poperings hommel aleI think I am experiencing hops deficiency! Well, Global Beer to the rescue, let’s review poperings hommel ale this month.
For those of you who do not like the overly hoppy, super bitter tastes of American style IPAs, don’t just look at this bottle on the shelf and keep walking; pick it up for a real hoppy treat.
When you open the 750 ml bottle be ready for the aroma of sweet grain hitting your nose. The taste is very crisp and a wonderful hoppy, lemon, citrus flavor. Don’t worry, nothing overpowering. The floral-rosy edges start to build and as the ale warms up some nice malty undertones come into play.
I want to rate this ale a 5.5 on my strength scale but, with the nice flavors that develop during warming, I am going to give it a 6.
The variety of notes that dance across the tongue is delightful when the ale opens up. Poperings hommel ale has a great range for foods as well. The sweet malts well go with golden raisins and the hops will work with my Michigan dried cherries. This tells me that this ale should have a great range for a quality cigar.
Going to the milder side or fuller side should give you a great pairing.
The Plan
So, let’s plan for Hops Deficiency Day. I will plan for going to the milder side of 6 pts. for my afternoon cigar pairing, then a seafood hommel dinner and then a fuller cigar for my after dinner cigar.
Cooking with popering hommel
The day before, Hops Deficiency Day, you need to purchase sea scallops, jumbo shrimp, red bell peppers and a sweet onion. Coat your scallops and shrimp in extra virgin olive oil, sprinkle with Old Bay lemon and herb seasoning and I added my mushroom mania seasoning. Mushroom Mania is a finely chopped mixture of porchini, shitake and bolete mushrooms, chives, minced onion and sea salt. Slowly, pour in some poperings hommel ale. Then, in another container place your red bell pepper and sweet onions (in chunks) in some poperings as well. Place in the refrigerator overnight.
The variety of notes that dance across the tongue is delightful when the ale opens up. Poperings hommel ale has a great range for foods as well. The sweet malts well go with golden raisins and the hops will work with my Michigan dried cherries. This tells me that this ale should have a great range for a quality cigar.
Going to the milder side or fuller side should give you a great pairing.
The Plan
So, let’s plan for Hops Deficiency Day. I will plan for going to the milder side of 6 pts. for my afternoon cigar pairing, then a seafood hommel dinner and then a fuller cigar for my after dinner cigar.
Cooking with popering hommel
The day before, Hops Deficiency Day, you need to purchase sea scallops, jumbo shrimp, red bell peppers and a sweet onion. Coat your scallops and shrimp in extra virgin olive oil, sprinkle with Old Bay lemon and herb seasoning and I added my mushroom mania seasoning. Mushroom Mania is a finely chopped mixture of porchini, shitake and bolete mushrooms, chives, minced onion and sea salt. Slowly, pour in some poperings hommel ale. Then, in another container place your red bell pepper and sweet onions (in chunks) in some poperings as well. Place in the refrigerator overnight.
During Hops Deficiency Day place the scallops, shrimp, peppers and onions on shish kabob skewers. Keep the liquid and place the kabobs and liquid in the same baking pan. Use the liquid to baste during cooking.
First Matching – Punch Gran Puro
First Matching – Punch Gran Puro
Puro - meaning that all the tobaccos; wrapper, binder and fillers, are from one country and in this case they are reported to be from the San Agustin Valley of Honduras. The Sun Grown wrapper and binder help to deliver a robust taste. I am going to smoke the SesentaGran Puro, which is a big 6.2 X 60 beauty, that delivers a medium bodied, spicy and peppery treat to the palate. I rate this cigar a 5 on my point system.
The pairing goes well. The Punch Sesenta did not disrupt any of the true characteristics of the hommel. The flavors from both of these products really work with one another. This ended up to be a perfect before dinner experience.
Dinner Time
If weather permits get the grill going and add some apple wood to smoke the kabobs.
If you are using the oven just leave the kabobs in the baking dish and you are ready to go. Use the liquid to baste the kabobs at least twice during cooking. When the kabobs are done cooking grate some Romano Cheese over the kabobs.
Dinner Time
If weather permits get the grill going and add some apple wood to smoke the kabobs.
If you are using the oven just leave the kabobs in the baking dish and you are ready to go. Use the liquid to baste the kabobs at least twice during cooking. When the kabobs are done cooking grate some Romano Cheese over the kabobs.
Enjoy a glass of poperings hommel ale with your meal. And, this meal was ohhh sooo good!
After Dinner Matching – Camacho Triple Maduro
Ok, I love full-flavored cigars and I have great expectations here. I matched up the Camacho Triple Maduro 6/60 for my after dinner treat. This 6 inch and 60 ring gage giant is a wonderful cigar. People are intimidated by this cigar. They think the fullness is going to kick their butt. BUT, that is why you should smoke the 60 ring gage and not the smaller ring gages. The larger ring gage will give you a cooler smoke and the flavor is amplified. The smaller ring gages in this line I would rate higher in strength and it is all due to the diameter of the cigar because they are made with the same tobaccos.
After Dinner Matching – Camacho Triple Maduro
Ok, I love full-flavored cigars and I have great expectations here. I matched up the Camacho Triple Maduro 6/60 for my after dinner treat. This 6 inch and 60 ring gage giant is a wonderful cigar. People are intimidated by this cigar. They think the fullness is going to kick their butt. BUT, that is why you should smoke the 60 ring gage and not the smaller ring gages. The larger ring gage will give you a cooler smoke and the flavor is amplified. The smaller ring gages in this line I would rate higher in strength and it is all due to the diameter of the cigar because they are made with the same tobaccos.
I give this cigar, one of my favorites, an 8 on my strength scale. This cigar delivers a nice balance of rich spicy notes with a sweet peppery taste that lingers for a great full-flavored taste.
The Camacho helps to bring out some of the fuller flavors of the poperings hommel ale. The ‘mouthfeel’ coats your tongue and teeth for a terrific aftertaste. Don’t just drink this ale or any quality Belgium for that fact, experience every sip, swirl this ale within the mouth to enjoy every sip.
The hoppy notes are brought to the forefront and the sweet malty undertones are moved to the background. So, a little different experience than the Punch Gran Puro but, the Camacho made me want to have another mouth full of hops. What more do you want on Hops Deficiency Day?
With these big ring gage cigars make sure you have time. It takes me an hour and a half or close to two hours to smoke one 6 x 60 cigar. Outdoors with the wind it will burn a little faster.
With a 750 ml bottle of poperings hommel ale with each cigar and dinner, you will have an eventful day to plan so, the name Hops Deficiency Day.
Enjoy the experience,
Enjoy the experience,
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