One of my favorite Mexican dishes is Mole Poblano de Pollo, or Chicken in Mole Sauce. No, that's not a sauce made of ground up ground dwelling rodents. Mole (MO-lay) is a traditional Mexican chili sauce that is made with over 20 ingredients, including chocolate. Traditionally this sauce was reserved for celebrations like weddings and brithdays because it is very time consuming to make it. The sauce is rich and has a complex layer of flavors. It has a very earthy flavor. It is not very sweet, nor is it very hot. The heat usually kicks in as a slow burn. I'm usally two or three bites in before the heat catches up to me. These days most grocery stores will have a premade paste in the Latin Foods section.
Doña María is a common name brand from Hormel. Nothing says authentic Mexican like Hormel.
When I came across
New Holland's El Mole Ocho I was mucho excited. El Mole Ocho is part of Hew Holland's High Gravity Series. It clocks in at 8% ABV, but it's the mole that really gets me going. I've enjoyed other beers with chocolate, coffee, and spices. With the mole combo I had very high expecctations.
22 oz bottle poured into a wide mouth chalice. Not much head and lacing is very sparse. Body color is a hazy garnet. The initial pour is dirty looking, though clarity comes through as it settles. In all honesty, not much to look at.
Smell has a muted coffee aroma mixed with some chocolate malts. I was expecting more intensity. It is mellow and mild like many mole sauces. Also like many mole sauces, there is a slow burn from the chilies. At first it feels like it is just the carbonation, but then there is a little bite. It's not hot, just a bit bitey.
Mouthfeel is a little thinner than what I expected as well. There is still a strong medium body that has a malty stickiness. This is a subtle beer. The spices are not overwhelming. I would like to cook with this beer. I bet it would make a great base for a mole sauce.
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