Interesting take on a Stout today with the addition of chili peppers…from Italy no less. How was it? Read on and find out.
Beer #184 is Verdi Imperial Stout by Birrificio Del Ducato.
Stats – Foreign/Export Stout with an ABV of 8.2% brewed in Italy (another first…my first Italian beer) with chili peppers added in the brewing process
Appearance – Black with a one finger width brownish head
Nose – Dark roasted chocolate malts, a bit smoky
Taste – Chocolate, cocoa, it had chili pepper heat near the back of the sip, reminded me of a dark chocolate candy bar with chili peppers added to it
Mouthfeel – Medium body, low carbonation, fairly smooth
I liked this quite a bit but I love dark chocolate and I love hot & spicy foods. The heat from the chilis really starts to build up along with the higher ABV. I think the chilis work well here, not overpowering at all. A different twist on a Stout. Quite unlike a beer I had many moons ago, Cave Creek Chili Beer, which was basically a chili pepper in a bottle of beer similar to Corona. The beer was disgusting and so hot as to be undrinkable.
Rating: B+





