Name: Jedi Mind Trick
Brewers: Three Hills Brewing, Emperor’s Brewery (United Kingdom)
Style: Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer (Base Style: Imperial Stout)
ABV: 12.7%
Review Year: 2022
Jedi Mind Trick is a molé-inspired Imperial Stout brewed by Three Hills Brewing and Emperor’s Brewery. This beer takes after BPAVK by Three Hills with small addition of smoked malt, and was fermented with molasses as well as Demerara sugar. Jedi Mind Trick was conditioned further on Mexican cacao nibs and Morita chipotle chilis.
STYLE GUIDELINES
This beer is being evaluated as a Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer (30A) with the Imperial Stout (20C) as the base style, in the context of the 2021 Beer Style Guidelines of the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP). The most current version can be found on the BJCP website.
TASTING NOTES
Semi-clear deep brown; thin brown head. Jedi Mind Trick unveiled a prominent yet unusual aroma of chocolate blended with spice-heavy tomato beef stew. Medium-bodied; moderate carbonation. This complexity spilled over to the flavor as moderately high spice, peppery, and savory flavors were noted alongside chocolate and cacao nibs. Medium-low bitterness; moderate sweetness. Jedi Mind Trick concluded with lingering and pleasant black peppers and some smoke. No trace of alcohol.
THE VERDICT
Jedi Mind Trick is a proper molé-inspired Imperial Stout that walked the talk. We have tried a couple of these molé-inspired beers and ended up being disappointed; sugary sweetness was off the charts and the spice addition was simply an afterthought. For Jedi Mind Trick, we particularly enjoyed the balance between the malt and spice complexity. Despite the spice addition and high alcohol content, this spiced Imperial Stout remained an enjoyable and smooth beverage. Excellent.
Related Reviews:
Three Hills Brewing
Emperor’s Brewery
Craft Beer From the UK
