Beer Challenge: 5 Rabbits 5 Vulture

Well, thanks to some wonderful input and initiative from Coren, I have my first beer for the challenge!

I'm tasting the dark ale from 5 Rabbits, a brewery from Chicago, which they call 5 Vultures. It is an Oaxacan dark ale that is brewed with ancho chili, so you know there is some spice and life coming out of this one. Now, here are the results:

Color: The beer is a nice dark brown, with hints of amber in it, indicating something other than just malts may have been used to arrive at this particular spectrum. I assume the chili has an impact, but I'm not sure if they contribute to it completely.

Head: The head on this beer is very respectable. The viscosity of it is very clear after being poured and it has a good retention, sticking around for several minutes after the pour is long since done. I like that the color of it is the white color, so that would suggest very little in the form of adjuncts after the boil that would produce a darker head.

Aroma: Very subtle notes of malty sweetness escape this brew, indicating something that will warm you up on a cold/wet day. I do detect some of the pepper on the nose, but it is masked delicately by the malt.

Taste: The initial flavor is very clean, with the malt flavor coming right to the surface. There is a tinge of hops to balance it, but not very noticeable nor needed in this style. The pepper does make its appearance on its way down at first, but is quickly hidden by the malty sweetness

Body: For such a dark beer, I was surprised that it wasn't very thick or chewy. It actually came off as somewhat watery, which wasn't a bad thing, but was disarming considering the quality of the head and the color. I admit, that I was enjoying the mildness of it as a dark ale, along the lines of an English mild or a brown ale. Very easy on the palate.

Aftertaste: The malty sweetness gives away at the very end to allow some of the heat of the peppers to come to the surface, giving the beer a nice warmth overall. This really compliments the sweetness of the beer in the end and makes it very enjoyable.

Overall: This is a beer that could be enjoyed at a variety of settings, from the backyard BBQ to the Saturday afternoon watching football (yeah, that is for Coren), but it also has its place married nicely with foods. I find this would work well with pretty much any mild grilled foods, such as anything without any big flavor profiles or marinades. I definitely see this being a beer that a wide audience will enjoy and be able to appreciate. If there is any weakness in this beer it is that it may turn off some people via the aftertaste and the ingredients, but those will be sorely missing out on something that could be a new weekend treat.

Score: 8.5/10

As always, drink well and be merry. Slainte!