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.