Indian Tabac Super Fuerte Corona Maduro and Southern Tier Imperial Choklat Stout: Review

The Cigar

Indian Tabac Super Fuerte Corona Maduro

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Maduro

Fillers: Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Honduras

Size: 5.2x43

My Strength Rating: 5 

I can remember when these babies hit the market.  That had to be in the late 90’s.  This has to be one of the few small ring gauge sizes that I do like.  I have to admit that I don’t like this cigar the way I did back when it first came out.  My palate has changed, taste expectations have changed, and there are more, if not, better cigars on the market today.  But, I do enjoy this cigar as my morning cigar with a pot of coffee. 

Off the Light: smooth soil earthy note right off the bat.  As the cigar continues there is a slight hint of chocolate. 

Mid-point: The flavors pick up at this point.  With a hint of chocolate, mild coffee, rich soil earthiness, fig, and toasted pumpernickel are the flavors I am reminded of. 

Down the Stretch: The earthy style dominates at this point with a bit of mild coffee and toasted tobacco notes. 

The Stout

Southern Tier Imperial Choklat Stout

A Stout Brewed with Chocolate

11% abv

650 ml bottle

$8.00 a bottle

My Strength Rating: 7

Made with: 2-row barley, caramel 60 malt, barley flakes, chocolate malt, and bittersweet Belgian chocolate.  Don’t forget the hops: kettle hops; Chinook and Willamette.   This stout is best served at 48 degrees.

Southern Tier Choklat Stout has a black body and a rich dark tan head.  This 11% abv stout has a rich deep dark chocolate nose that makes you want to bite the rim of the glass while you smell this stout.  The aroma even has a creamy style. 

The flavors are wonderful.  This is a quality chocolate stout.  If you want to compare chocolate stouts for quality this is your template.  They use bittersweet Belgian chocolate in the brewing process and it shows up on the palate.  This is a chocolate lovers dream (if you like beer that is).  The caramel, barley, chocolate malts, and the Belgian Chocolate combine for one tasty treat. 

Chocolate just covers the palate.  As the stout warms there is a better bitter-sweet style coming through.  A touch of burnt sugar and creamy caramel add to this tasty chocolate stout.

The mouthfeel is rich, smooth, and creamy.  There is a lingering bitter chocolate coffee note on the tongue. 

This 650 ml bottle will run you around $8.00 a bottle and it is worth every penny. 

Recommendation:  Run to the store today and pick up two bottles!

The Pairing

This is a decent pairing.  I do enjoy the stout more with this cigar compared to the Nica Libre cigar that I just had with this stout.  I think what this chocolate stout needs is a cigar with a deep roast coffee style or maybe even a better chocolate profile. 

This maduro only has a hint of chocolate and I think the stout was a bit too strong for this cigar.  It was a nice pairing but, nothing to write home about.