Original C Cave Creek Chili Beer - Cerveza Con Chili - Chili Beer Co.

NashvilleBeerLover

4.8/5  rDev +134.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

To begin this review, I must mention that I joined beer advocate as a member specifically to rate Cave Creek Chili Beer. This is my very first post/review on this site.

I have known about and read various beer reviews on this site for years. But after reading some of the negative reviews about Cave Creek Chili Beer I decided I must begin my membership’s debut review by defending this beer.

The general negativity among reviews about this beer bothers me. This is one of my all time favorite beers but I also realize that this beer is not for everybody.

For those not familiar with this beer, it comes in a bottle with a chili pepper at the bottom. Unless you're a total wimp, the chili pepper doesn’t generate the intense and overwhelming heat that some posters on this site may lead you to believe. It adds moderate heat and a good flavor and to me is very enjoyable, however I do not recommend eating the pepper because its taste has evaporated into the beer. The beer itself is light colored and pleasant tasting, without a lot of bitterness and with excellent drinkability. The pepper enhances the flavor, not overwhelms it. Instead of drinking a six pack of it at one sitting, this is a good beer to drink one or two of and follow it up with non-chili beer.

If you like this type of beer, you can also experiment with other beers and turn them into chili beers. Whatever brands you like will work, just make sure you buy bottles with twist-off caps. Buy a six pack of your favorite brew, a jar of chili peppers, a jar of hot red peppers, and some chili powder spice. Open the six beers and add one chili pepper, a small slice of red hot pepper, and about an eighth of a teaspoon of chili powder. Be sure to slit the chili pepper so it will release the juice inside. Finally, fill up the bottles by pouring a bit of juice from one of the pepper jars into them. Turn the bottles upside down a time or two to begin the mixing process. Place these in the frig for a few days then enjoy. You can experiment with the types and amounts of pepper to suit your taste.

Hopefully I haven’t grossed any beer drinkers out who don’t like chili beers! But don’t assume you don’t like them until you try them. Unfortunately Cave Creek Chili Beer is sometimes hard to find, but if you run across a store that sells it at least shell out 8-10 bucks once to try it so you can say you have.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2012 22:17:35 | More by NashvilleBeerLover

CrossArmant

Virginia

4.2/5  rDev +104.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

I saw this on the rack at a specialty beer store around here and had to try it. I'm kind of baffled by the reviews I've read on here, I think it's definitely on of the better novelty beers I've had.

Appearance: Nothing special, a regular straw color of most American macro beers; but with .

Smell: It smelled very strongly of peppers and almost of a meal you'd get at your standard Mexican restaurant. A very nice and warming smell since I especially love spicy foods.

Taste: It tasted like a Mexican dish in drink form. As if I were eating Nachos, which I can understand most people would hate when they're drinking a beer, but I find it a very interesting and enjoyable experience. Pair it with some nachos and you're in business.

Mouthfeel: It leaves a nice tingle of spice in your mouth and the slight bitterness of beer. Good.

Drinkability: Very tasty, however, after two you wouldn't really want to drink more because of the spice to it.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2008 14:17:04 | More by CrossArmant

sethstout

Virginia

4.08/5  rDev +99%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 3

This beer was bought strictly for the novelty aspect and based on my personal preference of spicy foods. With this in mind my grading/judging of this beer is done with such a mind set.

A - it looks like a regular cerveza but with a green tint to it. Which is probably due to any pickling affect that the pepper went through while settling in the beer. A little bit of fuzz upon first crack but goes away as soon as it comes.

S - Like a pepper in a beer. You get a hint of the pepper spice but nothing poignant or over-whelming.

T - Upon t he first pass over the tongue it tastes like a regular cerveza, nothing fancy. After a couple of seconds you start to feel a twinge of spiciness from the pepper that is at the bottom of the bottle. I thought it was a nice kick and would serve great with chips or other mexican style dishes. To best explain the after taste. It is that of those pickled peppers that one can place on salads or subs.

M - Yet again much like other cervezas; just with a pepper twist at the end. Drank it at room temperature so curious to see if drinking it cold affects any aspect of the beer. Smooth at room temperature. Enjoyed the spicy tones left on palate.

D - This is a type of beer that I would enjoy one of. If I had bought a six pack of it, it would be shared with me and at least 9 other people. This due to the fact that I doubt that six individuals would actually enjoy this beer enough to drink an entire one. Well except for me, I enjoyed it and ate the pepper found at the bottom of the bottle.

Like I said at the beginning of this review, bought based on novelty and hopes of there being notes of pepper's spiciness. With this in mind, beer accomplished what I had sought out from it. Was not looking for high alcohol or great taste. Just a weird beer with a spicy kick to it.

I would drink it again, but if someone offered it to me. Also, considering my tastes; I would not offer it to someone else. For it seems that spicy foods/drinks that I enjoy others do not enjoy because it is too spicy or they do not like spicy foods. Maybe I should find new friends? Just kidding.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2009 14:15:14 | More by sethstout

Nattyp

Louisiana

4.05/5  rDev +97.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Found this beer at Marcello's Wine Shop in Baton Rouge, La.. very intrigued. The color and label put me off, but looks can be deceiving..and they were. Poured into a pint glass, the nose included hot pickeld jalapenos, maybe salsa. The taste was astonishingly gooood! Better than any terrible Mexican beer I've ever had, that is for sure. It tasted like a good medium bodied lager, and left a spicy tingly feel all over my tongue, lingered for a minute, then disappeared
in time for me to want to take another sip, then another. I accompanied the beer with lime tortilla chips and wow! The serrano chili inside the bottle was quite nice as well. I guess I would say this is definitley a food beer, and also would make for wonderful marinades and defintily the best Bloody Maria ever! Definitley warming..Just in time for winter!

Serving type: bottle

10-23-2008 15:49:59 | More by Nattyp

JKfromKC

Missouri

4.05/5  rDev +97.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

What a bunch of WIMPS! - Hot - really? Not so much.

I normally don't like lighter beers at all but the pepper flavor made it quite pleasant for me! 

By the way - I ate the peppers from both bottles I drank and they weren't hot!

What kind of salsa do the other reviewers use at a Mexican Resturant - tomato juice - really - this was NOT hot!

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2012 01:00:12 | More by JKfromKC

Portertime

Florida

3.85/5  rDev +87.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I picked this up at an ultra modern Publix with a huge organic selection. I seem the average grade of a D but I love this beer. Call me weird. Poured the average Corona pale gold with no head. Big deal. Smell was mild chili with a hint of hops. Taste was nice and spicey (just the way I like it) but not overbearing and mostly chili with the Mexican beer taste in the background. I like this better than Rogue's Chipotle Ale. Sorry guys, I'm going to have to disagree with you on this one.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2009 04:53:03 | More by Portertime

generalnotsew

Tennessee

3.8/5  rDev +85.4%
look: 1 | smell: 2 | taste: 5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours a terrible fizzy nearly clear straw yellow. The head is gone as soon as it makes contact with the glass. Smell is standard lager corn with a twist of lime. Yikes! This beer is HOT! Actually tastes close to what I expected. Somewhat sweet cereal malts with a huge pickled jalapeno backing it. I am not going to lie. I love the taste! If you can't handle spicy food then the drinkability will suffer for you. But I happen to love spicy. Aside from the terrible body and lack of smell this beer excels and what it set out to do. I expected to hate it. Turns out I was wrong.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2012 04:18:18 | More by generalnotsew

jsisko01

Michigan

3.65/5  rDev +78%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

The date on the bottle says 3-09-12 and today's date is 5-20-12. But it still seems fresh to me.

Appearance - Pours a clear golden color with no head at all. Has a chili pepper in the actual beer. No lacing exists.

Smell - Smells extremely spicy. All you can smell is the chili peppers.

Taste - HOLY SHIT. This is the hottest thing I've ever drank/eaten in my life. Honestly, it tastes pretty good but I don't know how anyone in their right mind could drink this. Unless you have a high tolerance for spicy food.

Mouthfeel - I'm not even taking another sip, sorry.

Overall - I would only suggest drinking this beer as a dare. I took a sip 20 minutes ago and my chest is still burning.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2012 04:37:33 | More by jsisko01

riversider76

New York

3.63/5  rDev +77.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a pale yellow with a thin head. No retention or laceing. Aroma is of hot peppers and salsa. Body is thin with some carbonation. Taste is pretty one dimentional,chili, chili and more chili.Little bit of a light lager comes through as well. Never had this style before, but it was intresting.I like hot and spicey,but would caution against this if you don't.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2009 23:21:41 | More by riversider76

mtnbikerpa

Pennsylvania

3.55/5  rDev +73.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Drank out of the bottle with best before date of 11/24/10 on the bottle. Golden yellow hue to the brew. I drank this cold, with the serano pepper in the bottom of the bottle. No real scent, but the spice of the pepper takes over the flavor of the beer. The warming nature of the pepper taste warms both throat and belly. It is interesting but certainly not really refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2010 21:29:41 | More by mtnbikerpa

sadman64

New Jersey

3.53/5  rDev +72.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

My review:

Tastes like you are drinking a jalapeño.

My suggestion:

Only drink this beer if you like jalapeños.

This beer seems to be getting alot of bad reviews. Personally, I like spicy foods, and I enjoy this beer. If you do not like spicy food, I would not recommend drinking this beer. If you do not like jalapeños, I also would not recommend this beer. Everyone has a different taste, but for me this isn't a bad beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2008 22:08:56 | More by sadman64

Agold

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev +63.4%
look: 1.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I thought this beer would be a flaming sack of shit, but boy was I wrong. It does flame, but it's not too bad. It looks like yellow pee water and has no head or lacing at all. It smells mostly just like chili peppers but not in a horrific way. Taste was pretty hot and would be really nice at a BBQ or with some nachos. Nice chili flavor. Mouthfeel is ok. Not great. Pretty nice. Definitely a cool interesting change of pace.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2011 01:59:16 | More by Agold

aeminter

Texas

3.33/5  rDev +62.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Clear bottle, gold label with chili in the bottle.

Pours up a nice golden-yellow and fizzy. Head is minimal and dissipates completely in only a few seconds.

Smell is of pickled chilies...almost like a crawfish boil minus the seafood smells.

The taste is pleasant...typical lager start; light, crisp and refreshing. The finish is very spicy especially in the back of the mouth and throat. It reminds me of eating spicy tex-mex or Cajun food and washing it down with a corona.

Not something I would want to order more than one of, but not bad.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2008 05:29:24 | More by aeminter

BigDank

South Dakota

3.3/5  rDev +61%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

To be honest I truly enjoyed this beer but on any regular scale that is exactly what it is, regular. An average brew though different in that the chili brewed lager is fairly spicy, and I mean hot spicy not spice spicy. It is very similar to most average mexican brews with a bit of a kick. Like beers of this sort usually are, it was drank straight from the bottle and was surprisingly different from anything I've ever tried. I'm a huge fan of spicy food so this was something that had to be experienced. Not quite as spicy on the front of the tongue as it is on the back and in the throat. Not sure if this beer could be drank all night as I have never tried and only had a six pack that was drank one at a time on different occasions. Not for the weak hearted or weak stomached. Smell is nothing to speak of but the flavor tells a slightly different tale. I actually tried eating the chili after drinking the brew but the beer must have taken all the flavor out of the chili and it had really no taste, almost a waxy fake-like flavor. Try it if you're not too timid but don't expect anything truly amazing.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2009 04:45:14 | More by BigDank

greggwllms

Texas

3.25/5  rDev +58.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

This is exactly what you would expect when you see a chili pepper floating in a beer bottle! This is you typical lager kicked up with the addition of chili. Its a little like getting a beer and a salad all in one shot, thats if you can get the chili out of the bottle! Overall I would pick this up again if the mood hit me, but be ready for the hottness!

Serving type: bottle

06-11-2008 20:52:53 | More by greggwllms

TheMarkE

California

3.13/5  rDev +52.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Muy picante.

This is basically a decent Mexican lager with a chili pepper in the bottle. Spicy, and unique. I have GOT to have a bottle of this next time I make my World Famous Chili.

Warning: Mere mortals may not be able to handle the heat! Personally, I found it to be a bit refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2013 23:10:57 | More by TheMarkE

BeerFMAndy

Wisconsin

3.1/5  rDev +51.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

11.2 oz twist-off bottle poured into a Sierra Nevada imperial pint.
4.2% ABV, Best Before 011313

A - Cave Creek Chili Beer pours, with the chili, an insanely effervescent and bubbly clear pale gold color. The bubbles don't seem to ever let up, feeding into the massive and well-retained (especially for a beer with a pepper in it!) pillar of white foam. I never thought I'd have a chili floating in my beer.

S - Mild notes of a macro adjunct lager hide behind the watered down aroma of a standard sport pepper container. Just picture opening a can of peppers, pouring out three-quarters of the liquid, peppers included, and filling the rest of the can with your favorite BMC and you've got yourself Cave Creek Chili Beer. It seems to fit the bill, so I can't say it's awful, but I will say I'm definitely not attracted to it.

T - At first Cave Creek Chili Beer tastes like a typical macro lager; light-bodied, incredibly fizzy, and damn near flavorless but the chili kicks in pretty quickly to change all that. It seems to briefly skip over the tongue with a preference to attack the back of your throat where it heats up and lingers, slowly warming up on the lips as well. Give your brain a few minutes to digest what's going on; chili in beer... and then you'll begin to pick up some balancing pilsner sweetness.

M - Just calling it spicy doesn't quite cut it, though it's not as "spicy" as one might imagine. This spice is actually balanced nicely in flavor with some sweet pilsner malts. Rather, the spiciness forgoes the tongue heat to, instead, linger in the back of the throat and on the lips (make sure you're not drinking this with chapped, cracked lips!) Very light bodied and as carbonation-rich as a soda, Cave Creek Chili Beer is, in some ways, appealing.

O - Cave Creek Chili Beer isn't just a beer, it's an experience. From the floating pepper in the beer to the spicy lager taste, this gold-labeled beer is unique to be sure. Certainly polarizing, Cave Creek Chili Beer won't appeal to everyone. In fact, it probably won't appeal to most people, but there's a market for it and if there's one beer I can think of that would go great with some Mexican food, it would be this beer. Per the label, it doesn't even seem to be brewed with a chili, rather, it's added to the bottle for the finished product which is pretty impressive, especially since it's not "off" and it doesn't exhibit characteristics of a poorly made beer. I'll skip eating the chili though.

Serving type: bottle

10-12-2012 23:32:24 | More by BeerFMAndy

uawildcat

Arizona

3.08/5  rDev +50.2%
look: 1.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Got this for my birthday.

Poured into a glass leaving the chili behind in the bottle. Looks kinda watery and no head. Gets a 1.5 for a pretty chili in the bottle.

The smell is on the money though for a chili beer. Corn sweetness and some of the chili coming through.

The taste of this beer is NOT bad. In fact the fact that there is corn in the beer makes it workout well. It tastes exactly like chips and salsa.

Mouthfeel is overly carbonated and the spiciness at the end stays around a little too long.

Overall, this is a "meh" beer. It is not bad though. Very unique.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2011 02:07:06 | More by uawildcat

emerge077

Illinois

3.05/5  rDev +48.8%
look: 2 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

"Cave Creek Chili Beer, for the masochist in you!"®

Pulled this from the freezer after half an hour. The bottle was a little frosty, but the beer hadn't frozen at all. Cracked the cap, and it let out a hiss like a demonic snake or chemical burn in progress. Poured this into a Gaffel Kölsch stange glass.

Pale yellow, sheets of CO2 on the sides of the glass like soda. Lots of visible carbonation, unfortunately the small amount of foam it does generate fizzles out immediately, also like a soda, but faster even. Zero head. Served ice cold, I actually enjoy the aroma a bit, fragrant jalapeño almost floral, slightly leaning toward sliced green bell pepper, it could be more pronounced, but hey, this is a chile beer, and this is what you'd expect one to smell like.

Ralph Wiggum said it best, "It tastes like...burning!"
Coming from a person that eats raw habanero, serrano, and other very hot peppers, this wasn't too outrageous really. It's about the same as eating some fresh jalapeño. There was a little wisp of rice or corn at the end. Holding it on the palate, the feel is really dull and flaccid. For all the visible carbonation, it is long gone once it hits the palate. The throat and uvula sizzles with the capsaicin from the pepper, so avoid this if you're a chile novice.

It is what it is, a novelty beer, a one-trick pony. I've had worse beers. Try eating some fresh jalapeño while swigging a lager, it's virtually the same, just hybridized into beer form. Maybe a 5/10 on the heat scale, it didn't even make my eyes water. What I was afraid of was buildup of residual heat, but it didn't really go down that way thankfully. Thanks to J&R for this one...

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2008 14:55:15 | More by emerge077

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3/5  rDev +46.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Clear 330ml bottle, brewed in Tecate, Mexico. Has the Cave Creek name on the label, but defo from Mexico.

Anyway, this was the sixth beer in my German and lager based tasting evening last week.

Poured into a Westmalle chalice (why not?), the chili floated about in the chalice: the head didn't appear for me, not even a collar around the rim.

I thought the beer began to grow on me somewhat, at first the chili flavours were too powerful, but as I got used to them the beer became more drinkable. I've had one before, many years ago in a MexTex restaurant in London, but that was well before becoming a BA. Glad I've had another. You can't be unkind on the scoring front, it says it's a chili beer, that's what it is!

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2011 18:23:00 | More by BlackHaddock

tewaris

Minnesota

3/5  rDev +46.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

There's an actual chili in there! Nice! Best by 01/12/13. Poured into an equally goofy Family Guy pint.

Pours like a macro lager: pale and clear with some bubbles that leave FAST. Aroma is dominated by the chili and this one will be hot it seems.

Tastes like a macro: no hops at all and a burp here and there that's full of yuck. And then there's the heat. I was expecting the chili to be total gimmick and it could very well be but this beer (?) overall does deliver some heat. I can feel my lips sting and it feels good. And a good chili flavor too, so that's bonus. I am weird.

Carbonation is low and the mouthfeel is watery but whatever. I am not entirely disappointed and somewhat amused. Glad I tried it. Seemed a little costly at 11+ bucks for a 6 pack, and even costlier as a single but there certainly could be situations where I wouldn't say no to it.

PS: In a parallel universe they're using chili instead of hops for beer and this one is coveted.

PPS: Sometimes I wish, and more so lately, that awarding points was not necessary.

3, 3, 3, 3, 3

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2012 07:53:58 | More by tewaris

bamojr

Virginia

2.98/5  rDev +45.4%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Pours light golden with a head that disappeared faster then I could pour the beer. This smells mostly like chili and I couldn't get many more smells out of it. The chili really comes through in the flavor as well and gives this beer a very spicy and unique flavor. I feel that the chili flavor does detract from the other flavors that could be in the beer and just makes this kind of a gimmick. I know that alot of people have bad things to day about this beer, but I think it is kind of a cool idea. The chili is a bit overpowering and that is really my only complaint. I would like to see this done where the chili just enhances the flavors in the beer, and I think that would make for a cool brew.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2011 06:30:09 | More by bamojr

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

2.95/5  rDev +43.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

330mL bottle into tulip. best before 01-12-13.

A: crystal clear golden body with a fizzy white head. head diminishes quickly to nothing. no lacing. and theres something floating in there as well. it looks like a green turd with a stem. further investigation to follow.

S: pickle juice. chili pepper. you can almost smell the heat from the pepper.

T: starts subtle/boring until the heat of the pepper really overtakes the palate, doesnt let any other hop/malt flavors come across. not that i believe there is much there. this brew is all about the chili. as this sips continue, similar to many things spicy, the heat becomes much more manageable.

M: the heat of the pepper gives some kind of fizz on an otherwise average/below average carb on a light body.

D: take it for what it is. slightly gimmicky, but delivers the heat of the chili pepper in the form of a beer. i have never had a chili beer quite like this one. i dont think this is a despicable beer, just not for everyone. now do i dare eat the pepper....?

Serving type: bottle

03-09-2012 01:14:43 | More by Jimmys

danedelman

Pennsylvania

2.9/5  rDev +41.5%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A-like a good diet beer should look.

S-lots of fresh chili's. and a corona

T-I actually liked the chili flavor in this. Gave me heartburn but good.

M-thin like a crappy beer.

O-not as bad as the reviews. Good chili flavor. good for what it should be.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 03:39:50 | More by danedelman

avaccani

Ohio

2.85/5  rDev +39%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.5

This is a novelty beer and should be reviewed as such.

A - No head at all. It is a very light yellow and crystal clear.

S - Not much in the way of malt or hops. All I can smell is Serano chili. Smells quite inviting.

T - I like spicy foods and this one is hot! The heat gets turned on as soon as you swallow. Starts in the back of your mouth and moves towards your lips. Lingers for a good minute after you swallow. Intense!

M - Again, not a whole lot going on here. Goes down like any light macro should, but with a firery surprise at the end.

D - I really would have a hard time finishing more than 1 in a sitting. I have been sipping this one for the last 20 minutes and I am only half way there.

Overall for what it is, it ain't too bad. Nothing that I'd go and buy a 6 pack of, but a beer that could be enjoyed along side a Mexican dish.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2011 01:04:54 | More by avaccani