Craft beer in America is a relatively new thing, really. I’ve been around for it since at least the early days if not the dawn (well I was there for the dawn, I just wasn’t drinking yet). Never forget though that our European friends have a long history of brewing great beers, and it was only a matter of time before they caught on to the craft resurgence.

So why was I surprised this evening when I popped a bottle of Ilkley Brewing The Mayan Chocolate Chipotle Stout and found it proof positive they can brew anything as good as any American craft brewery? I’m sure I don’t know. It was though, and turned out to be one of the better pepper beers I’ve enjoyed in a while.

Ilkley says this about the beer on their website:

They may not have got all their predictions right, but they knew how to brew great beer! Inspired by an ancient Mayan recipe, this extraordinary Stout is velvety smooth, bittersweet, and has a subtle smoky fire in its belly. The time has come to put yourself to the ultimate test; dare you take on... The Mayan?!

On the label, they tell you that it’s brewed with Chipotle peppers, chocolate malt, chocolate, English barley, English and American hops, and ale yeast. The Mayan Chocolate Chipotle has an alcohol content of 6.5% by volume and my bottle, for which I paid a mere $4.49, is considered best before October of 2015 according to the label. I drank it in May.

Ilkley Brewing The Mayan Chocolate Chipotle Stout pours to a jet black color with a thick creamy tan head and luscious licorice, caramel and a hint of smoke and spicy peppers in the nose. Taking a sip this beer is pure heaven with a full mouthfeel and heady notes of dark bittersweet chocolate, light licorice, subtle smoke and (yes!) a spicy pepper bite. It really tastes like the smoky spicy bite of a chipotle pepper my friends, and the spicy pepper bite at the last that lingers on the throat and tongue melds perfectly with some roasted barley notes.

Need I say 5 stars here? This beer delivers on all the flavors it promises, and for one who continually finds pepper beers to be lacking in spiciness, it’s nice for a change to find one that isn’t. Don’t miss it my friends.



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