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Saturday, March 16, 2013

March Matching 2013 The Final Game


We have The Edge Maduro Toro going against the Padilla Limitado 2006.  The beer that I have selected for the March Matching 2013 is the Witch’s Hat Sir Edward’s Double Brown Ale.  This is going to be a great game.  Both these cigars show characteristics that will match up with the Ales taste profile.  From what I experienced in Game 1 and Game 2 from these two cigars and the Sir Edward’s Ale I am going to love this experience. 

My only concern is with The Edge.  The Edge and the Ale became a little too rich in taste in the final third of the cigar.  The first two thirds of the smoking experience were just wonderful and hard to beat. 

The Padilla Limitado 06 was just smooth and delightful from start to finish. 

To read about (click on link below)

No 2012


Today’s Match-up

Padilla Limitado Edicion Especial 2006 Stats:
Size: 6 x 54
smooth rich soil, medium roast coffee, and baker’s chocolate
I am going to give this match up a 1:9 odds on favorite


The Edge Maduro Toro by Rocky Patel Stats:
Size: 6 x 52
Dark roasted French Roast coffee notes mingles with some dried brown spice and toasted pumpernickel.  The mouthfeel is very pleasing and smooth for a medium-full bodied smoke.
I am going to make the betting odds 2:1 with The Edge and Sir Edward’s match up




The Ale

Sir Edward’s Double Brown by Witch’s Hat Stats:
South Lyon, Michigan, USA
Witchshatbrewing.com
The taste profile follows the nose with toasted grains, rich coffee with a light shot of cream, dry sea grass swirls around the mid palate, and 85% dark chocolate like bitterness on the finish and more so on the aftertaste.  The mouthfeel has a moderate-syrupy feel with roasted notes lingering on the palate and a dry finish.

The Padilla won the coin flip to meet the lighter and be paired up with this tasty Double Brown Ale. 

No problems off the light and boy this cigar just hitting the spot.  This stick has been sitting in my humidor for about four years and the sad part is I will only have one more left after doing this March Matching.  The dark rich soil note of the cigar adds some nice depth and structure to the Double Brown Ale.  The medium-full coffee style of the cigar is playing well with the medium roast coffee tone of Sir Edward’s Double Brown Ale.  The dry baker’s chocolate like style of the cigar mingles nicely with the ales dark chocolate like note.  This pairing is smooth, rich, and delicious. 

Time to light up The Edge: a perfect light of the cigar and a nice 1-1/2 finger pour of the Sir Edward’s Double Brown Ale.  The Edge shows a tasty display of dark roasted coffee notes right off the get go.  Some dried fall leafs; light dry green and/or brown spice; and the pumpernickel bread like quality starts to all mingle together on the cigars flavor profile.  A few sips of the ale and we have a game going on here.  The cigar really brings out that coffee with a shot of cream in the ale.  There is a sheet of lacing clinging to the glass and long syrupy legs gently glide down the side of the glass.  The rich flavors and mouthfeel – of both the cigar and the ale are just heightened in this pairing. 

Half Time Report:

What a battle.  The Padilla Limitado comes out hitting on all cylinders.  The experience was rich and delicious.  It looked like no other cigar could come close in maximizing ones experience then, The Edge hit the hardwood floor with its rich and bold pairing with the Sir Edward’s Double Brown Ale.  We have a tie here at the half in the March Matching Final Game. 

Second Half

The Edge takes the first possession.  The mild coffee note of the cigar shows up to play with the ales rich coffee and shot of cream.  The toasted fall leafs and light spice of the cigar brings out the roasted grains of the ale.  The experience is rich and full of flavors.  This is a must pairing. 

The Padilla Limitado Edicion Especial 2006 Cigar comes out swinging.  The cigar is still maintaining its smooth style and during the pairing the cigar has a creamy feel to it.  This is a smooth, rich, and elegant pairing.  This cigar always the Sir Edward’s Ale to display all its tasty notes; the dark chocolate, dry sea grass, roasted grains and that wonderful coffee like flavor. 

This is one special March Matching – The Ale – The Cigars – The Experience – this is the place to be.  Let’s take a commercial break.  The Padilla leads by two points with 5 minutes to go.  In basketball terms that will be a half hour. 

For those of you who live in Michigan - Witch’s Hat Brewing is located in the town of South Lyon on 22235 Pontiac Trail.  They are in a strip mall located near Busch’s grocery store and Taco Bell.  The have a mug club and the mugs are hand blown glass made by the Dearborn Glass Academy and each mug is unique.  If I lived near the place I would be a member for sure. 

Back to the Game

What a classic game for the ages.  These two fine cigars found their perfect beverage pairing with this Sir Edward’s Double Brown Ale. 

This Ale is named after the owner’s dog Edward.  Right now if you buy the Sir Edward’s they are donating 10% of their sales to the Huron Valley Humane Society.

Each time I smoke one of these cigars with the ale I think it’s the winner.  This is nip and tuck right up to the end.  The one thing that I do find interesting is that the 8.9% abv is not really a factor except that I am starting to feel it myself with only 10 or so ounces left in the 32 oz growler. 

The Padilla pairing is still so smooth and rich with each sip of the ale.  The Edge by Rocky Patel pairing is rich and bold and is not becoming too powerful like it did in Game 1. 

At the end of regulation we have a tie and we are going into overtime.  This is a first for the March Matching Games.  Hoop tee dew baby this is one great March Matching. 

With only two inches to smoke in each cigar let’s see which one comes out the winner.    
The Padilla comes out with a three point lead with its smooth and elegant style still hanging on.

The Edge’s bold style is now getting in the way.  The cigar picks up a slight bitter note that brings out the dry sea grass bite in the ale. 

In overtime we have the Padilla Limitado Edicion Especial 2006 Cigar coming out on top with its smooth and elegant pairing with the Sir Edward’s Double Brown Ale.

It was one of those games you don’t won’t to see a loser for there really is not one – expect for if you don’t ever experience either one of these with this tasty ale.  


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