Samuel Adams The Vixen Chocolate Chili Bock | Chad'z Beer Reviews #614

This is a beer I didn't have much interest in, but felt I should review it after I saw Jay's (http://youtube.com/jjrudy41 ) review of this in which he hated it. Jay and I don't always have the same tastes in beer, but when I see an extremely negative review of a beer you wouldn't expect to be bad, it makes me want to try it as much as a glowing review would. So was it just Jay or does this beer really suck? Watch and find out.

Season 16, Episode 14

BREWERY'S DESCRIPTION & INFORMATION:
The Vixen is smooth and rich with an enticing touch of sweetness that ends with a spicy heat. For this unique brew we used carefully roasted malts and dark cocoa nibs for a full bodied and slightly sweet flavor. To this roasty and chocolaty base we added an element of warmth and spice with cinnamon and chilies. Dark and alluring, this brew will keep you captivated.
To come up with this novel style, we started with our Chocolate Bock. Bocks are known for their rich and velvety smooth malt taste. To make our chocolate bock we slowly aged the beer on a bed of cocoa nibs from Ecuador for a deep chocolaty flavor that's roasted, earthy and nutty. We decided to add another layer of complexity by combining these dark rich flavors with a touch of smoky heat from ancho and chipotle chilies and a spicy warmth from cinnamon.
Flavor: Nutty cocoa, vanilla, and caramel notes with a slight sweetness and the warming spice of cinnamon and heat of the chilies.
Color: Deep rich brown to black / 75 SRM
Original Gravity: 20.7° Plato
Alcohol by Vol/Wt: 8.5%ABV -- 6.57%ABW
Calories/12 oz.: 288
IBUs: 20
Malt Varieties: Two-row Harrington, Metcalf, Munich, Caramel 60, Weyermann Carafa I
Hop Variety: Hallertau Mittelfrueh Noble hops
Yeast Strain: Samuel Adams lager yeast
Availability: Limited Release
First Brewed: 2009

HOW THIS BEER RATES:
Rate Beer: 93 (overall) 97 (style)
http://www.ratebeer.com/beer/samuel-adams-the-vixen-chocolate-chili-bock/157431/

READ MY TEXT REVIEW OF THIS BEER AT:
http://www.chadzbeerreviews.com/2012/01/samuel-adams-vixen-chocolate-chili-bo...

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LEGAL DISCLAIMER: I am in no way affliated with the products or events, nor employed nor financially compensated by the companies featured on this show.

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[NYRfan4ever]

This was a ok beer, but the flavors they say on the label aren't really there. Cheers Chad!

[ChadzBeerReviews]

@NYRfan4ever that seems to be the case with most Sam Adams beers these days

[scoobtoober29]

Thank to chad and all other video beer reviewers for saving us from wasting time on ok beer. Some times I'll still give it a try but there's quite a few other options that I haven't had yet. Cheers

[RyanOFelt]

Id have to agree about the glass. Maybe Sam Adam's should become a glassware company. I love that glass far more than any of their beers. It's a great general choice if you don't have the specific glass that a given beer should be served in.

[patrickboegel]

@ChadzBeerReviews what is the base of comparison though for Flowers, have you had a lot of Gruits? In comparison to most widely available beer styles, yes, it is not the most jaw dropping experience. I'll try to pick up some Barrel Room beers (not bourbon, just barrel aged) soon and I'll be your viewer demand ;)

[ChadzBeerReviews]

@patrickboegel I wouldn't know because I have no interest in their specialty beers because more often than not they're "meh" like this one was. Even the "savor Flowers" they did with DFH was a letdown. For the most part I'm not reviewing sam adams products anymore unless there's a lot of viewer demand for it.

[patrickboegel]

@ChadzBeerReviews its a little bit a matter of spectrum of choice, their aim is to for the most part make Sam Adams beer for a much more general market in the craft segment. If you run their basic year round beers vs most craft breweries their goal is certainly not extreme beers, hop bombs or "imperializing" every style possible. Double bock is still a very good beer, their Imperial Stout is very good, their barrel series is excellent. They've always done lagers better than ales mostly.

[ChadzBeerReviews]

@patrickboegel "it was just an okay beer. Not great, not terrible" - seems to be the way to describe EVERY Sam Adams beer these days. They're shooting for mere adequacy now, apparently.

[patrickboegel]

@patrickboegel is to use them at the very end of the wort boil or essentially right before cooling down the wort to retain the flavors and aromas, the other other way it to add them to a conditioning tank after most if not all of fermentation is complete, essentially like dry hopping. First thing to go with be those characteristics as the beer ages. I had a bottle of batch #2 in early December, both a cocoa character and light spice. Still, it was just an okay beer. Not great, not terrible.

[patrickboegel]

@ChadzBeerReviews The first four beers in this series were brewed more than once, they are likely each to rotate in and out for new beers or if they find the response to be strong for any in particular they will likely keep it or bring it back. Batch #1 would definitely place this beer on the older end of the spectrum for this release and if they used nibs on this beer as the label and all other information suggests cocoa nibs age out fast, same as vanilla bean. The best way to use nibs/beans