Beer Review: Mexican Cake

Reviewing the Mexican Cake by Westbrook Brewing Company. This beer was brewed to celebrate Westbrook's first anniversary and has gotten a lot of hype since it's release. Let's see if it lives up to the hype. 
Score: 92

2012 vintage bottle served in a Founders CBS snifter and enjoyed on 04/25/12.

Appearance: This beer is a jet black vacuum of light. Pours four fingers of foamy mocha head. Amazing lacing, very good retention. This is an absolutely gorgeous looking imperial stout. 5/5

Smell: Doughy vanilla and lots of fudge. Cocoa and cinnamon. Light cherry and a mild spicy pepper aroma too. Smells like a fluffy vanilla-chocolate cake. Very inviting. 4.5/5

Taste: Sadly, the taste is not quite as good as the aroma led on. Lots of cinnamon throughout. Fudge, raw chocolate, a touch of brown sugar and a little bit of roast. There is some pepper heat on the midpalate that grows on the tongue as the beer layers and warms. Modest chocolate covered cherry flavor (done right, unlike the Central Waters Bourbon Barrel Cherry Stout) on the back half with residual chili/pepper spice flavor in the finish. I am enjoying the flavors of this beer more with every sip -- perhaps because of the growing pepper effect giving the cinnamon and cocoa flavors more liveliness. No booziness whatsoever. 4/5

Mouthfeel: Medium-full bodied, mild carbonation. Creamy mouthfeel with growing pepper heat on the tongue. It's not overly spicy, however. Moderately dry finish. 4/5

Overall: This beer is certainly overhyped, and I would absolutely not trade the King Henry-level asking price this beer is commonly commanding on the trading forum in order to get a hold of another. That said, I really did enjoy this beer a lot, and if it was relatively available around here I would certainly buy another bottle at the price. Hopefully this one will be brewed again in the future.

Recommendation: Spicy averse people (those who can't even consume the pickled jalapenos at Subway) should avoid this one. Others should seek this one out -- but not at the price of a King Henry quality beer.

Pairings: Gingerbread cake or horchata.

Cost: $10.99 for a 22 oz botle.