Mole Stout - Ska Brewing Co.

beersands

Texas

4.5/5  rDev +25%
look: 2 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - Color is lovely dark brown, as you would expect in a stout, with the head retention of a glass of mineral water. I poured half of it aggressively and finally decided to shake up the rest in the bottle with my thumb on it to discover the head is a deep brown color. The foam that poured out dissipated in seconds, with an unprecedented alka-seltzer sound. I imagine the large amounts of powdered adjuncts are preventing the head from remaining.

S - Sweet chocolate and spice

T - The first thing that hits me is textbook high-end Mexican hot chocolate. I feel like someone's abuelita just handed me a glass that was sitting in the fridge for awhile. Dark chocolate with various spices and chile following quickly. Smokey pepper, cinnamon, and piloncillo. Its a shame there was no head retention, as this type of drink is typically served Frothy! The head retention was surely sacrificed to the gods of Smell and Flavor here. I will say it was a daring trade off. The last thing I taste is lingering dark bitter chocolate and some balancing sweetness.

M - Medium body. you can feel the powdered adjuncts, but they blend in well enough that it doesnt become irritating. The finish is light, with a slight slickness.

This is a hard one to rate for me. I believe this Chile Beer style primarily exists to provide the connoisier with a new experience. The smell and taste do that in spades. Its extremely difficult to get many of the fresh flavors this beer has to survive the brewing process and arrive on your palete. The mouthfeel and especially the appearance suffer, though. Overall I recommend it, but I feel the brewmaster(s) may have been able to get more head retention somehow. Maybe we could see this in a nitro can or nitro tap.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 14:03:22 | More by beersands

jrnichols

Missouri

4.49/5  rDev +24.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

My wife brought this home for me a couple days ago. I had never seen it before. I'm usually not a big fan of chili beers, but I'm a huge fan of stouts.

A: Extremely dark and opaque. This is one of the darkest beers I've ever seen. Even when holding it up in front of a light bulb, I see nothing. Has a well developed head with moderate retention. I just really enjoy looking at this beer!

S: The chili odor is noticable but mild, does not dominate like other chili beers. Coffee and possibly the slightest hint of cinnamon are also present. Enjoyably complex.

T: Mole Stout is a very appropriate name for this beer. The pepper is mild up front, with a rich, somewhat toasty cocoa finish. The pepper tingles the throat on the way down. Even without the pepper, it would hold it's own among other stouts.

M: The pepper gives it a very remarkable feel, tingling the mouth just the right amount.

O: I had a couple of these the other night and I thought it was a pretty good beer, but now that I'm able to sit down and taste it objectively (and sober) I'm realizing what a remarkable find this is. The most amazing part of it is the pepper, because of how subdued and mellow it is, blending perfectly with the chocolatey toastyness of the rest of the beer. I just can't get over it. Other pepper beers are all pepper, often ruining the palate for anything with a lighter flavor, but I could easily drink several of these with out getting tired of it and still be able to taste my food. Good job Ska!

Serving type: can

04-18-2013 03:03:23 | More by jrnichols

zeff80

Missouri

4.43/5  rDev +23.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

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

S - It smelled of chocolate, chillies and a touch of cinnamon. So good.

T - Just a good as the aroma. Roasted malt, chocolate, spicy chillies and some cinnamon. Great balance of heat and sweet.

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

O - This is a really good beer. It's not a sixer I'd want to session all night but one or two really hits the spot.

Serving type: can

10-30-2012 01:55:41 | More by zeff80

johnmdaniels

4.23/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Mole Stout from Ska Brewery in Durango, CO.

Pours opaque black with an initial two finger mocha-colored head that quickly fades to nothing.

Hits of chocolate, roasted mild chilis, cinnamon, a tiny bitterness of hops, with something sweet and maybe yam flavored on the front, fading to malty sweetness with very light roasted chili aftertaste. Milk sugar gives it a bit of a milk stout element, but it doesn't have a dominant creamy flavor.

Extremely smooth and easy-drinking.

No lacing, no traces left on the glass at all, which is very unusual for any type of stout. Very mild as stouts go, and not at all a typical example of that category.

Comes in a six pack of 12oz cans. Would buy again.

Serving type: can

09-29-2012 05:57:39 | More by johnmdaniels

bens0n

Texas

4.23/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer pours a really dark brown, almost opaque. Theres a a very miniscule amount of head that dissipates very quickly, eventually completely flattens out.

On the nose its a very well blended spicy Guac smell that reminds you of Mexican food, not really hot spicy peppers at all though. Its not a nostril singing pepper smell like most other peppered/chile beers I've tried.

Flavor wise its actually really smooth with a nice Mexican food flavor that I can't really seem to describe any other way. It's a pretty weak stout, its like a thicker dry stout, not much roasty/toasty going on, but the mexican food/guac flavor is amazingly well blended, most chile beers have a real spicy bite to them that layers inbetween sips. I feel like I'm eating chips with guacamole when I'm taking sips of this...

I snagged this beer wanting to try something new not knowing what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised, this is a very well balanced beer that goes down nice and smooth, couldn't really session these though, more of a novelty beer.

Serving type: can

10-20-2012 02:03:27 | More by bens0n

facundoCNB

New Jersey

4.23/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

a reddish dark brown pour with a finger of head which quickly diminished.
smells spicy, yet sweet. cinnamon, cloves, chipotle peppers, chocolate, cedar

a sweet hit of spices up front (nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves) followed by chipotle spicyness which isn't very strong. the sweet chocolate overtone makes this an excellent balanced beer.

medium body +, low carbonation with a nice warm feeling.

this is an excellent beer. i just wish it was a tad bit more carbonated, but other than that, loved it.

Serving type: can

11-10-2012 19:03:50 | More by facundoCNB

JuicesFlowing

Kansas

4.2/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a standard pint glass.

The beer is a dark chocolate black, with cola brown around the edges in the light. The head in an espresso brown that quickly fades to a wisp, then nothing. No lacing whatsoever.

The beer smells of peppers, rich chocolate, roasted malts.

The taste is exceptional. A bit of heat from pepper coats the throat as I ponder the deeper flavors of rich chocolate, roasted malts, and cinnamon.

The mouthfeel is medium to light, with slight carbonation.

Overall, I love this. It's not spectacular to look at, looks like a Coke in a pint glass, but it has great pepper heat, chocolate, and spices as advertised. Great beer for Dia De Los Muertos. I'll be drinking it then for sure.

Serving type: can

09-30-2012 18:54:51 | More by JuicesFlowing

hammondc

Texas

4.2/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A - Looks jet black, but is actually very dark ruby. Thin head that disappears quick.
S - Stong smoke to this one. For my South Tex friends, it is like roasted hatch chilis. Ground coffee in there too
T - Great. Good change from the run of the mill stouts. A bit of chocolate sweetness. Definite toastiness to it. The spice of the chills comes off the back.
M - A bit thin, actually. Very little carbonation.
O - Overall I like it a lot. I'd love to try it on draft. I'll keep it on hand for a change of pace in the cool weather.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2012 03:13:33 | More by hammondc

russpowell

Oklahoma

4.15/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Pours mahogany with 2 fingers of mocha colored head. Average head retention & some lacing

S: Chocolate, vanilla, white pepper & slight smokeyness

T: Mocha, cayenne pepper, carob, vanilla, & faint woody hops up front, Firey pepper & cocoa as this warms. Finishes with vanilla/mocha sweetness, some white & serano pepper,plus just a bit of herbal bitterness mixing with some cola& coffee grounds flavor

MF: Light/medium bodied, slight carbonation,

A very good chile beer, wish I bought more than a sixer...

Serving type: can

10-30-2012 06:08:59 | More by russpowell

scruffwhor

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Blackety black with a dark brown highlight to it. Very quick dark brown head with no retention. The beer looks oily.

Smokey pepper mixed with coffee, dark chocolate and coffee make up the aroma. Very chipotle-ey.

Super roasted malts mixing well with chocolate and coffee. Palate is slick and oily. This is a chile beer where you can taste the chili's. But they aren't overpowering. Everything seems to come together very well.

Serving type: can

01-18-2013 15:37:42 | More by scruffwhor

Mora2000

Texas

4/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours a very dark brown to black color with no head. The aroma is heavy on the peppers, with a lot of the roasted ancho notes coming through strongly. I also get a hint of chocolate and some roasted malt. The flavor is very nice. What really comes through early is some cinnamon and chocolate, as well as a hint of heat from the peppers. I also get some of the earthiness from the chilies as well as some nice chili flavor. The chocolate and chili notes meld very well together, with just the right amount of heat and sweetness. Medium mouthfeel and low carbonation. A very nice stout and I am glad more and more breweries are brewing beers similar to this one.

Serving type: can

09-25-2012 03:23:52 | More by Mora2000

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.98/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a Dogfish Head snifter.

This can is an Austin Powers joke waiting to happen...(but, then again, I never liked those movies...) It pours a deep, murky black-brown topped by a half-finger of off-tan foam. The nose comprises cinnamon, earthy peppers (complete with mild heat), roasted malts, light molasses, and brown sugar. The taste brings in more of the same, with the peppers and cinnamon combining for a unique flavor combination, all whilst the roast dances fancily behind it all. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a sorta/kinda dry finish. Overall, a very nice peppered stout, one that could probably stand to be year-round... Good times.

Serving type: can

10-06-2012 04:47:00 | More by TMoney2591

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.98/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz can pours a deep black color with a small tan head. Not much for lacing or retention.

Nose is laden with chipotle and ground ancho. But wait, there is more spice action to speak of...almost like a pumpkin pie type of spice aspect. It definitely fits with the mole...I really want to cook a chicken in this.

Taste shows some really nice pepper and spice blending. Masterful job Ska! The pie spices are just enough to be noticed and are right on par with the spicy, but not hot peppers. The stout aspects are not overlooked with a chocolaty twist and provide some much needed sweetness to keep things from getting too spice/pepper leaning. Despite the bold flavors this beer is quite drinkable. I am not usually a huge fan of chipotle beers, but I find this one to be a very well done (smoky) chile beer.

Serving type: can

10-28-2012 22:04:56 | More by twiggamortis420

DavidST

Texas

3.95/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 12 oz can into a tulip glass. This pours a very dark brown approaching pitch black, with a small mocha head which quickly dissipates. The smells are of peppers, dark roasted malts. The feel is medium low carbonation. The taste is good, some roasted malts, a peppery finish, okay hops.

Serving type: can

09-25-2012 03:33:44 | More by DavidST

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.93/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

liked this way better than the new belgium one. poured blackish brown, super dark, with almost no head. looks almost flat, but there is some depth to the color. smell is bitter bakers chocolate and cocoa powder, with just a hint of pepper. the flavor is that dusty cocoa up front, with a lot of smokey malt to balance it out. i feel no chili heat in this at all, which i like. the peppers provide just a subtle bit of flavor, nothing too drastic. the chocolate in the finish is also very nice, a little sweeter than on the front end. feel isnt as good as it could be. it needs some more carbonation to pep up its big body. that said though, this is a cool new beer from ska. i would like to make a pot of chili with it at some point. those flavors would be outstanding in there.

Serving type: can

10-06-2012 01:11:03 | More by StonedTrippin

claspada

New Jersey

3.88/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a super dark brown, almost black color with a medium sized light brown head of bubbly foam that recedes to leave some super sticky rings of lacing.

The aromas were a little lacking but were centered around dark and milk chocolate. As it warms you get some minimal chillies and a touch of cinnamon.

The tastes are an improvement on the aromas with more of a roasted maltiness, milk chocolate, mocha and toffee. The spicy chillies and cinnamon are more apparent as well in the finish.

The mouthfeel is medium boided with medium carbonation. Finish was crisp, lightly spicy and bitter but overall quite smooth and clean.

Overall this was a nice treat and quite drinkable. For such a low ABV offering this packs a nice flavor that I bet was even more strong when it was first released in early Autumn. Not a beer I would want to have everyday or more than two in a sitting despite the low ABV but a fine offering and quite balanced overall for a spice/chile beer.

Serving type: can

11-28-2012 15:11:27 | More by claspada

sombrasenelsol

Oklahoma

3.85/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A-Looks just like a glass of coke after pouring it, no foam, bubbles rise up and can't help but laugh about how much this looks like coke/coca-cola.

Smell- Lots of spicy/peppers smell, cocoa powder, if I was blind folded and didn't know what this was and I was asked to described the smell, I would not hesitate to say is 'Cocoa-Pebbles' cereal!

Taste- Feels like some wizard took a dark chocolate chip cookie and made it a drink, no fizz whatsoever, some spiciness to it, after awhile you forget you're actually drinking beer instead of a glass of chocolate milk that has a slight past due oak flavor to it. Almost no carbonation, very drinkable.

This beer had me going at first like OMG, then after several sips I quickly lost interest because it gets really flat, very light mouth feel, Don't get me wrong I do like it but only because I still can't believe the flavor and is really a beer that taste good but with almost no beer qualities as far as looks and mouth feel goes, very good stout to start a for those who are new to the darks.

Serving type: can

10-06-2012 19:58:51 | More by sombrasenelsol

TheCondor

Missouri

3.85/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Appearance - Sweet packaging, cool picture on the front of the can. Like the name of the brew too, very cool! Side poured from a can into a mug with standard vigor. Pours a jet black color with very little head or retention, but incredible lacing. Every drink you take is illustrated in the lacing on the side of the glass!

Smell - Smoky chocolates, malts, dark chocolate, and a hint of peppers and spices as the brew warms. A little subdued but good nonetheless.

Taste - A nice smooth coffee and chocolate flavor is intemixed with spices such as nutmeg and chile peppers. Very unique, as this style typically is.

Mouthfeel - A real smooth finish, similar to the stouts from which the beer takes its name. The chile peppers and hot sauce really come alive at the finish of the beer. Medium bodied with minimal carbonation.

Overall - This is a pretty tasty brew overall. I would certainly recommend trying it, for it is tasty! Very unique style, tasty. you can ue this brew to impress your beer snob friends as something they may never have had. Check it out next chance you get@

Serving type: can

01-20-2013 01:30:32 | More by TheCondor

McShane

3.83/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This is a very unique stout and not what you'd expect when you pick up a can. I can say that I've had two now and overall I'm impressed. This is Ska Brewing's first offering to their Seasonal line and like Ska does it hits you with something original. If you are thinking it'll be a Steel Toe Stout with peppers you have it all wrong. The best I can say is don't go in with expectations. Just let your self be ready for something new.

Smell is heavy on Ancho peppers. The taste is a combination of Hatch chillies and coffee. Stout is in the background of this beer but it's not a front line focus.

Taste was good. Not exceptional since I wasn't ready for the Hatch portion. it throws me a little still. That all being said, it's pleasant and I enjoyed it a great deal.

This is a much lighter beer than a stout would normally be. I think that's where some of the other reviews are getting their "cola" take. It's carbonated for sure but not so much that it takes away from the chillies focus and the ABV at 5.5% doesn't get in the way at all. In fact this is a perfect beer for their can series as you can take a 6 pack with you and enjoy the whole thing with out being knocked on your rear.

Overall it's a good chilli beer. If I had to compare it to anything I would compare it to Theobroma and Rogues Chipotle. It's definitely a unique beer that has Ska's signature all over it.

Thanks,

Steve McShane
The Drunkards Call Podcast
Growler Radio Podcast.
www.inkandaudio.net
Check them both out on Stitcher and iTunes.

Serving type: can

10-09-2012 03:07:58 | More by McShane

KansasBeerLover

Kansas

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

Poured from a can into a Boulevard tulip.

Beer pours a dark brown, very opaque. Head was about 1/2", which quickly disappeared, not even leaving a wisp. Zero lacing.

Aroma is mostly cinnamon, with some roasted malt and chocolate.

Taste starts as cinnamon, chocolate, roasted malt and peppers. During the drink, the cinnamon is less dominant and the heat of the peppers takes over. Nice touch.

Mouthfeel is unusual. I'm known for being the taste test dummy at mexican restaurants, and would call the heat mild, most would say medium. The flavor and heat remains on the tongue and roof.

Overall, this beer is in my unusual but good category. I will buy it again and share with my friends. My only complaint is the lack of head, which also leaves the aroma weak. Give it a head that lasts and this beer would go from good to excellent.

Serving type: can

10-04-2012 02:12:27 | More by KansasBeerLover

Domingo

Colorado

3.78/5  rDev +5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Seems cinnamon/pepper/chocolate beers are popping up everywhere these days.
Pours a standard dark brown color that's nearly black. Carbonation is heavy coming out of the can, but goes dead flat in seconds. The mouthfeel stays thick, but visually there's nothing going on after the first pour.
Cinnamon and roasted malts are big on the nose. Semi-sweet chocolate as well.
The flavor takes a slightly different turn. Roasted malts and a pretty potent smoky chili pepper notes come up big up front. Not as sweet as I would've expected. Darker chocolate comes in the middle, followed by a kiss of cinnamon. There's not really a "burn" but the finish fades out with pepper and cinnamon. Drier and more peppery than I would've figured.
I believe that Copper Kettle's Mexican Chocolate Stout is still the flag bearer for this "style" and this is one of the takes that's probably most like it. It's less spicy and much lighter on the cinnamon character, but it keeps that beer's drier and balanced philosophy.
Pretty solid and well crafted. A good beer for fans of chili beers as well as someone looking for something off the wall.
Kind of an oddball because it goes dead flat so quickly. The mouthfeel holds up, but the visual doesn't reflect that at all.

EDIT: Having had more of these, the peppers really are a little heavy in this one. They aren't adding heat, but they're compounding the roasted notes from the stout. It's really tasty at first, but after about 1/2 can (once it warms up), they grind on the palate a bit. I haven't had that with other beers like this.

Serving type: can

10-04-2012 14:15:53 | More by Domingo

macrosmatic

Florida

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

Thanks to dogdoc for this one! Reviewed from notes. Poured from 12 oz. can into a snifter glass.

A: Dark brown, but when held to the light it's more clear than expected. A good bit of visible carbonation present. Forms a thin off-white head.

S: Dried chili pepper, and maybe some burnt cold coffee.

T: The chili flavor is prominent up front, but unlike so many chili beers, it's not really spicy. Then roasty coffee, and maybe some very dark cacao bitterness. Finishes with the chili flavors fighting with the roast bitterness at the end.

M: Thin body but an almost creamy mouthfeel. Reminds me of a milk stout in mouthfeel, though not as sweet to be sure. I'm going to give this beer the benefit of the doubt that this is the feel that was intended, rather than a big thick stout like so many other chili beers are. The alcohol is well-hidden, and there's a decent amount of carbonation sensation.

O: This isn't bad, especially for a style that often isn't my favorite. That said, I wouldn't seek out another.

Serving type: can

11-23-2012 18:10:30 | More by macrosmatic

Beaver13

Colorado

3.78/5  rDev +5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2 | overall: 4

12 oz can. Pours dark brown, almost black, with a medium fizzy light brown head that quickly goes to a thin collar.

The aroma is nice mole spices - chocolate, cinnamon and chili.

The flavor is sweet chocolaty malts and cinnamon with a nice spicy chili kick in the finish. The mouthfeel is light to medium bodied and a bit watery.

Overall, a very nice mole beer - very similar to New Belgium's version, but maybe a step below.

Serving type: can

11-24-2012 01:26:03 | More by Beaver13

idResponse

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is a very interesting little brew here! It was obtained for my workplace for cooking purposes and I can see why!

I am not pouring this, as it is in a can and I don't have proper glassware near me anyway, so I cannot tell you how this really looks, but the can is attractive!

It smells of peppered malts and caramel.

The taste is also very much a sweet caramel malty flavor but not overbearing with a tinge of spice - not hot but just enough to flavor it. A lingering flavor of mole!

It's a joy to drink and actually rather refreshing. A crisp slick slight bite of carbonation.

I would say this is really an interesting brew and worth trying out. It's well done and I'm always a fan of breweries doing new things!

Serving type: can

09-22-2012 05:11:26 | More by idResponse

ChadQuest

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The head on the pour fades fast, most pepper beers do for me. The body is a dark brown, translucent near the edges.
the aroma is mostly dry chocolate with just a whisper of peppery spice, the pepper doesn't come through a whole lot.
The flavors have more of the pepper but it presents less as a hot heat and more as a soft accent that breaks the chocolate down and makes it dryer and powdered flavor, really adds a neat flavor without any heat. This one might be good for someone who normally doesn't like pepper beers.

I'd buy a 6er again.

3/c = average.

Serving type: can

12-03-2012 05:54:41 | More by ChadQuest