'Taste of the Cathedral' winning chili recipe

Congrats to Holy Family Parish in Leadville, which won the chili cookoff (judge's vote) at the inaugural "Taste of the Cathedral" festival Sept. 13 at St. Mary's Cathedral in downtown Colorado Springs. Here's the winning recipe, as conjured by its chef, Michael Holmquist:

Leadville Miner’s Chili
Holy Family Parish

This dark and brooding chili is meant to be satisfying and comforting even after the hardest day’s work.

3 Tbs olive oil
2 onions thinly sliced and roughly chopped
3 cloves garlic minced
1 lb chili meat (like hamburger only in a thicker grind)
¾ lb stew meat
1 (14 ½ oz) can diced tomatoes drained
1 (14.5 oz) can dark beer such as Guinness
1½ c strong coffee
1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
2 cups beef stock
2 Tbs mild chili rojo (In the Mexican food aisle)
1 Tbs ground cumin
1 Tbs cocoa powder
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp kosher salt
4 (15 oz) cans kidney beans drained and rinsed
3 jalapeno peppers seeded and chopped

Heat 2 Tbs oil in 6 qt pot over medium-high heat. Sear stew meat, remove from pan. Cook hamburger and add minced garlic.

Meanwhile, in large frying pan heat 1 Tbs oil on medium-low heat. Add onions and stir occasionally. Monitor heat between low and medium-low to slowly cook and caramelize, but do not burn or brown too quickly. This process should take about an hour.

Deglaze pot with dark beer bring back to a boil add meat back to pot and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add spices, coffee, tomatoes and two cans kidney beans. Continue to simmer over low heat while onions cook.

Once onions are caramelized and are a deep amber color, add to meat/bean mixture. Deglaze the frying pan with beef stock and boil over medium-high heat until reduced to about ¾ cup of liquid, add to meat/bean mixture. Stir in can of tomato paste and remaining beans.

Add jalapeno peppers right before serving add additional salt to taste. Chili can be eaten right away but is best the next day when the flavors have had a chance to blend and morph together.
The natural sugars in the onions should sweeten this chili, but if not, 1-2 Tbs brown sugar can be added.