Hoyo Excalibur Legend Conqueror & Celis Grand Cru:Review

The Cigar
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan, Dominican Ligero
Size: 6.25 x 54
Strength rating: 7.5/8
I really like this cigar. The Hoyo Legend is on the fuller side compared to their other cigars. My Hoyo Sultan with its coffee and roasty notes I love for its medium body taste. The Excalibur #1 is a very pleasing mild-medium treat. This Legend is a true bold beauty.

Bold spice and pepper greet the palate on the opening and continue throughout the experience. This Hoyo is complex. A solid woody (oak) character with a strong black walnut taste making this a fuller smoke than most Hoyos. The cigar gives off tons of smoke.

I love the look of this cigar.

The Grand Cru
The looks of this ale can be deceiving because, it has a light crystal golden color that makes you think it might be light in body.

According to michiganbrewing.com they say it is made with, ‘pilsen malts, Saaz Willamette hops, Curacau orange peel and select spices.’ And, the spices are plentiful from the coriander and clove along with some rose petals. I want to smell some rose petals while I drink this beer for some reason. If you are thinking rose petals in beer - yes, get this beer and smell that aroma.  This ale also has some citrus zip to it. Orange and lemon smack the palate with each sip. The Celis Grand Cru would be nice to drink while dinning on seafood. This is a very nice ale.

For having an 8% abv it has a short aftertaste, maybe because of the watery feel during this pairing. This also gives it a refreshing mouthfeel while smoking this bold flavored cigar. I do not think this is the best pairing for this Belgian Style Ale. It is a bit too bold for the ale. I still get all the nice flavors from the ale but, the cigar with its black walnut and oaky taste is a bit too much. The cigar needs a heartier beer to complement its profile.

Hoyo Excalibur Legend Conqueror and Piraat Ale

The Safari – The Trophy Mount 

Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan, Dominican Ligero
Size: 6.25 x 54
Strength rating: 7.5/8
I really like this baby. To me, it is a Hoyo that is truly on the fuller side. The taste, just classic tobacco flavors that I enjoy. Bold spice and pepper greet the palate on the opening and continue throughout the experience. This Hoyo is complex. A solid woody (oak) character with a strong black walnut taste making this a fuller smoke than most Hoyos. The cigar gives off tons of smoke.

When this cigar came out a couple of years back, I asked my tobacconist to get me a box. I think it was in the spring of 09 when I was driving up north Michigan (to a casino) when I realized how full the cigar really was. I had to pull into a gas station to buy a soda to sooth the palate. I would recommend to have something to eat before enjoying this cigar.

This cigar looks rich. You could make a 6,000 dollar leather sofa out of its wrapper. When I get done with this, I am going to buy another box of these. I get the concept of leather on the appearance of the wrapper but, I still do not get the concept of leather for taste.

The Pairing
Now, I was not expecting much from this pairing but, wow this is going very good. I was thinking that maybe these two would collide because they are similar in some of their profiles. But, it is the slight honey malt sweetness that balances the bold spice and oak of the cigar. The nice carbonation gives the ale a crisp feel on the palate and that helps with the thick smoky mouthfeel that fills the sinuses and the palate from the cigar. The oak and black walnut taste of the cigar mingles well with the tropical fruits of the ale.

This is a pure big boy treat. If you want to feel like a pirate that is ready to plunder and pillage the village this is it! It is a bold treat. Look at the strength ratings: a 6.5 for the Piraat and an 8 on the cigar during this pairing.

The only drawback is the ash on the cigar. This cigar will ash you, so have an ashtray ready. It must have a thick binder, because it does need some correcting along the way. But, the bold flavor makes up for that.

Also, remember this ale has a 10.5% abv and that can sneak up on you if you have a few.
This cigar and ale would be great after a hearty meal. And, I had a lamb chops for dinner tonight so, this is perfect.