Score: 89/100 – Great
Appearance 6/6
The beer pours a clear black with generous, dense, mocha head. Good foam retention. A great looking stout.
Aroma 19/24
Strong intensity with decent balance. The aroma is rich and deep with massive barrel character. Pronounced dark malts and a bit of booze. There are borderline vinegary, deeply earthy, and somewhat acetic suggestions that make me nervous about how this beer will develop.
Flavour 38/40
Follows the aroma with mammoth intensity, great balance, and assertive perceived bitterness. The flavour is pretty darn glorious for a sub-ten-percenter brew. Bold dark malts with heavy barrel and significant chili heat. Delicious.
Mouthfeel 10/10
Medium-full body with low carbonation. The mouthfeel is somewhat slick with a velvety quality to it. Heavy heat from the chili but without being too overwhelming. Sweet finish helps with the warming sensation. Sure, there’s harshness… it’s a chili beer. Perfect mouthfeel for the type of beer it is.
Overall 16/20
What a great barrel-aged chili stout. For the elevated ABV this packs more character than most sub 10% beers. I’m wondering if there’s a printing error on the label as previous vintages have clocked in at more than 10% ABV.
Looking at the overall flavour, I’m a bit nervous about this beer being taken over by bacteria. There are signs of spoilage organisms in the character. At the same time, if you’re drinking this right now, it’s a darn treat.
Beerfection 
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