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.