in Flagstaff AZ (after purchasing in Albuquerque the same day.)

A: Beer pours a light gold color, with rich white head.

S: Smell is of light malts, vegetables, and definitely green chiles.

T: Surprising flavor profile. Oddly refreshing with hints of green chile, caramel, and even salt.

M: nothing out of the ordinary, similar to a clean light lager style.

O: Gotta give it a try, it is not too hot. a unique beer for sure. I would definitely drink again.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 23:04:17 | More by InlandTaipan

pathead

Nevada

4/5  rDev +19.4%

02-03-2013 07:20:28 | More by pathead

TheSSG

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +34.3%

01-07-2013 01:31:01 | More by TheSSG

buckyp

South Carolina

3.25/5  rDev -3%

12-29-2012 01:47:16 | More by buckyp

jbarra101

Texas

3.5/5  rDev +4.5%

12-26-2012 22:39:47 | More by jbarra101

grumpygerman

Alabama

3.5/5  rDev +4.5%

09-14-2012 02:23:59 | More by grumpygerman

beergoot

Colorado

3.23/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pale, straw yellow color, white head that very quickly disappears (a common trait amongst chili beers - my understanding is the chili oils prohibit head formation/retention). Musty, chili aroma. Very mild flavor; not much chili 'oomph'. Slightly malty character. Thin body, somewhat watery. Crisp and clean.

A pretty basic and faceless chili beer. Underwhelming is my assessment, but I gave it a 3.5 rating for taste because you do get a light chili presence. I'm not sure, but it strikes me as being a lager as opposed to an ale. That might explain some of its smooth character. Perhaps a good 'starter' chili beer if someone is new to the style (and is afraid of too much heat) due to its mild nature. There are better examples out there.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2012 23:26:53 | More by beergoot

cfh64

Texas

4/5  rDev +19.4%

07-03-2012 23:32:49 | More by cfh64

FriedGold2112

3/5  rDev -10.4%

05-17-2012 02:37:38 | More by FriedGold2112

TheBishopco

Tennessee

4.25/5  rDev +26.9%

05-16-2012 04:32:38 | More by TheBishopco

MarkyMOD

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev +11.9%

05-03-2012 04:05:01 | More by MarkyMOD

MammothTarantula

Oklahoma

3.25/5  rDev -3%

03-21-2012 00:50:43 | More by MammothTarantula

bugbear

Massachusetts

1.5/5  rDev -55.2%

02-12-2012 04:30:58 | More by bugbear

DavidST

Texas

3.33/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass, didn't see if there was a freshness date on it. This pours a light golden or a straw colored beer with a small head which quickly dissipates. The feel is light and crisp. The smell is with an obvious green chili aroma followed by a crisp lager smell. The taste is much of the same, you get a nice smooth bit of green chilies, not hot at all but very pronounced.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2012 04:47:17 | More by DavidST

brewyou2

Oklahoma

4/5  rDev +19.4%

11-18-2011 03:56:17 | More by brewyou2

Schrobblehead

Texas

3/5  rDev -10.4%

11-15-2011 19:12:18 | More by Schrobblehead

Gueuzedude

Arizona

3.33/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Sampled at 1702, Tucson; August 2011
Arrives with a frothy, large bubbled, quickly disappearing, off-white colored head. The beer is a pale gold color that shows a brilliantly clear, very light, straw-gold color when held up to the light. I could just be imagining it, but a distinct note of roasted green chiles is noticeable as this is set down on the table, but an actual smell of the aroma smells more of sweet corn, herbal (not really roasted) green chile and perhaps a touch of fruitiness, and some spicy, peppery like character. The beery aromatics of this beers nose are actually pretty lame, but the green chile adds enough of an interest that I am even liking the balance that the base beer brings to the aroma

Very light bodied, this along with the sweetness reminds me quite a bit of a simplistic, industrial hard cider, though one that isn’t overly sweet. The chile flavor is quite subtle, there is just a hint of green chile flavor through the finish and perhaps just a hint of chile heat that is noticeable after a bt that lingers very subtly on the palate. Flavor of green corn (I am sure the chiles influence this). The flavor is quite noticeable for having almost no perceptible hop character; neither a bitterness or hop flavor is really here. The chile character perhaps attempts to replace the missing hop character, but in reality there is not enough chile character to the flavor to provide enough balance to the sweet grain / malt flavors. The green chile becomes a bit more noticeable as the beer warms, and while noticeable, it is still not quite as distinct as I might like.

Interesting, but I really wish more of the roasted chile character was here, and in general this could use a whole lot more chile in the flavor and aroma. I wouldn’t mind a bit more of a characterful base beer either, though this wouldn’t be nearly as noticeable if this had been more of a prominent green chile gimmick beer. Said another way, the current base beer needs a whole lot more green chile flavor to be a good attempt at a gimmick beer, to actually be a good beer though both the chile flavor needs to be boosted and the base beer needs to completely change to something with a whole lot more character (even a porter would work if the roasted green chile was done properly).

Serving type: on-tap

11-12-2011 14:57:39 | More by Gueuzedude

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

3.73/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Pours a golden pale color with a thin white head that vanishes quickly.

S - Pickled green chiles, mild grain, savory aromas.

T - Follows the nose but more of a sweeter red chile, bits of muted vinegar, no heat, mild hops in the background.

M - Moderate foamy carbonation, light bodied.

Very interesting flavors. This would go great with chips and salsa.

Serving type: bottle

07-30-2011 00:44:30 | More by StaveHooks

cunninusa

Texas

4/5  rDev +19.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

My first chile beer. Not a fan of "flavored beer", but had a chance to try it on-tap.

If you like the taste and smell of green chiles, you must try this beer. Pronounced green chile taste (no jalapeno) and a nice mouth feel.

I am a fan.

Serving type: on-tap

07-19-2011 05:56:42 | More by cunninusa

drabmuh

Maryland

3.35/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

At the time of this review this is the #21 on the chile beer list. Beer has no head, heavily carbonated, no lacing, hazy, amber.

Aroma is strong and vegetal. Jalapeño peppers, a little bit of a sulfur aroma.

Tastes better than it smells. Medium to light in body, mildly dry finish. Mild pepper on the back and some mild smoke. It is a little tough to drink. Interesting experience but I don't think I'd have it again.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2011 02:39:50 | More by drabmuh