Ballistic Beer Co El Calavera Mexican Stout

Most of us bring things back when we go on holiday. Some people bring back souvenir shot glasses for friends. Some people bring back weird decorative things only to discover they don’t fit the style of their home at all. Ballistic’s head brewer Lachy Crothers went to Mexico and brought back a love of spicy hot chocolate and the seed of an idea for a new stout.

While Ballistic’s El Calavera is is in a similar vein to Stone Brewing’s Xocoveza, it’s less of an intense mouth explosion, more of a relaxing hot chocolate experience. The predominant flavours up front are smooth chocolate and lactose sweetness, with the spices – vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon – creeping in slowly. The chilli doesn’t reveal itself until the end of a sip, spreading a gentle warmth through the throat and chest rather than delivering the burning domination found in some chilli beers.

Mick Wust

Published July 27, 2018 2018-07-27 00:00:00