Carlos Torano 1916 Robusto and Summit Extra Pale Ale

 

Wrapper: Cameroon
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Honduras and Nicaragua
Size: 5.5 x 52

For a Cameroon cigar this is on the ‘fuller’ side. Still a medium bodied cigar when considering your strength scale of cigars. This cigar changes through-out the smoke. When you first light it up and smoke that first inch you are hit with the pepper and spicy notes and I always think this is a 6 strength rating. But, after that inch it starts to mellow out, the sweet spice takes over the pepper. The nice caramel, nutty and woody notes also come into play. Then, I start thinking 5 rating. This cigar always seems to have ampel smoke that lingers on the palate. The cigar also changes on the latter part of the smoke, back to peppery and spicy.

The Summit Extra Pale Ale delivers a nice aroma of sweet malts. As the nice malty and hop bitterness hit the palate you notice the balance of the ale. Some of their other beers have a water style but, I don’t notice it here with the Extra Pale Ale.

The cigar seems to kick the bitterness up a little and that is good for a pale ale. I also get more of the toasty notes then the sweet malty ones while smoking the cigar. The cigar, while drinking this ale, you get more of the nice spice and cedary notes and the pepper is more or less an undertone.
This pairing gives me a pucker effect from the bitter ale and cedar woody play from the cigar.

This cigar has ample smoke with each puff and that helps to build some nice character from the ale. Have a glass of water ready to help refresh the palate during this session. I mentioned how the cigar usually builds toward the end. With this ale it is not as noticeable probably due to the hops taming the cigar.

While both of these are a medium body in their own right, when paired up you get a much fuller experience. This would be a very good pairing at the end of a day.