This time of the year, with holiday celebrations and the weather taking on an early winter chill, nothing hits quite like hot cocoa for warmth and comfort. It’s a classic drink with a simple recipe, and recently Bevel Craft Brewing released a specialty beer with its own twist on the standard — Cold Snap, a pastry stout inspired by Mexican hot chocolate.

The basic ingredients for hot cocoa consist of cocoa powder, sugar and milk, and it is typically quite sweet. Mexican hot chocolate, on the other hand, is a spiced concoction, made with cacao or dark chocolate, sugar and cinnamon. Variations often incorporate vanilla as well as chili spices of some sort.