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Saturday, May 5, 2012

Viaje Oro Toro and Belhaven Scottish Ale: Pairing

The Ale

Belhaven Scottish Ale
Belhaven Brewery
Dating back to 1719
Dunbar, Scotland
5.2% abv
Purchased: Superfine Wine & Liquor Store; Canton, Michigan
$15.99 a six pack

Appearance: semi-dirty penny with a one finger off-white head that leaves some chunky lacing behind

Aroma: very delicate yeast reminding me of a soft sweet biscuit with honey on it

Flavors: a musty and slightly tart pecan shell like taste, a light caramel note swirls around a grainy and mineral like character, earthy yeast

Mouthfeel: super fine carbonation that gives a little fizzy feel to the tongue, a dirty-grainy malt aftertaste

To the Point: This is okay to me, not something I would drink on any regular bases – okay once every two years would do it for me. 


The Cigar

Viaje Oro Toro
Wrapper: Nicaragua Corojo
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Size: 6 x 50

I bought two of these about a year ago – I think it’s time to review it

Off the Light: earthy notes of leafs and wood; as the smoke continues a mild mineral like coffee note develops

Mid-Point: good earthy tones continue, lightly toasted grains with a mineral quality, I don’t notice the coffee so much but …, light spice, fine grind green peppercorn like on the mid and late palate,



The Pairing

This is an okay pairing.  Nothing that knocks my socks off but, it works.  These two are pretty similar in their profiles.  Both have a mineral quality and the ale has a nice earthy yeast note and the cigar has a nice forest floor earthy tone of leafs and wood.  Maybe, it is just that they are too similar to create any true interest. 

This would make a good before dinner pairing. 

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