April 9th, 2025 - Inside the Gray Mantle of Chaac, You May Find Mole

 

Buenos noches and happy Wednesday metal maniacs and artisan brew freaks!  The Meista here tonight pairing the killer "Dentro Del Manto Gris De Chaac", the sophomore album by Yaotl Mictlan and a spicy and rich Mole Porter from Bewilder Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Yaotl Mictlan
• Title: "Dentro Del Manto Gris De Chaac"
• Recorded: 2010 at Grabado in Salt Lake City, Utah
• Release date: August 10th, 2010 (2nd studio album by Yaotl Mictlan)
• Record company: Candlelight Records
• Production: Yaotl Mictlan
• Album cover art: ? 
• Personnel: Nahualli (bass), Ocelotl (traditional instruments), Tlatecatl (guitars and vocals), Xolotl (guitars), and Yaotl (drums, percussion, and samples)
• Musical style: Black metal with elements of Mexican folk music and hints of progressive metal
• Sound: Raw, aggressive, yet wonderfully inventive and honest, the sound on "Dentro Del Manto Gris De Chaac" is an absolute powerhouse black metal album!  Yaotl's machine gun fire drumming is awe-inspiring, Nahualli's bass line provide a wonderful thunderous overlay, Tlatecatl's vocals are reminiscent of the legendary Norwegian bands of the early '90s, while Tlatecatl's and Xolotl's guitar work will melt your face!
• Major themes: Mesoamerican mythology, Mayan gods, folk tales, Mexican history, Indigenismo, evil, darkness, violence, death, rebellion, revolution, politics, etc.
• Tracks: 

1. "Dentro Del Manto Gris De Chaac"
2. "Garra De Jaguar (Ocho Venado)"
3. "Cihuacóatl (La Llorona)"
4. "Hun Hunapu"
5. "Gemelos Héroes"
6. "Noche Triunfadora"
7. "Huelitiyotl Mexica"
   
8. "Nada Verde Crece Aquí"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: Bewilder Brewing Company (Salt Lake City, Utah)
• Website: https://bewilderbrewing.com/
• Brew: Mole Porter 
• Style: English Style Porter with spices
• Serving: 16 ounce can
• ABV: 5.0%
• IBUs: 25
• Ingredients: Chipotle peppers, cinnamon, cacao, and Mexican vanilla
• Pour: The Mole Porter pours a deep, dark brown (almost black) hue with a creamy, light mocha, thin head with good retention and soapy lacing.
• Nose: The nose is spicy, malty, earthy, slightly smokey, and slightly sweet.  There are aromas of cinnamon, dark chocolate, vanilla beans, a hint of coffee, chili peppers, light tobacco, oak, and burnt toffee.
• Taste: The taste of the Mole Porter is rich, roasty, spicy, peppery, slightly sweet, and smokey.  There are notes of dark roasted malts, cinnamon, dark chocolate, rich mole sauce, vanilla, toffee/caramel, light liquid smoke, and Chipotle.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied with low carbonation, the mouthfeel is with a peppery, dry, and bittersweet finish.

Overall pairing: The Bewilder Mole Porter is a delightfully spicy and rich brew... a great beer for the heaviness and depth of Yaotl Mictlan's brilliant album "Dentro Del Manto Gris De Chaac"!  The rich malty and earthy elements are great for the deeply rooted rhythms and cultural depth of the tracks while the spices lend themselves well to the more aggressive riffs, vocals, and lyrical content.  And of course, the album artwork and beer label imagery work very well together.  'Nuff said!     

Salud and hails!!