Dia De Los Serranos

After swirling this attractive, opaque brown beer with a dark, thick, tan head in the glass, I'm hit with spicy chilies and green pepper aromas – other malt/hop aromas were masked by chili heat. As the beer warms, the aroma opens up to reveal previously buried dark chocolate-covered cherries. Upon first sipping, the flavor is of restrained dark chocolate syrup poured over ripe raspberries before the finish of cocoa powder, roasted hatch chilies and green bell peppers take over. The aftertaste produces a balanced, dried chili spiciness and low, mouth-tingling spiciness and heat. A medium body, high carbonation, milk chocolate creaminess, no astringency, and a smooth mouthfeel with pleasing tingling heat make this beer a delight to drink. For a large and complex beer, it was surprisingly smooth and balanced by the low chili burn. Recommended.