The beer I have today is one that I have had many times, but every year it seems to go through a change somehow. Stillmank Brewing’s Killer Bees. A Jalapeno infused beer.

For a little insite, the last time I had this beer, it was.. Well.. not good. I don’t know if they tried cooking the peppers some how, or what happened, but.. Just nope.

But this this year’s release from only a few weeks ago. By sheer numbers, it has to be better.

The first thing I notice is how absolutely light it is. Its literally only a few shades darker than water.  This pic makes it look 10x darker than what it really is. But it is clear. A moderate white head but it is already falling off, but the oils from the peppers definitely do that.

Aroma.  Wait.. what? Let’s try that again. Hmmm. Smells like… Nothing. How can that be? 

Now the taste… I hope it’s better than last years! The last one I had was like cooked green pepper beer with absolutely no heat at all.

Oh yea..now we have taste. Not just peppers, but distinct Jalapenos with a sweet, almost sugary back light. There is a heat. Nothing big or sharp, but noticeable.

But again. That is it. No grain, no hop, no yeast. Nothing. What is going on.

I don’t want to be a conspiracy guy,, but did they change this beer to one of those part beer part seltzer concoctions?

Having had every released iteration, here is my list of off the cuff evidence…

–Much much lighter colored than it ever has been. It is a few shades lighter than any beer SRM chart I can find.

–It has zero.. and I really mean zero aroma. Even a the lightest beer. I ever had had atleast a light grain smell.

–The body is extremely light. Too light. It used to have a bit of weight to it.

–Dry.. this version is soooo dry you barely know you took a sip. (But.. that actually lets the little bit of heat stick out a little.)

But.. It does have a good Jalapeno specific taste. And it does have at least a little heat. Definitely not as much as it used to have years back before it went to main stream distribution.. but hey at least it’s there.

I know this sounds like I don’t like it,, but I do. It’s doing what it claims. It tastes like jalapenos and has at least a hint of heat.

But If you are looking for the beer side of it.. nope. There are no beer smells or tastes. It barely even looks like a beer.

It is absolutely nothing like it used to be, but.. I like it! And that’s enough to get it this years Killer Bees a 3.5 out of 5 at least.