Stiff stout

If you can squeeze into a spot at this perpetually crowded taproom, you’ll earn a shot at soothing yourself with one of the more devastating spiced beers around, the Imperial Hot Chocolate ($5 for a half-pour). Fieldwork brings this one in and out of rotation for occasional tweaking, and the current iteration has a higher alcohol content than before, weighing in at a boozy-as-hell 11.5 percent. An imperial cocoa stout sculpted by nitro infusion and laced with a bright hit of nutmeg and chili peppers that smolders on the palate, you may want to sit down for this one (if you can find an open seat). 1805 Capitol Avenue, http://fieldworkbrewing.com/
sacramento.