hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

Mexicake

Tap to rate

An imperial stout made with cacao, Ceylon cinnamon, vanilla beans and two dried chillies, mulato and chipotle, on Golden Promise, chocolate and caramel malts. Sweet spice and chocolate lead the nose. On the palate cocoa and cinnamon come first, with a low warmth that builds into a clear chilli heat on a smooth finish. The brewery sums it up as sweet, smoky, hot and fruity; drinkers also report coffee and vanilla against the burn.

ABV
10%
Bitterness
Very bitter70 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark40
PaceSipper

AWARDS

Gold · 2016
Scottish Beer Awards
Best Speciality Beer
★Gold — Scottish Beer Awards (Best Speciality Beer)
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
spicychocolatesmoky
spicy
chocolate
smoky
fruity
vanilla
caramel
Aroma
The nose leads with rich chocolate and warm spice—Ceylon cinnamon and vanilla beans meld into the cacao base without harsh edges.
also:coffee,roasted
not found:hoppy,bready,clean,oak

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Mexicake

◎ Appearance

Deep brown to nearly black in color, reflecting the substantial grain bill and roasted Malz character. The beer presents with excellent clarity despite its strength, topped by a firm, tan head that clings to the glass with persistent lacing. Carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, lending a creamy visual impression.

deep brownclearpersistent headcreamy

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with rich chocolate and warm spice—Ceylon cinnamon and vanilla beans meld into the cacao base without harsh edges. Sweet malt undertones from the Golden Promise, chocolate and caramel malts provide a comforting foundation, while subtle smoke and roasted coffee notes emerge beneath. A whisper of dried fruit completes the layered aromatic profile.

chocolatecinnamonvanillaroastedspiced

◐ Taste

Entry brings immediate cocoa and cinnamon intensity, grounded in the smooth, full body that the imperial stout format delivers. Mid-palate reveals caramel sweetness and a gentle coffee bitterness, before the two chillies—mulato and chipotle—build into a clear, lingering heat. The finish walks the line between sweet and smoky, with the burn providing complexity rather than mere pungency.

cocoa-forwardspiced heatsmooth bodychilli burn

◑ Finish

The chilli warmth persists cleanly through a moderately long finish, fading into residual cinnamon and a dry, roasted aftertaste. No harshness or alcohol bite intrudes; instead, the 10% ABV provides backbone without dominating the sensory close.

warmingdry roastlingering spice
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
85
Taste
84
Appearance
80
Finish
78
Serve at 13–16°C

Slightly warmer than you might expect. 10–13°C lets the roasted malt, chocolate and coffee notes open up fully.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Can be cellared 2–5 years. Develops dark fruit, leather and port-like complexity with age.

+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Food Pairing

What to eat with Mexicake

More from Tempest Brewing Co

AF Long White Cloud
AF Long White Cloud
Alcohol-Free IPA
0.5% · 60 IBU
Find matches →
All The Leaves Are Brown
Blue Magic
Blue Magic
Stout
8.4% · 35 IBU
Find matches →
Bourbon All The Leaves Are Brown
Brave New World
Cresta
Cresta
Stout
4.2% · 35 IBU
Find matches →
Elemental
Elemental
Porter
5.1% · 40 IBU
Find matches →
Fall Guy
Fall Guy
Stout
5.6% · 35 IBU
Find matches →

About Imperial Stout

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Imperial Stout?

Stouts are dark ales with roasted barley character, 4–8% ABV and IBU 25–45. Expect coffee, dark chocolate and toast flavors with a creamy body and dry finish.

Finding a similar Imperial Stout

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same spicy, chocolate, sweet character as Mexicake will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Imperial Stout beers in hopIQ →Browse United Kingdom beers →