People's Pint Pit-Stop: El Chupacabra Ancho Cinnamon Porter

El Chupacabra Ancho Cinnamon Porter is a 5% spicy dark ale named for a legendary creature. Brewed, as your expect, with ancho chilies and cinnamon, The Chup comes, in 500mL bottles, from Toronto’s People’s Pint.

A dark beer with a thin cover of creamy head The Chup has a punishing nose rich in cinnamon and spice. The flavour has some heat, primarily driven with cinnamon up from and chili at the back, built around a modest, malty midsection.

Spicy porters tend to be an oddity, but El Chupacabra is a pretty fair one, with heat on repeat enriching a very mild dark beer. It’s not subtle, but it isn’t overkill either. The beer is a bit of a novelty, but it isn’t any less well made for that. It sure could have been stronger, though.

Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Honey Habanero Spicy Ale

According to the copy on the snazzy 473mL cans of Frank Brewing Co.’s Honey Habanero Spicy Ale, this brew was created in homage to the brewer’s grandad’s zeal for his wife’s honey habanero marmalade. Low-test at just 4.8%, the beer is crystal clear and golden, with a thin disc of eggshell head.

To my sniffer, honey sweetness is the big contributor to the aroma of this little effort from Tecumseh, Ontario. Interesting, the spicy pepper is used sparingly, and only becomes evident on the finish after a couple of sips. Otherwise, the flavour is mild and sweet, with mellifluous notes on top of an otherwise mild and balanced blonde ale.

I’m conflicted when it comes to reviewing this ale—typically with spicy beers I fear over-emphasis of heat elements, but with this one, I’d have liked just a whisper more potency. As well, I always like to know where a beer’s honey (and peppers) are sourced. That info would have been nice.

Rating: 7.0 out of 10.

Red Rocket Chili Stout

Red Rocket Chili Stout comes from Gravenhurst, Ontario's Sawdust City Brewing Co. It's a spicy, 5% alcohol stout, deeply dark black brew topped with a svelte tan head. It has a mild, chocolatey aroma with a dusting of capsicum pepper pique. I had a pint on tap with a buddy at one of my favourite Toronto beer bars, and he graciously agreed to share his thoughts for a review.

My buddy found the Chili Stout to be an overall light stout that hits chocolatey first, with some spice hitting you a bit later. He said that it was almost refreshing by the end, and that he'd definitely drink it again.

Buddy gave this stuff an 8.0 out of 10--he'd have rated it higher if the alcohol percentage was higher.

For me, I found it to be an unusually spicy brew. It kicks off with some rich chocolate and transitions into a delightfully spicy jolt. The heat stays with you long after each sip. The finish is bitter, but only slightly. The mouthfeel is quite thin. I'd have liked a higher percentage and a touch more bitterness, but overall, I found this to be a pretty charming brew.

Rating: 8.0 out of 10.