Captain's Blog

Notable Quote

2011-12-21T13:26:00.000-05:00

"You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline - it helps if you have some kind of football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer."
- Frank Zappa, musician.

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT: 2011 Honeygo Craft Beer Festival

2011-09-22T16:23:00.002-04:00

If you enjoy real craft beer, good food, live music, and a fun social atmosphere then the Honeygo Craft Beer Festival is definitely for you. I have been friends with the gang at Honeygo Wine & Spirits for a few years now and they are a great bunch. Honeygo is a very beer-centric store and each year they hold a craft beer fest which has gotten bigger each time. This year promises to be the best yet and will be held outdoors beneath a party tent because it continues to outgrow its venues.

Currently there are 17 breweries scheduled to attend and each are bringing whatever they want for your unlimited sampling pleasure, nearly all of which is going to be on tap. Just remember to be responsible, it only takes one jerk to ruin everyones good time. All the food you can eat will be provided by Liberatore's which is an upscale Italian restaurant known for their very good food. The event will be held rain or shine at the Honeygo Village Center located at 5004 Honeygo Center Drive, Perry Hall, Maryland 21128 on Sunday, October 09, 2011 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Tickets are $30 in advance, designated driver tickets are $10 which covers all your food and soft drinks. Proceeds from this event benefit the Saint Stephens School.

I realize that many of you who follow my site or the other websites and publications I write for are not from my area, but if you are in Maryland or the surrounding area I highly recommend you come. I attend many of these types of events and I can say without hesitation that this is one of the best. I look forward to it all year, it's always a great time. For more information you can contact them at 410-529-5500 / www.honeygowines.com. I hope to see you there, CHEERS!

CIGAR REVIEW: Tatuaje - La Verite, Vintage 2008

2011-08-23T11:26:00.001-04:00

Another fine cigar sent to me from Tobacconist University is the Tatuaje - La Verite, Vintage 2008. La Verite, a 7 x 47 Churchill vitolla, is a Nicaraguan Habano puro made for Tatuaje by Jaime Garcia at My Father Cigars, S.A. with all of the tobacco coming from a single farm in Esteli, Nicaragua known as, "La Estrella" which means, "The Star." Nicaraguan Habano is a traditional Cuban seed varietal popular for its individual traits as well as for hybridization. According to Pete Johnson, owner of Tatuaje, when he tried the La Estrella crop of Nic-Habano which was grown in 2007 and harvested in 2008, he realized that it would be great to make a puro cigar from. There is also a Vintage 2009 which is made with 45% Nicaraguan Habano, 40% criollo '98, and 15% pelo de oro. These two can be differentiated by a 2008 or 2009 printed in the center of the band. As of this writing, I have not smoked the Vintage 2009.

Pre-light inspection revealed a silky, slightly oily capa with decent teeth and a triple capped head. Its color I place somewhere between colorado rosado and colorado maduro. The aroma was of sweet tobacco with perhaps cedar notes and a somewhat lighter sweetness at the foot. It squeezed well with no signs of flaws or defects. I made a straight cut with a double guillotine and tested the draw which was good with slight resistance. A buttery-like taste / sensation presented on the tip of my tongue at first but soon turned to a slight spice and after a few more test draws, a mild spiciness developed at the back of my throat.

The Verite lit easily and evenly with a soft flame lighter and had a smooth draw following which a mild to moderate spice developed along both sides of the tongue and in the back of the throat while a creaminess was present on other parts of the tongue and the roof of the mouth. As it burned it produced a very light gray, almost white ash with some darker highlights which dropped off between 1.25" to 1.5" in length. About 3/4" in a mild spicy tingle developed in the center of the tongue and overall the first half remained a consistent, moderately spicy smoke. As the second half progressed, the spice seemed to mellow a bit but remained the dominant trait without much complexity. Even with the mellowing though, I wasn't able to retro-exhale throughout the entire smoke. It continued to burn evenly and required no touch-ups or re-lights all the way to the nub.

No big surprise, another fine cigar from Tatuaje. If you haven't had the opportunity to meet Pete Johnson yet, I can tell you that he is dedicated to his craft and takes pride in the cigars he puts out. He spends a lot of time on the road at brick & mortar tobacconists meeting and greeting his customers and will take the time to speak with you. That's how I met him some years ago. I can't say that I know him, just that I met him and he didn't just shake hands and try to sell his product, he took the time to really speak with me about all manor of things. If your local tobacconist is having a Tatuaje event and Pete is going to be there, I recommend you go. You will probably walk out with a fist full of Tatuajes. Also, if you enjoy a medium body, "Cuban style" cigar and are interested in trying the La Verite for yourself, and again I recommend you do, be aware that they are "strictly allocated to appointed authorized retailers only" so they won't be available everywhere. I look forward to smoking the Vintage 2009 and comparing the two.

EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT: Maryland Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival

2011-03-01T14:53:00.007-05:00

The 4th annual Maryland Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival is coming soon. There were a few hick ups in getting it scheduled this year but everything seems to be squared away now. Some friends and I go every year and it is always a great time. There will be over 60 craft beers, 40 bourbons, and lots of good food. Tickets are still on sale for both Friday evening, 18:00 - 22:00 and Saturday afternoon, 14:00 - 18:00 with VIP tickets still available that get you in at 12:00. Unlike some festivals and tastings, there are no coupons or limits on what you can have, this is all you care to taste. Just be responsible! Check out their website at www.beerandbourbon.com. By supporting these kinds of events, you help ensure their continued existence.

Hope to see you there.

CIGAR REVIEW: Casa Magna - Colorado

2011-03-01T11:03:00.000-05:00

The latest of the cigars sent to me for review by Tobacconist University President Jorge Armenteros, is the Casa Magna - Colorado. The vitolla he sent was the 5-1/2 x 52 robusto, which if it matters to you was voted the #1 cigar of 2008 by Cigar Aficionado. The colorado robusto is the result of a joint effort by Manuel Quesada, who has been making cigars since 1974 (and whose family has been in the business since the 19th century I understand), and Nestor Plascencia, the largest grower of Nicaraguan tobacco and owner of the Segovia Cigar Factory in Esteli, Nicragua. The colorado, so named for the color of its capa, is a Nicaraguan puro made from Nicaraguan grown - Cuban seed tobacco harvested from the Esteli and Jalapa growing regions, which is then rolled at Segovia and distributed in boxes of 27. One of the most remarkable things about this cigar is not the great reviews or high marks it has received from others, but that it did so while costing around $6.00 each! As someone who is always on the look-out for a great every day cigar, I was looking forward to smoking this one to say the least, so I settled back on the aft-deck and made the most of a sunny, mild, February afternoon.

The Casa Magna's pre-light inspection revealed a capa which I place at colorado rosado in color, deserving of its name. It was slightly toothy, but flawless, which gave it a bit of a rugged look that I liked as well. The squeeze was great with no soft or hard spots and was very firm all over, indicating a well packed cigar. The foot was interesting with a visible swirl of light and dark tobaccos clearly visible in the bunch. The pre-light aroma was dominated by sweet tobacco with maybe slightly earthy notes present as well. Because of how well packed it was, I made a straight cut with a double-guillotine because using a punch-cutter on a cigar with a heavy bunch can make it difficult to draw and sometimes cause tarriness at the head. After cutting, the cap held together perfectly without any fraying or annoying tobacco fragments which like to get into your mouth. I then tested the pre-light draw which was firm and even and had what I though was a "hay-like" taste.

The Casa Magna lit evenly and easily with a soft-flame lighter and produced plenty of blue smoke from the draw. As the first 1/3 progressed it produced a fairly dark grey ash which was crisp and strong. I accidentally knocked a corner off early on and it still held on for almost 1-1/2 inches before finally dropping off. I didn't detect any particular flavor notes in the first 1/3 other than that of full-bodied tobacco which was very consistent. Around half-way a slight spicy tingle developed all around the tip of the tongue, which as I continued to smoke into the second half, moved to the sides. Throughout the middle-third I thought I detected occasional ground coffee notes but couldn't be sure as they were very subtle and short-lived. In the final 1/3 it seemed to have a slight astringent quality and perhaps some slight woody notes from time to time as well. Throughout the entirety of the smoke, the burn remained even and consistent and needed no touch-ups or re-lights with the over-all flavor remaining very consistent, although it didn't lend itself to retro-exhalation. If you read my reviews or study cigars you know that isn't a negative comment at all, it's just something I like to do to get the most out of any smoke.

How do I define an "every day cigar?" Well, there are some cigars that are so complex and flavorful that when you smoke them you want to relax and enjoy every moment of the experience. There are some you may reserve for only special occasions. Then there are those that you want to be able to smoke whenever you feel like it. Perhaps while working or golfing or while driving or maybe just when you can steal a peaceful moment. For me at least, these cigars still have to be handmade, premium quality cigars but are such that they don't require my full time and attention and have a price that doesn't make me pause. In a nutshell, it is a premium cigar that I can afford to smoke as I please. For this review I smoked two on two different days and had the same results. The Casa Magna was a pleasant smoke all the way through, had no problems, and was consistent from stem to stern. I smoked them down to the nubs and they never built up any tar, began to fray, or developed any unpleasant taste. The Casa Magna - Colorado is definitely going on my list of every day cigars.

CIGAR REVIEW - LIMITED EDITION: Paul Garmirian - Gourmet Series, Symphony 20

2010-12-11T20:36:00.001-05:00

Jorge Armenteros, President of Tobacconist University and owner of A Little Taste of Cuba, recently asked me to review a few cigars; the first of which is the Paul Garmirian (P.G.) - Gourmet Series, Symphony 20. The P.G. - Symphony 20 is a limited edition which was made in the Dominican Republic by Henky Kelner and Chief Blender Eladio Diaz to commemorate the Paul Garmirian line's 20th anniversary. It is released in a 6 x 52 Toro vitolla they call the "Connoisseur" in boxes of 20 each for about $340 a box / $17 per cigar and was only distributed to P.G.'s top sellers. The Symphony 20 is made with an Equadorian "cloud grown" hybrid Cuban seed capa, a Dominican grown Havana seed capote, and four tripas. The first is a Dominican Piloto Cubano region I, the second is a Dominican Piloto Cubano region II, the third is a Dominican experimental, and the fourth is a Honduran Havana seed. If the reader is curious, Piloto Cubano is a varietal family which is grown through out the Dominican Republic and Central America known for its flavor characteristics and used primarily for tripas. The Dominican experimental leaf is something which Henky Kelner claims has been aging in his warehouse for some time and can not be replicated. The Honduran Havana seed is a dark, air-cured tobacco seed varietal.

The Symphony 20 had a light oily sheen with a sleek feel, some veins and was about colorado oscuro in color. It had an excellent squeeze and there were no visible flaws on the capa. The pre-light aroma was sweet, perhaps molasses-like, with some light, woody undertones and a more pronounced sweetness from the foot. I made a straight cut with scissors and immediately recognized a well capped head. The pre-light draw was very smooth and the taste was excellent; sweet but not candy-like, more akin to a robust molasses, followed shortly by some spice on the tip of the tongue and back of the throat. It lit very easily with a soft-flame lighter and with the first puff, spice covered nearly the first 1/3 of the tongue and immediately started working toward the half-way point and back of the throat. Not strong or overpowering spice mind you, just enough to dominate the flavor profile. It produced plenty of blue smoke from the foot and white smoke on exhale, which was a little too spicy for retro-exhalation at first and took several easy tries to break it in following which the spice would roll through the sinuses and then build.

By about 1/2" in a pleasant spicy tingle had dropped anchor in the center of the tongue. The ash was nearly white by the ember but turned a sort of dark grey the further toward the end it got, split into a "V" and then spread open which made me suspicious of possible tunneling. It also broke off a little past 1" and felt very soft to the touch but I couldn't see any obvious signs on the foot of the tunneling I was wondering about so I continued on. Around the half-way point it needed a touch-up, but since I was smoking outside, I sort of attributed it to a breeze that was blowing. Also around half-way I started feeling a little bit of strength, following which the spice laid down and several minutes later a very relaxing sensation moved over me. The flavor profile of the second half, while mild and a bit elusive, seemed to be predominantly of a slight woodiness. It required a re-light shortly before the 2/3 mark and the ash still had the "V" split mentioned earlier. At this time I observed a discoloration on the band which I recognized as being caused by heat which confirmed tunneling, albeit deeper than I had suspected so I cut a chunk out and started again. Even with the fresh cut and re-light the tunneling continued and multiple re-lights were required through to the end with hints of char present in the taste as well. The second one I smoked for this review had the same flavor profiles and characteristics of the first and smoked fine until about the final 1/3 when it started tunneling also.

Make no mistake about it, aside from the problems mentioned above, the P.G. - Symphony 20 is a high-end premium cigar which I would smoke again. The pre-light experience was fantastic and the smoke was enjoyable. Let me say this about the tunneling problem, I discussed this with one of the most respected and knowledgeable Tobacconists in the business who has literally smoked hundreds of Symphony 20s and he told me he has never had a single problem. Like anything man-made, though they may be few and far between, there are bound to be eventual flaws with even the finest products. Considering that both P.G. - 20s I smoked had the same problem and came from the same batch, it is not unreasonable to speculate that they were a fluke which may have been the result of an individual roller's mistake. Remember, the Symphony 20 is a limited edition so try it for yourself and you be the judge.

CIGAR REVIEW - NEW RELEASE: H. Upmann - Sun Grown

2010-10-29T17:33:00.001-04:00

My very good friend and drinking buddy, Rob Garrison (Territiory Manager - Altadis U.S.A.), recently gave me a new release from one of their premium brands, the H. Upmann - Sun Grown. The Sun Grown was debuted at the 2010 IPCR and is currently making its way onto Tobacconist's shelves. It is made in Honduras at the La Flor de Copan cigar factory and is being released in six vitollas: Churchill - 54 x 7, Magnum - 54 x 6, Short Churchill - 54 x 4-1/2, No. 2 - 52 x 6-1/8, Corona - 44 x 5-1/2, and Lancero - 40 x 7-1/2. It is made with an Equadorian sun grown capa, a Connecticut broadleaf capote, and a Nicaraguan and Honduran blend tripa; ranging in price roughly between $6 - $8. For this review I smoked the Magnum and No. 2.

The Sun Grown's capa had a few veins which gave it a good look and was smooth to the touch with a color I put somewhere between colorado maduro and maduro. It squeezed nicely and was very firm, perhaps a little stiff in places but nothing of concern and there were no soft spots or visible flaws. The foot revealed what appeared to be a well packed cigar, which I certainly like and explains the firmness of the squeeze. The pre-light aroma was mild to moderate and very sweet and pleasant. I made a straight cut with a double guillotine and tested the pre-light taste and draw. The taste was sweet like the aroma and woody, while the draw gave decent resistance while being very smooth. Using a match it took a little bit to light, due to the ring gauge and apparent good pack, but once lit was very even.

The Sun Grown started off with a little bit of spice on the tongue and retro-exhalation was easy with some spice around mid-sinus. It didn't produce much smoke until about 1/4" to 1/2" in leaving behind a light grey ash with dark rings. The spice essentially subsided early on and relatively mild woody flavor notes took over. A little past 1" in a taste developed at the back of the throat which I couldn't really put my finger on and no other flavors jumped out or dominated through the first 1/3. The ash dropped off at about 1-3/4" and shortly afterward I began to detect leathery notes that lingered pleasantly after each puff. From then on through the final 1/3, wood and leather was the consistent flavor with a bit more spice emerging again in the last 2". Throughout the entire smoke the burn was very even and never required a touch-up or re-light.

All in all the H. Upmann - Sun Grown was a pleasant, enjoyable smoke. Fans of medium body cigars I think will certainly like it. The sweetness of the aroma was one of my favorite aspects of this cigar and because of its over-all mellowness, it makes a good mid-day choice. It is also a good choice for relaxing alone or with friends because you don't have to devote your attention to a complex flavor profile.

CIGAR REVIEW - LIMITED RELEASE: Tatuaje - Private Reserve Black Tubo

2010-10-25T16:47:00.003-04:00

I know I haven't written a review for some time now, but I have read your e-mails and listened to the comments from those I have spoken with. 2010 has been a hectic year leaving me precious little time for some of the things I enjoy most; so to all the readers, web-sites, magazines, and news letters I write for, I apologize. That being said, on to the good stuff.

The topic of this review is the Tatuaje - Private Reserve Black Tubo. You may notice that as the background for the photos I used my chopper (another of those things I haven't had much time for). I did this as a tribute to Pete Johnson, owner of Tatuaje, because the first time we met I had been out on it and Pete and I spent some time talking about our shared enjoyment of riding. Pete said the inspiration for the Black Tubo came from a trip he took to, "an island famous for its cigars", which one can only assume is Cuba. While there he was given an un-banded, very rustic looking cigar by a man who had it in his shirt pocket. He later learned that among many of the local cigar lovers is a tradition of rolling their own blends for themselves to suit their personal taste, hence Private Reserve in the name of this cigar. Pete never forgot how much he enjoyed that cigar and the Black Tubo is his tribute to it.

Released in 2009 the Black Tubo in my opinion is a Pyramid, even though it doesn't flare outward at the foot. Some have called it a Torpedo but by definition a Torpedo tapers at the head and foot which this does not. Made in Nicaragua and distributed only in a 6-1/8" x 52 vitolla in boxes of 10 each, it has a Belicoso style head and unfinished foot, and is a Nicaraguan puro with a Criollo '98 capa. The capa, which I put between colorado and colorado rosado in color, was rugged in appearance with plenty of teeth and veins present, although surprisingly soft to the touch. It passed the squeeze test with flying colors being very firm but not hard and had no flaws or soft spots. The pre-light aroma was very sweet with strong woody and earth notes. I thought I detected a cedar influence; however, it had been in one of my humidours for nearly a year so that has to be taken into consideration. I have to say though that I spent many minutes just enjoying and trying to define the complexity of the aroma.

Finally I made a straight cut with scissors which was perfectly clean and never frayed or produced any debris all the way through to the end of the smoke; evidence of quality rolling and tobacco. The pre-light taste was woody, like the aroma, and the draw was almost effortless. It lit easily and evenly, even with the unfinished foot and produced plenty of smooth, light grey smoke. The first puff was filled with pepper and had perhaps a slight woody finish. Throughout the first 1/2", pepper was the dominant taste but then began to mellow and the slightest tingle started around the tip of the tongue. Even in the first 1/3 this cigar was showing strongly bi-phasic qualities, coming right off the blocks with good strength which was followed by an extremely relaxed feeling even though I hadn't eaten in some time. Retro-exhalation was a bit hot but that's expected from a strong cigar and the spice could be pleasantly felt throughout the sinuses. The ash didn't drop off until almost a solid 2" in and was firm and crisp feeling, following which a slight touch-up was required. Around mid-way mellow, woody notes were the dominant and consistent taste but as it progressed into the final 1/3, pepper and spice began to re-emerge but didn't overwhelm. A slight tingle as well as what was perhaps a "roasty" taste also spread along the middle of the tongue and a second slight touch-up was needed. It finished nicely and the taste lingered a little while but not at all in an unpleasant way.

I give the Tatuaje - Private Reserve Black Tubo very high over-all marks. It was a very enjoyable cigar that you'll want to sit back and enjoy. In fact, it was one of those cigars that you debate with yourself about when to let the nub go, probably right about the time that it burns your fingers because there isn't enough left to hold on to. The bad thing about the Black Tubo is they are no longer in production, so if you see some at your tobacconist, grab them.

As always,
I wish you Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
The Cap'n

National Maritime Day

2010-05-19T09:11:00.001-04:00

In 1933 Congress declared that 22 May of each year would be National Maritime Day in honor of all the U.S. Merchant Mariners who have faithfully served their country, "In Peace And War." The date was chosen because that is when in 1819, the Steam Ship SAVANNA sailed from the United States to Great Britain, making the first Atlantic crossing under steam power. During World War II, more than 250,000 U.S. Merchant Mariners served their country with more than 6,700 laying their lives upon the "alter of freedom", hundreds more held as prisoners of war and more than 800 vessels sunk or damaged. Each year the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling on all Americans to observe National Maritime Day by properly displaying our national flag in suitable locations.

The U.S. Merchant Marine has always been a vital part of the success and survival of our great nation. From serving as privateers and transporting combat cargo in times of war, to carrying the products that feed the global economy to and from the United States in times of peace. Approximately 95% of everything we purchase or use every day traveled aboard a merchant vessel.

I hope you will take a brief moment of your day to think of and perhaps even say a prayer for the men and women who go down to the sea in ships, the United States Merchant Marine, In Peace And War - since 1775.

CIGAR REVIEW: Nestor Miranda Collection - Special Selection Rosado

2010-01-17T13:41:00.011-05:00

I recently smoked the Nestor Miranda Collection - Special Selection Rosado with Mr. Rene Castaneda, Sales Director of Miami Cigar & Company. This line was first introduced in 2007 and is named after the companies founder. It is released in five vitolas in both Rosado and Oscuro: Robusto (5-1/2 x 52), Toro (6 x 60), Lonsdale, called the "Lancero" introduced in 2008 (7-1/2 x 40), Double Corona, called the "Danno" introduced in 2009 (7 x 56), and a Perfecto, called the "Ruky" also introduced in 2009 (5-5/8 x 52 figurado), costing around $8.00 each, give or take. They are all hand-made in Esteli, Nicaragua under the supervision of Pepin Garcia. Rene tells me the Rosados are mild to medium in body and the Oscuros are medium to full. He hooked me up with a nice selection of each but for this review I smoked the Robusto and Perfecto - Rosado.

The Rosado is made with Nicaraguan and Dominican tripa, a Nicaraguan capote, and a Nicaraguan capa which was silky with nice veins, no apparent flaws, and colorado rosado in color. It had a very pleasant and mild tobacco pre-light aroma, seemed well packed, and squeezed well. I made a straight cut on each and tested the pre-light draw which on the Robusto was very smooth and easy; on the Perfecto was a bit tighter. This is not at all unusual considering that the Perfecto vitola starts from a small opening in the foot, widens suddenly, and then reduces again toward the head.

They both lit very easily and almost right away the Perfecto's draw loosened up, certainly a result of skilled bunching. They both started out with a nice, mild pepper / spice and the Perfecto seemed to have what was perhaps a mild coffee flavor as well. In the first 1/3 the Robusto developed a mild tingle on the sides of the tongue and the Perfecto had a slight dryness on the tip. They each produced plenty of light-grey smoke and a medium-grey ash which held on for over 2". Retro-exhalation was at first slightly hot but became smooth, easy, and pleasant after easing into it a time or two. The Robusto had more pepper / spice than I was expecting which was consistent throughout, but never got too strong or overpowering at any time and held onto its medium body. The Perfecto mellowed some after the initial pepper and presented what I thought were roasted coffee undertones and a dryness that followed each draw. Shortly past the half-way point, a touch of spice re-emerged in the Perfecto which remained through to the end. Again, the ash held on for over two inches on each and the burn was excellent all the way to the end. I smoked them both to the nub and they never got tarry or bitter, even to the last puff.

Overall I would have to emphasize the consistency of the Rosado throughout, and in my opinion they hold fast in the medium body realm. They gave every indication of being a well made, high quality cigar both pre-light and while smoking. The Nestor Miranda Collection - Special Selection Rosado is a very good cigar and I recommend you try it. Its medium body and relatively mild strength makes it a good choice for early in the day or evenings and you don't need a full belly to enjoy it. I'm looking forward to smoking the Oscuro, thanks again Rene.

BEER REVIEW: Clipper City - Yule Tide

2010-01-07T09:37:00.002-05:00

The latest addition to Baltimore's own Clipper City Brewing Company - Mutiny Fleet is their holiday brew Yule Tide, a Belgian style triple ale, which like the rest of the Mutiny Fleet is distributed in 22 ounce bombers. I realize I'm a little behind on this one being January now and all, but I have been busy and besides, its still cold out (below freezing where I live) which makes a strong holiday ale just right. As I said, Yule Tide is a belgian style triple which is 10% ABV / 10 IBU. It is brewed with two kinds of hops and four kinds of malts which they didn't specify. Additionally it includes trappist yeast and Belgian candi sugar.

It poured with an attractive, slightly hazy, amber / orange color which I place at about a 13 on the Standard Reference Method (SRM) scale. It didn't produce any real head or lace but what was there was thin and white to slightly off-white in color. It also appeared to be mildly carbonated with some slow rising bubbles persisting throughout. The initial aroma was a treat; very sweet and molasses-like with perhaps subtle notes of apricot. The first sip was crisp and slightly sweet at first, giving way immediately to a mild spiciness, subtle citrus notes, and not much bitterness. There was no strong alcohol taste or associated heat; however, some taste was mildly present. The mouthfeel was at first tingly on the tongue, then soft and nondescript on the cheeks, followed by a little creaminess mostly on the tongue. The final pour had plenty of floaties, mostly yeast of course which laid on the bottom of the glass, but there were some which were suspended in the liquid column up to two inches from the bottom and were darker in color, perhaps undissolved spices.

Overall, Clipper City's Yule Tide was OK but I didn't desire another one when I was finished. To be fair though, I am not often a fan of some of the Belgian styles so as to not unfairly bias my review, I evaluated it against the standards of the Beer Judge Certification Program. Yule Tide seemed to generally fall within the accepted parameters of Belgian triples and I thought it was medium in body (+/-), but on the down side in my opinion it was perhaps a little syrupy and I didn't care for the "coated" feeling it left in my mouth for some time after finishing. As always, try it for yourself and you be the judge, the best beer is the one you like.

CIGAR REVIEW: Carlos Torano - 1916 Cameroon

2009-12-30T08:23:00.005-05:00

The Carlos Torano - 1916 Cameroon was introduced in 2003 to commemorate Don Santiago Torano's emigration from Spain to Cuba. It is hand-made in Esteli, Nicaragua in four vitollas: Robusto (5.5" x 52), Corona (5.5" x 42), Torpedo (6.5" x 54), and Churchill (7" x 48); each of which are cellos with a thin cedar wrapping. The capa is Nicaraguan grown Cameroon, the capote is Havana-seed Nicaraguan, and the tripa is a blend of Honduran and Nicaraguan. Torano describes the 1916 Cameroon as being a, "slow burning, well balanced, medium body cigar with distinctive hints of pepper, caramel, nuts, and sweet spice with a long, smooth finish." The vitolla I smoked for this review was the Robusto.

The 1916 had a very pleasant and sweet pre-light aroma with a color between colorado and colorado-rosado. It had several lumps and bumps in the capa but no knots or hard / soft spots; however, there were some color inconsistencies with small greenish spots here and there. It squeezed very firmly and judging by the foot, appeared to be well packed. I made a straight-cut with scissors and tested the pre-light draw and taste which had pretty fair resistance and a slight bitterness at first which subsided right away and was followed immediately by a woody, sweet taste. It took a little fire to get it lit well but I attribute that to the apparent well packed quality I mentioned a moment ago. Once lit it began to burn very well and produced plenty of distinctive blue smoke with a noticeable woody taste.

About 1/2" in I began to detect a distinct pepper / spice tingle on the top 1/3 of the tongue. Retro-exhalation was possible but had to be done gently, otherwise it would burn a little and trigger a cough. As it burned it left behind a crispy, very light grey, almost white ash with a few dark spots which held on for the full first 1/3 before dropping off on its own. Around the 1" mark the distinctness of the pepper was still present but the tingle had mellowed and each puff was followed by a dry finish. The middle 1/3 continued to mellow but still had some pepper notes and the dry finish while a mild woody taste developed on the lips. Farther into the middle 1/3 the strength of the pepper re-emerged across the middle-top of the tongue and the ash dropped off again on its own with the full middle 1/3 and part of the last 1/3 (indicating good long-filler tobacco and skilled rolling). The final 1/3 smoked with slight wood and pepper notes and the dry finish continued to the end.

Overall, the Carlos Torano - 1916 Cameroon was a decent smoke. From beginning to end it didn't require a single touch-up or re-light. I thought it was going to need a touch-up a couple times but it corrected itself and continued to burn smoothly. I didn't notice much in the way of complexity so it's not the kind of cigar you need to devote your full time and attention to; however, it struck me as being the kind of cigar that would be good with a beverage and while I smoked it, Macallan 12 year old single malt Scotch kept coming to mind, perhaps because its fruity nose and smooth taste would be a good balance and compliment to the wood, pepper, and dryness of the 1916.

CIGAR REVIEW - SPECIAL RELEASE: Tatuaje - Drac 2009

2009-12-06T18:05:00.000-05:00

Pete Johnson, brand owner of Tatuaje, has been releasing annual special edition cigars around Halloween he calls the Monster Series. One of this year's releases, and the subject of this review, is the Drac-2009. Before I go any further, let me address some major issues which have surrounded this cigar. The Dracs were shipped in painted and lacquered, coffin shaped boxes which have been at the root of the primary complaint. There have been numerous complaints about a terrible odor emanating from the box and even some about that odor and even a flavor having been imparted to the cigars themselves. The Drac is a Halloween themed cigar which of course, had to be released by 31 October, but according to Pete Johnson the box maker in Nicaragua wasn't able to complete the boxes until shortly before the release date. This resulted in the boxes not having time to air out before they were packed, wrapped in cellophane, and ultimately shipped. When opened by B&Ms or individual buyers at their final destination, the trapped odor from the paint and lacquer has poured out. The second complaint about these cigars is that many of the wrappers were damaged when the boxes were opened and the cigars were still "wet."

For the first problem, Pete recommends that you remove the cigars from their original box and place them in your humidor to rest and age for a while. If you want to keep the box, let it air out for a few weeks and he says it should be fine. This is why I'm reviewing a Halloween themed cigar at the beginning of December. For the second problem, he says if you have any damaged cigars, return them to Tatuaje in an uncut, unlit, unsmoked fashion and they will replace them. I have heard some people say that they think the Dracs were released too soon and the moist tripa expanded causing the capa to "burst." Who can say for sure, but Pete says they were in tact when they were shipped and each of the ones I smoked for this review had none of the reported bad smell or damage. I also checked with one of the top B&Ms in my area and they said they had heard of these problems but had not experienced them. There is an in depth explanation on the Tatuaje website of what I just reiterated, so on to the smoke.

The Drac was released in a 6-3/4 x 52 "fang-shaped" Torpedo vitolla, in 1,300 boxes of 13 cigars each with a recommended price of $13 per cigar (before taxes and other penalties of course). There were also a certain number of "Spooky Tickets" placed in various boxes, the finders winning something from Tatuaje (reminiscent of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory). The Drac is a Nicaraguan puro with a Habano maduro capa which was perhaps just a shade below maduro in color with no real visible flaws. It was adorned with a simple black and red band at the foot, had a smooth texture with some nice veins but felt very light in the hand. The squeeze test was a bit odd; it seemed to give too much close beneath the capa and didn't firm up until under pressure. These could all be signs of poor packing, but I'm not certain this is the case here and that would definitely be out of character for Tatuaje. The pre-light aroma was very mild with the slightest hint of sweetness but no real perceptible notes. I made a straight cut with a single guillotine which the head stood up to without fraying. The reason I mention this is because a single guillotine only cuts from one side and exerts pressure from the other which can easily cause damage, so this was sort of a quality test. The pre-light draw was easy and had a slight woody taste, following which it lit easily and evenly and produced a good amount of grey smoke from the draw.

Initially there was a mild woody taste and a hint of bitterness on the middle-top of the tongue which went away quickly. The tiniest spice tingle snuck up on the tip of the tongue about 1/4" into it and retro-exhalation was a bit harsh but could be done very gently. As it smoked it produced a light-grey ash with hints of dark undertones which was soft and a little crisp and had an interesting 'rippled' appearance to it which held on for the whole first 1/3. Up to this point it burned well but required its first touch-up about 1-1/2" in. Into the middle 1/3 the ash became a little flaky and irregular and dropped off quickly. A charred / burnt flavor would occasionally present itself but only briefly before passing. Just past the half-way point it required a full re-light and bitterness became the dominant taste on the top of the tongue. Through the final 1/3 it required minor touch-ups and couldn't shake the bitterness which ultimately took over the entire center of the tongue and lingered a while.

I met Pete Johnson a couple years ago and liked him which is when he turned me onto his Cojonu cigar (but that is another review). As I mentioned above, cigars with quality problems would certainly be out of character for Tatuaje and I am a fan of their smokes, but I have to give my honest opinion here, "Puro Integritas." Reputation is huge in this business and something like this can hurt a good company. While they couldn't control the problems with the boxes, perhaps they should have bit the bullet and held on to them until next Halloween; the boxes wouldn't have been a problem and cigars get better with age. Also, some of the problems others have reported, as well as the ones I experienced, could possibly indicate a "wet" cigar. There is a time following a cigar's rolling known as, "the period of sickness." Some say it is only a myth, some say it is true, but the general consensus among believers is that from a few months up to a year after being rolled, a cigar may still be overly humidified from the tobacco being moistened prior to rolling. During this period it may still give off ammonia (which is alkaline and causes bitterness), have problems burning, or have not much in the way of flavor at all and should not be smoked. I'm not saying this is in fact the case with the Drac, I'm just presenting some possibilities. Don't let any of this put you off from smoking Tatuajes, they are a good company that makes good cigars which can frequently be found in my humidor.

CIGAR REVIEW: Hoya de Monterrey - Rothschild Maduro

2009-11-20T08:56:00.007-05:00

I recently smoked the Hoya de Monterrey - Rothschild Maduro (4.5" x 50) by General Cigar. This isn't one of my usual brands but I received a couple different vitollas from a sales rep earlier this year which have been aging in my humidor and I finally decided to give one a try. Besides, I read a couple reviews that said they weren't a bad low-cost cigar that was good for "everyday" smoking so I was looking forward to it.

The Rothschild's capa is Equadorian Sumatra; its capote is Connecticut broadleaf; and its tripa is Honduran, Nicaraguan, and Dominican. Initial examination revealed a relatively consistent, near maduro color, with nice veins and texture. It wasn't very firm, maybe even a little soft with a soft spot found under the band, and by the look of the foot, wasn't very well packed. The pre-light aroma was of mild tobacco, pleasant but lacking any real notes. Following a punch cut, I found the pre-light draw to be fine but the taste was of bland tobacco and not much of it.

The Hoya - Rothschild lit easily enough and produced plenty of grey smoke but was harsh tasting from the first puff. Retro-exhalation was just not happening and made me want to cough. As the first 1/3 progressed, a harsh, unpleasant taste covered my tongue and a strange, perhaps "tangy" sensation / taste developed that made me want to spit a lot. It smoked a great deal while at rest which made me wonder if it was burning too fast but it did maintain an even burn until into the middle 1/3, at which time it started needing touch-ups. The ash was medium-grey in color with different shades in different parts, was crispy and had lots of cracks, but it did hold on pretty well. As I continued to smoke the Rothschild, its wrapper bubbled and flaked in places and a bitter taste dominated through to the end.

Many factors can affect an individual cigar including but not limited to its manufacture, the environment it is smoked in, and even the smoker themselves. An individual bad cigar in a premium line can also be a fluke, which I myself have experienced in the past. Let me qualify my remarks with this, I received this cigar some time ago and it has been in my personal humidor ever since, marrying with several drawers of super-premium cigars. My humidor has an electronically monitored and controlled active humidifier that maintains optimal humidity levels. This is important because over or under humidification can severely affect a cigar's taste and smoking qualities. I smoked this cigar outside and by my self so no one else's smoke could have interfered and I also hadn't eaten or drank anything for a couple hours which could have altered the natural pH in my mouth. All that being said, this was NOT a good cigar. Everything about it was bad and at this point, I cannot recommend it to anyone. As stated above, I acknowledge that this cigar may not be representative of the Rothschild line and to be fair I am willing to try another one; however, I certainly won't buy it.

CIGAR REVIEW - NEW RELEASE: Drew Estate - Liga Privada T-52

2009-11-17T16:30:00.000-05:00

I was recently given a new cigar to try by one of the lovely ladies of the Pecunes family, owners of The Humidour Cigar Shoppe in Cockeysville, MD and some of the most respected Tobacconists I know. She said it was one of their favorites from the 2009 IPCPR convention and they were going to be selling them at their shop. The cigar; the new Liga Privada T-52 from Drew Estate. Well when I hear Drew Estate, what comes to mind is "flavored" and "infused", not necessarily premium cigars; however, I respect the Pecunes families opinion, so I settled back into a big leather chair in their cigar lounge with it. Please understand that I am not being critical of anyone's personal taste, "flavored" and "infused" cigars just aren't my preference is all. Don't forget, taste is subjective!

Liga Privada means "Private Blend" and Drew Estate claims it was originally intended not for general release but to be smoked by their President, Steven Saka. They say that while looking for something unique, they discovered a farmer in Connecticutt who was experimenting with a new sungrown Connecticutt broadleaf stalk-cut varietal he called, "American Habano." According to Drew Estate, this new American Habano capa (wrapper) is hand-fermented, not sweated; the capote (binder) is Brazillian Mata-Fina; and the tripa (filler) is a combination of Dominican, Nicaraguan, and Honduran tobaccos, with each finished cigar aged at least a year. They are being released in various vitollas ranging in price from $10.65 to $14.20. The one I smoked was a Toro, 6 x 52.

The T-52's wrapper was dark and oily with a color I put somewhere between colorado-maduro to maduro. It had a nice texture with slight teeth and an almost slippery feeling. The pre-light aroma was very mild but pleasant and a cut with a double-guillotine revealed a very good draw with an interesting flavor that left a slight sensation of pepper on the tip of the tongue. The 52 lit easily and I noticed right away that the heat made oil extrude from the wrapper up to about 1/4 inch from the ember. I have heard about some unreputable makers coating their cigars with adjuncts and claiming it was an oily wrapper, but I have to say, this looked like the real thing. The flavor started off mellow with subtle notes that were hard to pin down; maybe cocoa, maybe coffee bean. Retro-exhalation was pretty easy overall with mild to moderate spice sensations from around mid-sinus all the way to the end of the nose. It produced a light-grey to almost white smoke with moderate amounts from the draw and lots from the foot making me wonder if it was burning too fast. The smoke was cool and smooth though and by the end of the first 1/3, pepper notes began to emerge down the sides and on the tip of the tongue with the slightest note on the back of the throat.

I was more than 2 inches into it and the medium to dark-grey ash, which was crisp and grainy, was still hanging on. I finally knocked it off just to keep from eventually making a mess of myself and looking like an amateur. In the middle 1/3 a mouth watering flavor developed inside the lips and slightly more pepper emerged with the overall flavor picking up around mid-mouth and on top of the tongue. I detected leathery notes around the mid-way point which I realized may have been one of the flavors earlier that I wasn't able to pin down. Past the half-way point I detected creamy, chocolaty notes, and that mouth watering flavor progressed. Into the final 1/3 a fair peppery spice emerged which carried through to the end.

The T-52 didn't require any touch-ups or re-lights until close to the nub and the easy retro-exhalation continued until the final 1/3. There was some complexity of flavor, which while subtle throughout, was certainly present. I have to say it, this was a good cigar and I recommend it. I even tried one with a glass of ruby Porto and they went well together. Drew Estate may not make most of their living in the realm of traditional cigars, but that doesn't mean they don't know how. Good job guys.

Notable Quote

2009-11-16T19:32:00.001-05:00

"I like to drink in peace; however I see you're in need of a good beating and I'm always willing to help a poor bastard out."
-Anonymous Irishman

VETERANS DAY

2009-11-11T08:15:00.001-05:00

Today, 11 November, is Veterans Day; a day to pay tribute to all those who have served our great nation. Keep your politics to yourself and take a moment to give thanks. If you know or see a Veteran, say thanks or just give a nod. No matter what your personal feelings may be, without them you don't get to have an opinion.

Whenever they go, wherever they go, support our troops.
May GOD bless and protect them all.

234th Marine Corps Birthday

2009-11-10T07:34:00.002-05:00

Today is one of the most important dates of the year, the birthday of the United States Marine Corps. The Marine Corps, America's expeditionary force in readiness and the most elite fighting force in the history of the world, was created 234 years ago on 10 November 1775 when the Second Continental Congress decreed that two battalions of Marines be raised for service in the War of Independence. Captain Samuel Nicholas was appointed as their commanding officer and is considered the first Commandant of the Marine Corps. Appropriately, recruitment for the Marines was conducted in a tavern and free beer was offered in return for enlistment; and so it began...

Yes, The Cap'n honorably served in The Corps before joining the Merchant Marine.

SEMPER FIDELIS (Always Faithful)

B & M REVIEW: Davidus Cigars - Annapolis

2009-11-08T09:19:00.002-05:00

The forces of good have established another toe-hold deep inside enemy territory! Last night I attended the grand opening of the Castro brothers' newest shop in their Davidus Cigars chain located at 2134 Generals Highway in Annapolis. Annapolis is the Maryland state capital and, I'm proud to say, home of the United States Naval Academy. Unfortunately, it is also a bastion of the smoking-nazis who relentlessly attempt to destroy our Constitutional Rights, so they must have hated to issue the business license.

The event was enjoyable and catered with hearty Italian food, so if anyone left hungry it was their own fault. That's the problem with Italian food, two or three days later you're hungry again... The shop is spacious and offers a nice selection of humidors, lighters, pipes, tobaccos, and other accessories in the retail area. The walk-in humidor (or should I say the walk around in humidor) was one of the larger ones I've seen and well stocked. There was a very good selection overall which included many of the super-premium cigars from some of the best makers in the business. The shop also boasts a large Diamond Crown Lounge, sponsored by - you guessed it - Diamond Crown Cigars. The lounge was very roomy with several big leather chairs, two flat screen TVs, free wi-fi, a pool table, and an attached cigar locker room with 72 lockers for rent. One of the things I liked about the lounge was that it seemed both conducive to friendly conversation and private relaxation at the same time. All of the interior walls are glass, which adds to the spacious feeling and lets you see all the goings on. The staff was pleasant and helpful and includes my good friend, Mr. John Vanore CRT, so kudos to the Castro brothers for recognizing the importance and value of hiring a Tobacconist University certified expert.

If you are a local or happen to find yourself in the Annapolis area, stop in, relax, and enjoy a good smoke. Support your local premium brick & mortar Tobacconist! Best wishes for success to the new shop.

Davidus Cigars Ltd. - Annapolis
2134 Generals Highway
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
410.573.1212
www.davidus.com

CIGAR REVIEW: La Flor Dominicana - Ligero Cabinet Oscuro

2009-11-07T08:11:00.004-05:00

La Flor Dominicana - Ligero Cabinet Oscuro, by Lito Gomez, isn't a new release but it is a regular in my humidor so I thought I would share it with you. It is their first full-bodied release and while not a true maduro cigar, they tell me they obtained the oscuro color and full-bodied flavor profile by applying a new proprietary method of trabajando to the aged ligero leaves used to make it. What was told to me by a representative was that the method is a company secret but try to imagine an overly ripe banana... It comes in several parejo vitollas: L200 - 40 x 4 7/8, L250 - 48 x 5 3/4, L300 - 50 x 5 3/4, L400 - 54 x 5 3/4, L500 - 60 x 5 3/4, and one they call the Mysterio which is a figurado.

The Cabinet Oscuro is made with an Equadorian Sumatra wrapper, and Dominican binder and fillers from their own farm in La Canela, Dominican Republic. It has a beautiful, shiny, oily wrapper (in fact probably one of the oiliest you will encounter), with nice texture and teeth. It squeezed well, had no soft spots, and was obviously well packed. It has a very enjoyable, sweet pre-light aroma that changes slightly as you go from head to foot and is more pronounced at the open foot. I made a punch-cut and tested the draw which was smooth and easy and left a very mild, earthy tobacco taste on the lips and tongue. After lighting, the flavor starts out with a very mild spice on the tip of the tongue which slowly begins to build. It produces a grey, "stringy" smoke that looks like it is slowly pulling apart as it floats away. As it burns it leaves behind a light-grey ash with dark undertones and highlights which flakes a bit, but otherwise holds on pretty well. Retro-exhalation is pretty easy until you are near the very end and leaves pepper notes in the sinuses. As the flavor profile develops, it becomes a little peppery which can be felt on the tongue and holds on throughout. The pepper picks up some just past the half-way point but never becomes overwhelming and maintains a noticeable balance and consistency all the way to the dry, mild-spice finish.

The La Flor - Ligero Cabinet Oscuro is one of my favorite choices when the time and mood is right. While it is upper-medium to full-bodied, it is not overly strong but definitely has enough to bring on the leading edge of a buzz so you should certainly eat first. One thing to be aware of is that every one I have ever smoked required a fair amount of touching up and even re-lighting. I don't think this is a quality issue like with some cigars, I sort of attribute it to being a side effect of the heavy oiliness of the wrapper which is a good thing.

BEER REVIEW: Samuel Smith's - Imperial Stout

2009-11-05T21:05:00.003-05:00

Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout is a Russian Imperial Stout with an eye-catching, old style label reminiscent of its Victorian roots. It is 7% ABV but other than that, they really don't tell you much else about it. I first had it at a tasting event some time ago and enjoyed it very much but haven't gotten around to reviewing it until now.

It pours with an opaque, dark black color with the slightest ruby hints at the edges that could only be revealed by direct, bright light. It developed a tall, light-brown head that was creamy and fluffy. The initial aroma was very light and only of sweet malt which I thought was a bit odd. That is when I realized that it had been chilled to standard refrigerator temperature which is well below its recommended serving temperature of approximately 60 degrees. After allowing it to warm a bit, the aroma evolved into one you could really stick you nose into. It was deep and complex but all its notes were subtle and required hunting, which is part of the fun for me. The malty sweetness remained but I also detected slight notes of vanilla and chocolate. The first sip doesn't disappoint either. The mouthfeel starts with a moderate tingle on the front of the tongue which subsides quickly, developing into a thick, creamy feel all over the mouth. The taste is initially slightly sweet which instantly gives way to the hops and alcohol, which blend excellently. The flavor has complexity, but like the aroma, the notes are subtle and you have to work for them. I detected bitter chocolate, hops, some roast, and smoke. It finishes dry with slight black coffee notes and lingers a little.

Samuel Smith's Imperial Stout is an excellent beer. It is right in line with the expected characteristics of this style while maintaining great balance throughout. I recommend you use a sniff and sip technique while drinking and enjoy it slowly to get the most out of it. It has the qualities to be enjoyed alone or with food. It even has the legs to stand with a full-bodied, maduro cigar.

BEER REVIEW: Brasserie de Cazeau - Tournay Black

2009-11-04T19:26:00.009-05:00

Tournay Black is a bottle conditioned, Belgian stout brewed by Brasserie de Cazeau which is a farm-brewery located in the south of Belgium. It was originally brewed as a winter ale under the name Tournay de Noel, but later became a year-round release. They didn't provide much specific detail about how it was brewed except to say that it is made with water, malts, candi-sugar, hops, and yeast. It is 7.6% ABV with a recommended drinking temperature of +/- 50 degrees. The brewer states that the tasting notes are of, "roasted malts, coffee, bitter chocolate, earth, and cigar ash." Well, I am a prodigious cigar smoker and I can't say that I would want to consume the ash.

Tournay Black poured with a very dark brown color and produced a tall, tan head which was pretty thick and lasted for a bit, but once it laid down, it totally disappeared; although it did leave fair lace behind at the top of the glass but not so much as it progressed. The nose was sweet and malty with what may have been subtle caramel notes. The mouthfeel was initially very crisp, especially on the tongue, perhaps due to the carbonation and alcohol content, but got a little creamier as the beer warmed. I don't mean as each sip warmed in the mouth, I mean as the beer itself warmed as it sat so perhaps you should follow the brewers recommendations because I think mine was a little more chilled. The taste had a pleasant, mild bitterness with perhaps very subtle notes of bakers chocolate and a lasting finish, but overall, not much complexity. Additionally, shortly after finishing it a residual astringent / chalky taste and mouthfeel developed which persisted for a little while.

This was a decent stout in general and I did enjoy drinking it. I wouldn't put it near the top of my list though and probably wouldn't buy it again, but that's my opinion. There is some suspicion however, that mine may have been past it's "best by" date, but this isn't confirmed.

BEER REVIEW: Atwater Block Brewery - Vanilla Java Porter

2009-11-03T12:04:00.001-05:00

Atwater Block Brewery’s – Vanilla Java Porter is described as a “robust porter… sure to please” made with chocolate and coffee malts; U.S. Golding hops; vanilla and coffee adjuncts; and weighs in at 6% ABV. Vanilla and coffee flavors in beer may sound a bit unusual to some, but I like both and they could go well in a porter if well made, so I figured I would give it a try.

Vanilla Java Porter poured with an attractive dark-brown color which when held to a light, revealed a slight ruby tint and a near opaqueness. It developed a light-tan head, which laid down quickly and left practically no lace behind. It had a sweet, malty nose with chocolate notes and slight hints of coffee and vanilla. The first sip revealed a crispness on the front of the tongue with a creamy mouth-feel on the top of the tongue and roof of the mouth. As it drank, a strange taste developed that I really couldn’t put a finger on but seemed almost “tangy”. It was also thin and watery and not at all like a porter.

In my opinion (for what its worth) Atwater’s – Vanilla Java Porter did not live up to its own claims or my hopes. “Robust”, no way; porter, not quite; I just can’t recommend this one. The first time I tried it was at a tasting event and I thought it was OK and worth reviewing; however, there were 97 beers at this event and I was pretty far along at the time…

BEER REVIEW: Rogue Ales - Chocolate Stout

2009-10-29T14:22:00.002-04:00

Rogue Ales – Chocolate Stout is an American Stout style made with Northwest Harrington and Klages, Crystral 135-165, Beeston Chocolate, rolled oats, and barley malts; Cascade hops; imported Dutch bitter-sweet chocolate adjuncts; Rogue’s Pacman yeast, and “free-range coastal water” (as opposed to the domesticated variety I guess…). It is 15 degrees Plato (a measure of the dissolved solids in beer), 69 IBU, 77 AA (Apparent Attenuation), and 135 degrees Lovibond (a measure of color mostly replaced by the Standard Reference Method {SRM}).

Rogue – Chocolate Stout poured with an opaque, ebony color that revealed ruby notes when held to a light. It had a chocolate-brown, creamy, slightly sweet head with a deep, semi-sweet to bitter-sweet chocolate nose. It had a crisp feeling on the tongue and the back of the throat that accompanied a crisp flavor of bitter-sweet chocolate and left a bitter / residual alcohol finish.

This was a good beer but not exactly what I was expecting. By no means a statement about the quality of this beer of course, just that my taste leans more toward a sweeter and chocolaty flavor in this style. Remember, taste is highly subjective!

BEER REVIEW: Clipper City - The Great Pumpkin Imperial Pumpkin Ale

2009-10-29T13:12:00.003-04:00

The latest Fall seasonal from Clipper City’s Mutiny Fleet is The Great Pumpkin – Imperial Pumpkin Ale. Clipper City didn’t really provide much information about how it was brewed, except to say that it is made with, “hops and secret spices”, three kinds of malts, and 3 ounces of spice per barrel. It is 8.5% ABV, 25 IBU, and like the rest of the Mutiny Fleet, is distributed in 22 ounce bombers.

The Great Pumpkin poured with a translucent, cloudy, amber to light-orangey color with lots of adjuncts floating throughout the liquid column and an apparently moderate carbonation. It developed an off-white, creamy / fluffy head that was mildly sweet and laid down rather quickly but left behind decent lace. The aroma was of sweet pumpkin and spice, which became more reminiscent of pumpkin pie as it warmed. The first sip revealed a light crispness on the front of the tongue, which progressed to a creamier mouth-feel throughout.

As I continued to drink, it seemed to present what were perhaps estery taste characteristics and developed what I thought was an astringent quality. I never detected much in the way of pumpkin flavors and it left a bitterish, astringent finish that lingered for longer than I liked. Since the IBU is relatively low, this could be contributed to the 8.5% ABV (since I also detected the edge of a buzz) but I think more likely it was some other, or combination of, factor/s. At any rate, Clipper City’s – The Great Pumpkin Imperial Pumpkin Ale didn’t quite live up to my expectations. I was hoping it would fall in line with some of this year’s other fall and pumpkin seasonals which overall, have been pretty good. While it was in no way a, “spit out” beer, to my taste it really didn’t make the grade. I didn’t mind drinking it but don’t think I will buy it again.