Peste Chocolate Chili Ale - Elysian Brewing Company

Mora2000

Texas

3.68/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a dark brown to black color with a small tan head. The aroma has a good bit of cinnamon in it as well as some earthy pepper notes and chocolate. The flavor has a good bit of spicy, green pepper notes. There is also some definitely cayenne pepper in the flavor. The cinnamon and chocolate are hidden in the flavor behind the spicy pepper notes. Medium mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 00:00:13 | More by Mora2000

InspectorBob

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%

05-23-2013 16:01:46 | More by InspectorBob

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Pours a slightly hazy dark cola brown (like a Coke) in color with minimal amounts of visible carbonation and some very dark amber highlights. The beer has a very thin beige in color that quickly reduces to an extremely thin ring at the edges of the glass. Minimal amounts of lacing are observed.

S: There are light to moderate amounts of chile spiciness that intensifies as the beer warms.

T: Upfront there is a light amount of chocolate malts with some lighter hints of cinnamon but the overall flavor of this beer is really dominated by the chiles. There is a light amount of smokiness from the chipotle pepper and a decent amount of heat which lingers through the finish and beyond.

M: On the lighter side of medium bodied with light to moderate amounts of carbonation. Slight amounts of spicy heat that builds as you drink the beer.

O: The spiciness of this beer builds in intensity as you continue to drink it and it intensifies after each sip, also it lingers for a good while. It reminds a bit of Mexican hot chocolate but with a lighter amount of chocolate.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 21:22:37 | More by dbrauneis

metter98

New York

3.54/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

A: The beer is nearly jet black in color - traces of brown are visible near the edge of the glass when it is held up to the light. It poured with a thin off white head that disappeared almost instantaneously, leaving only a thin ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass.
A: Light aromas of chilies and other spices are present in the nose.
T: The beer doesnt start off too spicy, but the chili spices start kicking in towards the finish and linger through the aftertaste. No chocolate flavors are noticeable.
M: It feels medium-bodied and somewhat dry and spicy on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: Compared to other beers in the style, this beer isn't that difficult to drin because the chili spices aren't overpowering.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 21:21:50 | More by metter98

smithj4

New York

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%

05-18-2013 21:11:19 | More by smithj4

Bandi

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%

05-18-2013 21:10:26 | More by Bandi

Imstillthegman

Delaware

3.75/5  rDev +5.3%

03-28-2013 20:42:06 | More by Imstillthegman

SadMachine

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%

03-22-2013 04:42:15 | More by SadMachine

ShemRahBoo

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +5.3%

03-11-2013 16:54:15 | More by ShemRahBoo

imperialking

Illinois

4/5  rDev +12.4%

03-05-2013 19:41:15 | More by imperialking

Gonzoillini

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%

02-23-2013 22:18:19 | More by Gonzoillini

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

3.54/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A-Dark brown with a thin tan head

S-dark chocolate syrup with a hint of spicy chili. It's a pretty faint scent.

T-comes in with a surprisingly spicy of red chili pepper and dark grains. It's almost watery too though somehow which is making this almost disappointing. I love the amount of spice it has though. Has a nice cocoa after-taste to it.

M-very light carbonation, almost watery.

O-I always get so excited for chili beers. I was not completely let down by this. I hated the watery aspect to it, but I loved the heat! I was a fan of the chili flavor and that it lacked any smokiness common in chili beers.the cocoa was kept to a decent amount but could've been stronger.

Serving type: on-tap

02-07-2013 22:10:11 | More by AdamBear

oline73

Maryland

3.53/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

Poured from the bottle into a goblet.

Pours a very dark brown with a quarter finger of off white head that disappears quickly. There are lots peppers in the nose, but it's a hot sauce sort of burn with a note that reminds me of cumin. Roast shows up in the smell, but the pepper dominates. The taste is full of hot peppers. The cumin shows up here as well. The roast shows up behind the heat with some dark chocolate as well. The finish is quite hot. The body is a bit syrupy and the carbonation bubbles are large.

This is a rather hot beer, but the pepper burn was unusual. Reminds me of hot sauce.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 13:31:18 | More by oline73

fitz284

District of Columbia

3/5  rDev -15.7%

01-23-2013 21:19:28 | More by fitz284

KiMiRaiK

Washington

4.5/5  rDev +26.4%

01-20-2013 05:15:10 | More by KiMiRaiK

Jspriest

Maryland

3.25/5  rDev -8.7%

01-14-2013 22:17:59 | More by Jspriest

Kevlee722

Washington

3.25/5  rDev -8.7%

12-24-2012 07:07:08 | More by Kevlee722

sam_bliss

Washington

3.53/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.5

On tap into a tulip on the night of the apocalypse 12/21/12 at the Elysian Capitol Hill Brewpub

A- Not super impressive. Good dark color but the head didn't stick around for long.

S- Smells of bittersweet chocolate. A bit of heat is detectable in the aroma, but nothing could have prepared me...

T- On the tip of the tongue there is a bit of sugar, but the chocolate malt/dark chocolate taste is only detectable until the chipotle, guajillo, ancho, etc peppers kick in. They kick hard and hold the tongue and throat hostage for quite some time. The cinnamon doesn't go well with the chile flavors and probably even adds to the spicy.

M- Burning sensations mostly. It's difficult to pinpoint many other details of the mouthfeel because my mouth was on fire. No stickiness.

O- It is ridiculous to try to put a numerical score on this beer, since it is so unique. I have had a few chili pepper brews but never anything as spicy as Peste. The apocalypse occurred on my palate. I will not try this again, but I am quite happy I ordered it for the experience. I recommend you try it if you can handle spiciness.

If they decide to brew a batch without the cinnamon or with some vanilla creaminess I would try it again.

Serving type: on-tap

12-22-2012 22:52:42 | More by sam_bliss

mportnoy

Pennsylvania

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%

12-09-2012 04:48:14 | More by mportnoy

Jasonrm72

Colorado

4.25/5  rDev +19.4%

11-25-2012 22:14:05 | More by Jasonrm72

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

3.5/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A vigorous pour produces a thick inky black liquid with a smallish tan head that dissipates almost instantly. The aroma hold hints of chocolate with an earthy edge. There's a sinister herbal peppery spice aroma that lingers just beyond the point of perception. The flavor is coffee and chocolate up front with an inky stale coffee consistency. Green pepper skin flavor mixes with solid shot of capsaicin heat warms the palette long after every sip. A personal preference, but I think the cinnamon flavor adds an herbal component to the overall flavor that for me detracts from enjoying the pure pepperness. Medium body with a light to moderate level of carbonation and a slick almost watery mouthfeel. This beer has got lots of layers which keeps it interesting, but for me the cinnamon confuses my taste buds.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 05:48:14 | More by johnnnniee

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

3.45/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A-Looks like Pepsi. Bubbles crack and die off like soda too. Then there is literally no head. I mean zero head. I rarely see a beer without any trace of a head. Could it be an omen? Body is very dark. Light has serious trouble penetrating the beer's girth.

S-Wacky aroma. It almost smells like ketchup at times. This beer is just as much pepper and chili as it is roast and chocolate. Chili powder. Red pepper dipped in a mocha-frappe. Really strange! I must say, they went balls-deep with the spiciness. Most beers add a hint of heat, this beer seems to toss peppers aggressively at your face from a short distance.

T-Holy christ, this is without a doubt the hottest and spiciest beer I have ever encountered. It is not even close. This is legitimately HOT. Some of the spiciness can be attributed to the infusion of cinnamon too. The finish has some cinnamon on it. Peste goes like this: sip, chocolate, one drop coffee, PEPPER, pepper, PEPPER, cinnamon, tongue on fire, PEPPER, chipotle sauce. A surreal drink.

M-Not too big around the waist. This is a slow sipper. Booze is in check, the body is easy to withstand but there is just too much pepper.

O/D-One of the hardest beers to grade. I respect how cocky and shameless this ale is. I also know I will never buy it again. Took me about 20 minutes to set a grade I was comfortable with. I am glad I tried such a brazen beer. May or may not give me intense heartburn tonight though.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 04:15:36 | More by VelvetExtract

ejimhof

Pennsylvania

2/5  rDev -43.8%

11-04-2012 22:13:37 | More by ejimhof

MarkyMOD

Colorado

4/5  rDev +12.4%

10-26-2012 04:46:20 | More by MarkyMOD

beertunes

Washington

3.05/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Served in straight pint glass. Poured a solid black color with about 1/4 inch of brown head that had moderate retention and light lace.

The aroma was mostly slightly sweet, grainy malts with just a bit of pepper and no noticeable cocoa/chocolate. The flavors were mostly the same, typical malts, with just the lightest possible trace of chocolate and a sharp, harsh, and hot dose of pepper at the back of the tongue.

The body was pretty much average for a stout this size. Drinkability suffered from the harshness of the pepper. Overall, while not a bad beer, it wasn't particularly enjoyable. The pepper didn't seem to add anything but heat to this beer. YMMV.

Serving type: on-tap

10-24-2012 22:13:40 | More by beertunes