Little twist here, clearly this will receive the ‘not a smokebeer’ tag, but technically this isn’t even a beer. It’s a mead. Nonetheless, the infallible palate of the Ministry has an opinion to share about this libation based on the preferences of SmokeBeerMinstry’s collective palate. And as it turns out, SBM does not appreciate mead. The smoke smell wafted out from the start, getting off on the right foot, and the 14% abv raised an intrigued eyebrow, and the wisps of smoke on the label piqued interest before purchase at the store, were all quickly forgotten when the double sweet, double cherry flavor squandered all aspirations. The cherry juice added does have some redeeming qualities; it covers the alcohol flavor completely, and it’s a decent complement to the smoked jalapeno spiciness, but its too overpowering. I can recommend this to people who like mead, chipotle peppers (smoked jalapenos), and Capri Suns. I cannot recommend this to a smokebeer enthusiast, or anyone seeking vivid dreams (a storied side effect from mead drinking; B. Nektar did not impart any effect on this night, unfortunately). Better luck nektime, overall score = 2.25 smokestacks out of 7.
| Brewer | B. Nektar |
| Beer Name | Cherry Chipotle |
| Brewer’s Description | Honey wine with cherry juice and Chipotle peppers. The sweet matches the heat in this brilliant wine with a kick. Bold, sweet cherry rolls seamlessly into a mild honey character that’s quickly engulfed by a kick of smoky chipotle peppers that warms and tingles the mouth. Full-bodied with a wonderful balance of sweet and heat that lingers in the finish. Deep ruby-red, still and brilliantly clear with thick, streaming legs. |
| Food Pairings | Rich chocolate or molten lava cake, French vanilla and chocolate ice cream. Or pair with a creamy Brie or bold Roquefort cheese and water crackers. |
| Brewer Location | Ferndale, MI |
| Alcohol content by volume | 14% |
| Beer opacity rate 1 – 7 (light – dark) | 2.2 |
| Smell smoke? 1 – 7 (No – George Burns) | 2.5 |
| Smokepower taste: 1 – 7 Smokestacks | 1.8 |
| Sausage detection? Y or N | N |
| Beer thickness 1-7 (water – used motor oil) | 5 |
| Spiciness 1 – 7 (mild – painful) | 4 |
| CherryPower 1 – 7 (no – whoa) | 7 |
| Overall Happiness Rating: 1-7 (low – high) | 2.25 |
The website’s alright:
SmokeBeerMinistry 