Supremo EXL Belicoso and St. Bernardus Extra 4 Pairing

The Ale

St. Bernardus Extra 4

Brouwerij St. Bernard

Watou, Belgium

Specialtybeer.com

4.8% abv

11.2 oz bottle

$18.99 a four pack

Seasonal: Spring

I have not seen this one before and I found out why?  The brewery has not produced this ale since the 1970’s. 

Appearance: glowing golden wheat field body with a one finger white head on an easy pour; not much on the lacing

Aroma: delicate; hint of fresh lemon meat and yeast

Flavors: light lemon zest; acidic; yeast; wheat; grassy on the back and finish as the ale warms up

Mouthfeel: zippy citrus; moderate-low super fine carbonation; medium-light body – the acidic citrus zip elevates this body feel to me; grassy/grainy aftertaste with a light moderate citrus

To the Point: a pleasing summer beverage; pair it with white fish, shellfish, or veal chops; this ale has a nice wit style to me; the ale does not thrill me overall; I’ll give it a B-

The Cigar

Supremo EXL Belicoso

I received this cigar from my friend Monte

Smelling this stick before lighting it; it has a wonderful barnyard aroma.  I have never had this cigar before but, I am going to expect a bit of a taste collision with this cigar and this ale.  I think this cigar may be a tad bold for the ale and overwhelm the flavors. 

Profile: this beef size stick displays some heavy earth; it’s like you can taste the soil the tobacco was grown

Church Bells that I have in my Cigar Lounge
I ring them when the Detroit Lions win a game.
Hardly ever used.

in; rich black soil from the farmland mixed with mineral soil by the river bank; nice black coffee taste; medium-full body – I’ll give it a 6.5 on my strength scale; the heavy smoke coats the palate with each puff; easy to smoke; little burning issue; fairly simple in the taste profile

Pairing

This is a nice pairing; not great; just nice; but, on the hot humid day it is just right; I don’t know if they used 

wheat in this beer but, with this cigar it sure seems like it.  This cigar seems to highlight the yeast, grains and the ‘wheat’ like flavors.  The light lemon zest of the ale seems to play nicely with the earthy style of the cigar.  The cigar seems to manage the acidic note of the ale.  I have to say this has been a pleasing pairing.  I’ll have to buy this cigar and pair it with a nice Porter or Stout.  

Latitude Zero Toro Gordo Review

Latitude Zero

Oliva Tobacco Company

Wrapper: 2011 Habano Ecuador

Fillers: 2010 Nicaraguan

Size: 6 x 60

Strength: medium-full

Price: $124.95 + Five Pack Freebie + Lighter Freebie

Nice Chunky Box

20 Cigars

I don’t do this very often but, I have to light up one of these babies the day of delivery.  I like to place the cigars into my humidor to let them settle when they have been shipped.  It is summertime they don’t take the abuse of winter time shipping.

Off the Light: earthy; toasted sweet grains; meaty medium-full mouthfeel right from the start; as the smoke continues the earthy toasted grains coat the palate; some oak comes into play with a nice cedar spice; table black pepper spice on the aftertaste;

After I removed the one inch ash, that was ready to fall off, the cigar started to canoe.  A quick lighter touchup helped to correct the burn.

Free Five Pack

Mid-point: oak comes to the front; roasted grains (missing the sweet); earthy notes still coat the palate; a nice dash of fine grind black pepper; smooth medium-full mouthfeel; I touched up the burn right after removing the second ash to keep it burning correctly;

Free Lighter

Down the Stretch: the medium-full mouthfeel continues; earthy notes linger; more of a toasted oak note develops (charring); roasted grains; the pepper spice starts to cling to the palate with each puff; dry; water is needed to refresh the palate

To the Point: I usually don’t buy a whole box of cigars without trying one but, coming from Oliva it is worth the purchase and I was right.  This is one tasty cigar. From the first puff to the last this is quality.  The flavors have a very meaty feel and this cigar would be a perfect after dinner cigar with a glass of 20 year old Tawny Port.  

Read the comment below. For as I just found out - that Oliva is not Oliva. I did not know there was a Oliva Cigar Co. and Oliva Tobacco Co. - two different companies.  

Cigar Derby Series Wrap-up

The La Gloria Serie R Maduro jumps out of the gate for a quick lead.  Signature Collection Sun Grown starts off a little slow and makes a big move at the ½ mile point in the track and takes the lead.  The San Miguel Torpedo has a good start; settles in just behind the leader and the Camacho Maduro settles in third place.  At the halfway point La Gloria starts to fad and Signature takes the lead.  Camacho stays in third but, The San Miguel makes a big move and starts to pass the others on the outside.

All four horses are right there at the wire.  One right behind the other.  It looks like a photo finish for first and for third place.  The two battling for first – Signature Collection and San Miguel and it turns out that the San Miguel takes first place and the Signature Collection Cigar just got nosed out for second place.  The 25-1 odds on horse San Miguel Wins!  For third place the two favorites battled it out and the Camacho Maduro just nosed out the La Gloria Serie R.   

First Place: San Miguel

Second Place: Signature Collection Sun Grown

Third Place: Camacho Maduro (old label)

Fourth Place: La Gloria Serie R No. 5 Maduro

Click here to read the Series Set-up

Camacho Maduro (old label) paired with Paulaner Salvator Double Bock

Cigar Derby Series - Click here to read about the set-up

The Cigar

Camacho Maduro (old label).  I gave this cigar 3-1 odds to win this Series.  

Cigar Profile: solid earthy style with rich soil and toasted sweet grains; black tea; medium body; smooth feel; this is a fairly simple and easy smoking cigar

The Beer

Paulaner Salvator Double Bock

Paulaner Brauerei

Munich, Germany

Paulaner.com

7.9% abv

11.2oz bottle

$10.99 a six pack

Appearance: shiny bronze body with a one finger bone white head that leaves no lacing

Aroma: baked caramel nut muffin;

Flavors: sweet caramel nut raisin muffin; light spice maybe from the alcohol or hops; light brown sugar;

Mouthfeel: sweet up front and mid; light spice on the back; medium body on the front and medium-medium-full body on the finish; I’ll place it at 6 on my strength scale; light alcohol warmth;

To the Point: a nice to very nice Double Bock; pleasing and easy to drink; damn, I want a muffin now, this beer can get a bit too sweet to me but, it is not cloying type sweet; one bottle maybe two of these and I am fine.

The Pairing

The first thing I notice is that the earthy rich soil style of the cigar tempers the overall sweetness of the Double

Bock.  The rich soil and black tea of the cigar mingles nicely with the caramel, light brown sugar, and raisin nut muffin notes of the Bock beer.  This horse settles into fourth place right out of the gate and all the horses (cigars) are neck and neck. 

When I sip the Paulaner Salvator first, the sweetness of the Bock stands out and plays with the toasted sweet grains and black tea of the cigar.  The more I experience this pairing the more I like it.  Coming down the final stretch of the track this horse is right in the middle of things.  This race is a lot closer than I expected.  On a photo finish this horse just noses out the La Gloria Serie R No. 5 Maduro for third place.  All of these cigars were right there at the wire and I have to say there was only a head of a horse difference between the first place horse (San Miguel Torpedo) and the fourth place horse (La Gloria Serie R No. 5 Maduro).  

San Miguel Torpedo paired with Paulaner Salvator Double Bock

Cigar Derby Series - See Cigar Derby Set-up

The Cigar

San Miguel Torpedo: Review

Wrapper: Sun Grown Sumatra-seed from Ecuador

Fillers: Esteli, Jamastran, Ometepe

Size: 6 x 52 box press

Taste Profile: the cigar starts off with a strong peppery style.  As the smoking experience continues the musty white pepper is full and an earthy note develops with some wood.  The texture is wool like for the peppery notes dance on the tongue during the aftertaste.  The earthy note reminds of dry soil and the wood seems like cedar. 

To the Point: I am glad I bought these for the crazy low price of 2 bucks a stick. 

The Beer

Paulaner Salvator Double Bock

Paulaner Brauerei

Munich, Germany

Paulaner.com

7.9% abv

11.2oz bottle

$10.99 a six pack

Appearance: shiny bronze body with a one finger bone white head that leaves no lacing

Aroma: baked caramel nut muffin;

Flavors: sweet caramel nut raisin muffin; light spice maybe from the alcohol or hops; light brown sugar;

Mouthfeel: sweet up front and mid; light spice on the back; medium body on the front and medium-medium-full body on the finish; I’ll place it at 6 on my strength scale; light alcohol warmth;

To the Point: a nice to very nice Double Bock; pleasing and easy to drink; damn, I want a muffin now, this beer can get a bit too sweet to me but, it is not cloying type sweet; one bottle maybe two of these and I am fine.

The Pairing

This is a big surprise to me.  This is one nice pairing.  During this horse race this cigar settles in second place just behind the leader right out of the gate.  The musty white pepper and spicy cedar notes from the cigar seemed to be tamed a bit from the sweet Double Bock.  The cigar is very pleasing during this pairing.  Coming around the final turn and heading into the final stretch this horse is making its move and at 25-1 odds this could be big.  That sweet caramel nut raisin muffin with a touch of light brown sugar is also tamed from the cigars earthy yet wooly like mouthfeel.  The spice from the cigar brings out the spice of the Double Bock for a satisfying experience.  This horse is nose and nose with the Signature Collection Sun Grown coming down to the wire.  Stay tuned to see what happens.  

Signature Collection Vintage 2004 Sun Grown and Paulaner Salvator Double Bock: Pairing

I continue the Cigar Derby Series with the Signature Collection Cigar and Paulaner Salvator.  I gave this pairing 4-1 odds to win this Cigar and Beverage Matching. 

Click here to read the Cigar Derby Series set-up

The Cigar

Signature Collection Vintage 2004 Sun Grown

Wrapper: 8 year old Ecuadorian Sun Grown

Fillers: Nicaraguan  

Robusto 5.7 x 50

Yes, it looks like a Toro

Flavor Profile of the Cigar: this cigar has a very nice woody style; firm cedar spice, oak and alder wood come to mind; a nice dose of musty white pepper mixes in with some dry fall leafs and a mild nutty note that can remind you of almonds; I’ll say it’s medium at best – 4.75 on my strength scale.

The Beer

Paulaner Salvator Double Bock

Paulaner Brauerei

Munich, Germany

Paulaner.com

7.9% abv

11.2oz bottle

$10.99 a six pack

Appearance: shiny bronze body with a one finger bone white head that leaves no lacing

Aroma: baked caramel nut muffin;

Flavors: sweet caramel nut raisin muffin; light spice maybe from the alcohol or hops; light brown sugar;

Mouthfeel: sweet up front and mid; light spice on the back; medium body on the front and medium-medium-full body on the finish; I’ll place it at 6 on my strength scale; light alcohol warmth;

To the Point: a nice to very nice Double Bock; pleasing and easy to drink; damn, I want a muffin now, this beer can get a bit too sweet to me but, it is not cloying type sweet; one bottle maybe two of these and I am fine.

The Pairing

I am halfway through smoking this cigar and I have not written a thing during this pairing.  I puff on the cigar and sip the beer; I sip the beer and puff on the cigar; I keep on keeping on to see what I think.  Does one really affect the other?  Not much; at first thought.  And, that is not always a bad thing and that is what I am thinking about.  Sometimes that is a boring thing and sometimes you get to experience the quality flavors of each for what they are and that is a good thing.  I believe it is a really good thing here. This horse is slow out of the gate and trails the field of this four cigar race. 

The woody notes of the cigar mingle so gently with the sweet caramel nut raisin muffin style of this beer.  The light almond note of the cigar fits in just perfectly here.  The musty white pepper is also a nice fit with the beers light spice on the back of the palate.  The cigar does cut some of the sweetness of the Bock Beer down a notch. This horse is making up ground on the La Gloria Serie R Maduro and the rest of the field.

I think this is terrific.  It is smooth on the mouthfeel; it is pleasing in flavor; it is overall a great pairing and these two were meant for each other.  I believe the beer transfers some of that muffin profile over to the taste of the cigar and circulates with those woody tones for one super pleasing experience. This horse is now neck and neck with the lead at the halfway point of the race.

If you want to maximize your experience – this pairing is it.  Right now I have to say this is a winner.  Wait!  I have two more cigars to pair with this beer.  Right now it is a close race between the La Gloria Serie R No. 5 Maduro and this Signature Cigar but, the Signature I think beats the La Gloria by a head.   

La Gloria Serie R No. 5 Maduro and Paulaner Salvator Double Bock: Pairing

For the month of May I am doing the Cigar Derby Series.  Click here to read about the set up. 

The Cigar

La Gloria Serie R No. 5 Maduro

Size: 5 x 54

I have always enjoyed the Serie R Maduro in the 5 and 6 size. 

Flavor/Mouthfeel Profile: the cigar starts off with some green peppercorn like spice mixed with a dark roast coffee note.  Overall, a firm earthy mineral soil like style, dark roast coffee that is espresso like, the peppery spice fills the back of the palate and linger on the aftertaste with that firm earthy tone.  

To the Point: the No. 5 is a solid robust smoke and it is like you can taste the soil that the tobacco plants were grown in.  I really like this stick and I like the La Gloria No. 6 Maduro even more for it seems to have a smoother style. 

The Beer

Paulaner Salvator Double Bock

Paulaner Brauerei

Munich, Germany

Paulaner.com

7.9% abv

11.2oz bottle

$10.99 a six pack

Appearance: shiny bronze body with a one finger bone white head that leaves no lacing

Aroma: baked caramel nut muffin;

Flavors: sweet caramel nut raisin muffin; light spice maybe from the alcohol or hops; light brown sugar;

Mouthfeel: sweet up front and mid; light spice on the back; medium body on the front and medium-medium-full body on the finish; I’ll place it at 6 on my strength scale; light alcohol warmth;

To the Point: a nice to very nice Double Bock; pleasing and easy to drink; damn, I want a muffin now, this beer can get a bit too sweet to me but, it is not cloying type sweet; one bottle maybe two of these and I am fine.

The Pairing

I thought this cigar would be a great fit for this Double Bock and that is why I gave it 3-1 odds to win the Cigar Derby Series this month.  That sweet muffin style of the beer is knocked down a notch while paired with this cigar.  The firm earthy style of the cigar brings out some of the earthy yeast in the bock beer.  This horse jumps out to the lead right our of the gate. The green peppercorn from the cigar helps to bring out the light spice in the beer.  I think this cigar brings out a milk chocolate coffee flavor in the Salvator Double Bock.  At the halfway point in this horse race the other horses are ready to make their move. This is a pretty nice medium-full bodied pairing. This might not be the best cigar for this beer but, it is going to be hard to beat.  Comeback to visit the Cigar Blog to see what happens with the other cigars (horses) in this first ever Cigar Derby Series.  

Cigar Derby Series

For the month of May I am going to pair up four different cigars with the Paulaner Salvator Double Bock Beer. 

Here is the Cigar line up:

La Gloria Serie R No. 5 Maduro – Size: 5 x 54 – Odds: 3-1

Signature Collection – Odds: 4-1
San Miguel – Size: 6 x 52 – Odds: 25-1

Camacho Maduro (old label) – Odds: 3-1  (camachocigars.com)

I add the links, to the above cigar pairings, as they are posted. 

I going with 25-1 odds for the San Miguel because of the cigars cedary spice, black pepper and wool like texture will be too much for this Bock Beer.

The two cigars with the maduro wrappers should be a quality match with this sweet Bock Beer.

The Signature Collection has a good woody profile and should be a nice fit.  I can’t see anything that would be a negative for this pairing.  I just can’t see it being a better pairing than a maduro cigar. 

This looks like a three horse race here.  If I was a betting man I would pick the Camacho Cigar to win; followed by the La Gloria and then the Signature Collection.  I like the San Miguel Cigar but, I don’t think this is the beverage to maximize the experience.

Ramon Bueso Genesis the Project Muy Bueso and Big Dick's Olde Ale: Pairing

The Cigar

Ramon Bueso Genesis the Project Muy Bueso

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro (Triple Fermented)

Binder: Jamastran

Fillers: Nicaraguan and Honduran; ligeros, visos, and secos

Size: 6.5 x 60

I have never tried this cigar and I just purchased a 20 pack sampler from CI for $75.00.  10 sticks of the Genesis and 10 of the Odyssey it also included a Bugatti lighter that did not work.  I sure hope they are worth the dough Joe. 

Profile: smooth and clean dark roast coffee, lightly roasted sweet grains, soft pumpernickel bread like, soft and moist earthy tones (moss), light dusty spice on the back and aftertaste, the texture is smooth and almost creamy feel.  The flavors and mouthfeel are pretty consistent from start to finish.  I am going to give it a 5.5 on my strength scale which is medium.  It is billed as medium-full which would begin at 6 on my strength scale.  Because it is so smooth I am keeping it at the medium body range. 

To the Point: right now the cigar is going for 4 bucks a stick when you buy a box from Cigars International.  Even at 5 bucks a stick it is a very good value. 

I wrote the above review last summer (2013) and never posted it.  Today, here in March of 2014, I have my last stick of the Muy Bueso.  The description that I wrote sounds like it should pair well with the Arcadia Ale Big Dick’s Olde Ale that I am enjoying today.  I think the moderate yet firm bitterness of the ale will contrast well with the cigars smooth and clean coffee profile.  I don’t think the light spice on the finish of the cigar will be an issue with this 51 IBU Olde Ale.

The Ale

Arcadia Ales Big Dick's Olde Ale

2009 Vintage

Arcadia Brewing Company

Battle Creek, Michigan, USA

Arcadiaales.com

9% abv

51 IBU’s

I reviewed this beer back on June 6, 2010 and February 10,2012.  In 2010 I did not write down the vintage but, it had an 8% abv.  In 2012 I reviewed the 2010 vintage.  Today I found an old bottle that has a 2009 vintage.  Let’s see how this baby aged.

Appearance: a heavy, murky and dark caramel body with a very thin tan head from a very aggressive pour.  No lacing on the glass.

Aroma: light nose overall, he nose is reminding me of toasted caramel, sweet malts under a floral like hoppy note, a little wheat and rye bread in the mix

Flavors: some tasty hops adding a moderate yet firm bitterness, semi-sweet malty tone under the hops, I am going to stay with the floral hoppy note here in the flavor as well, very earthy feel      

Mouthfeel: smooth wool like texture coming from the firm bitterness, earthy, low carbonation,

To the Point: still a tasty Olde Ale here on this 2009 vintage,

The Pairing

I light the cigar and the cigar is smoking true to the profile that I wrote last summer.  I am about an inch into the cigar and I am ready to take a sip of the ale.

After a few puff and a few sips I can tell that I am going to enjoy this pairing today.  I can also tell that there are no disturbances going on with the flavor profiles. 

The Flavors: the cigars flavor profile of coffee, lightly roasted sweet grains, soft pumpernickel bread like, soft and moist earthy tones (moss); blend so well with the floral hop like bitterness and the semi-sweet malty tones.  It does not matter if I puff the cigar first and then sip the ale or sip the ale and then puff the cigar – this is a very pleasing exchange.

The Mouthfeel: this pairing, to me, is all about the mouthfeel and the contrast between the two.  The cigar has a smooth and clean feel and the ale has a scruffy yet smooth wool like feel.  The cigar has a soft mossy earth feel and the ale has a murky earthy feel.  

Ramon Bueso Genesis Torpedo and Spiny Norman IPA: Pairing

The Cigar

Ramon Bueso Genesis the Project Torpedo

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro (Triple Fermented)

Binder: Jamastran

Fillers: Nicaraguan and Honduran; ligeros, visos, and secos

Size: 6 x 52

Flavor Profile: strong dark roasted coffee, roasted grains, firm earthy tone, fuller in body than the big Muy Bueso stick, I’ll give it a 6.5 on my strength scale – medium-full; robust yet smooth;

The Ale

Spiny Norman IPA

Fear the Hedgehog

Right Brain Brewery

Traverse City, Michigan, USA

Rightbrainbrewery.com

6.2% abv

$7.99 a bottle

1pt 6oz bottle

Simcoe hops

Appearance: light amber with golden highlights; one and a half finger bone white head; the second half of the bottle I got the sediment off the bottom of the bottle and the color is not as shiny – it is a deeper amber color with no golden highlights; the head seems to be a little sticker leaving some lacing on the glass

Aroma: you can smell the floral hops when you open this bottle and it is just as nice in the glass

Flavors: floral on the delivery; prickly pine on the mid and finish; white grapefruit like bitterness swirls all around; grainy slightly earthy malts underneath; saltine cracker with a dash of fine grind black pepper

Mouthfeel: sharp prickly pine; scratchy wool texture; light moderate carbonation; moderate bitterness; lingering pine and grapefruit like bitterness on the palate

To the Point: a pleasing IPA; nice aroma and flavors; easy drinking IPA

The Pairing

This is a very good pairing.  The flavor profile of the cigar is just perfect for an IPA.  There are no bold spicy notes in the cigar which would bring up the level of bitterness while drinking an already bitter IPA.

The coffee, grains, and earthy tones of the cigar mingles gracefully with the floral, pine, and white grapefruit note of the ale.  

Ramon Bueso Odyssey Muy Bueso and Cuvee des Trolls Cuvee Speciale: Review

The Cigar

Ramon Bueso Odyssey Muy Bueso

Wrapper: Honduran-grown Connecticut

Binder: Jamastran, Honduran

Fillers: Copan, Ometepe, Condega, and the Dominican Republic

Size: 6.5 x 60

I picked up a brand sampler pack from Cigars International: it had 5 Muy Buesos Odyssey; 5 Torpedo’s Odyssey; 5 Muy Buesos Genesis and 5 Torpedos Genesis. 

I reviewed this cigar last summer but, never posted the review.  I was looking for a cigar to pair with this ale and here it was already to go.  So, let me pair it with this ale and see how they work together.

The first Muy Bueso Odyssey that I smoked burned up in about 50 minutes.  A cigar this big should not burn up that fast.  Yes, I was outside (in my garage) and yes there was a little wind but, nothing should have made it burn that fast. 

The second one I smoked, about a week later, I wanted to see how it would burn.  I am out in my cigar lounge again (my garage) there is no wind.  I was two hours into the cigar and I had about an inch and a half left of cigar smoking to go.  That is more like it for a cigar this size and how I smoke.  The cigar never went out; the cigar burned evenly for the most part; never needed correction.  It smoked like a medium-full bodied cigar with a firm oak profile and a spicy tone that reminded me of a white pepper and a hint of ginger.  The texture was very wool like and had a long lingering spicy aftertaste. 

To the Point: a tasty cigar; fairly simple and pleasing smoke; at the right price a must buy; the cigar that I smoked today burned perfectly and never needed any corrections; 

This cigar is marketed as a medium bodied cigar with notes of nuts, wood, coffee, sweet cream, cocoa, and tasty tobacco.  From the two that I have smoked so far you can throw that flavor profile out the window.  Let’s see how this third cigar smokes   

The Ale

Cuvee des Trolls Cuvee Speciale

Brasserie Dubuisson

Pipaix, Belgium

br-dubuisson.com

7.5% abv

1pt 9.4oz bottle

Appearance: hazy golden-yellow body with a one and a half finger of pure white head that hangs around for the party; not much on the lacing

Aroma: not much; very delicate; yeast, biscuit, hay, pear; lemon drop candy – only one piece (very faint);

Let’s see what happens as the ale warms up

Flavors: pale malt; soft pear; tart apple; hint of lemon; sugar; yeast; dusty hay; dusty spice; a pinch of chardonnay sea salt

Mouthfeel: very spritzy, lively carbonation; somewhat dry; dusty; tart; medium body; dry hopped on the aftertaste;

To the Point: the flavors seem a little disjointed; I am not feeling the flow; the sugar is just there it’s not in the mix – example: candied fruits or pear cotton candy – no it’s pear, apple, lemon and then sugar; like the sugar was an afterthought;

To me there is nothing special about this speciale; I don’t remember the price tag but, it was 30 to 35 dollars at Ashley’s of Westland during their Belgian Fest. 

10 bucks I might do it again; thirty bucks I’ll pass

The Pairing

Maybe all this ale needs is something to go with it.  This Cuvee Speciale might be good with shell fish or white fish but, I have this tasty cigar that might do the trick. 

The cigars woody profile, which reminds me oak, is adding some substance to the ale.  It is taking those dusty note that I mentioned and giving it some body.  The spice of the ale seems to be working with the oak of the cigar.  Thinking of spice - the white pepper and hint of ginger of the cigar clearly is helping the spice feel of the ale. I said the ale had a dusty spice because it was not discernable but, during this pairing the white pepper of the cigar seemed to transfer to the ale.  The cigar also seemed to bring out that pinch of sea salt.  The tart apple and lemon of the ale were delicate enough to add some interest to the cigar during this pairing.  I have to admit that I thought this would be the downfall of this pairing; that the tartness would elevate to a bitterness that would not be pleasing to the palate.  Nope, everything was fine in cigar land today. 

I think this pairing went well but, not good enough to make me want to buy another bottle of this ale.  I believe this ale needs some food or a fine cigar to help bring out some interest in the ale otherwise – by itself – to me this ale seemed a bit boring and contrived.