Review Date 7/20/2018
Try? Re-buy?
A few years ago roughly, my buddy Jefferson Evans gave me a bottle of Lickinghole Creek Heir Apparent Imperial Stout with Mexican Spices. I remember him saying “Don’t age it! so of course, I did just that. Not intentionally, mind you, and I did pop into my garage beer fridge shortly after he gave it to me. I decided finally to drink it on a fine Sunday afternoon in early June.
Interestingly, I got to try another Mexican-spiced Imperial Stout about a month later, Westbrook Mexican Cake. The two beers are quite similar, both imperial stouts obviously and each spiced with Mexican peppers, vanilla, and cocoa nibs (Mexican Cake also incorporates cinnamon). The beers are similar in strength and bitterness at 10.5% and 50 IBUs for the Mexican Cake and 11.5% and 60 IBUs for the Heir Apparent. Jess wasn’t there when I bought the Mexican Cake to tell me not to age it, but it does say that on the label.
Lickinghole Creek says:
Heir Apparent is an Imperial Stout with a complex caramel soul tempered by chocolate and roasty undertones. Sweeter than our Russian Imperial Stouts at only 60 IBUs but balanced by the heat of fresh Mexican peppers, Vanilla, Cinnamon and Cocoa Nibs. The Heir Apparent is ambitiously biding his time until he comes to power. His time will come.
Winner – Silver Medal – 2015 Great American Beer Festival – Chili Beer
It’s interesting to note that my bottle does not have cinnamon listed as an ingredient on the label.
Lickinghole Creek Heir Apparent pours to a jet-black color with a moderate head of bubbly foam and a complex nose of chocolate roast, vanilla cream and peppery spice. Taking a sip, the beer is smooth and full in the mouthfeel with more creamy vanilla just like the nose promised, roasted barley malt, cocoa and a subtle hint of spicy peppers. It finishes warm with alcohol and a subtle heat lingers on the tongue after sipping. Excellent!
I found Lickinghole Creek Heir Apparent compared favorably with the Westbrook beer. If you can't find Mexican Cake but can find Heir Apparent, pick up a bottle. Pick up a bottle even if you can find Mexican Cake. At $12.99 for a 750 ML bottle, it's three bucks less for about 4 ounces more beer to boot.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft