Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado and Leinenkugel’s Lemon Berry Shandy: Pairing

The Beer

Leinenkugel’s Lemon Berry Shandy

Jacob Leinenkugel’s Brewing Company

Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, USA

Leinie.com

4.2% abv

Weiss Beer with Blackberry Juice and Natural Flavors

Appearance: rosy peach fuzz with a thin white head that leaves some lacing behind

Aroma: berry soda, more like strawberry-raspberry than blackberry, undertone of lemon, very fresh

Flavors: berry bowl, tart blackberry, a faint lemon note floats around, undertone of wheat … maybe.  Add some more carbonation and you have a rose’ champagne.

Mouthfeel: mild-moderate carbonation, fresh and crisp, light lingering berry note – artificial like, the touch of lemon controls the sweetness. 

To the Point: I was not looking forward to doing this beer but, I think I like it.  As for a beer … forget it … it’s a berry cooler.  I was planning to take a few sips and write a review and then hand it off to the wife to finish but, I think I’ll light up a cigar.  Okay, halfway through I have had enough.  It would have to be one hot day to finish this beer. Okay, I don't like it in the long run ... a 6 ounce long run. 

The Cigar

Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado  

Gran Reserva Limitada

Wrapper: Cuadorian-grown Sumatra

Fillers: Ligero from Nicaragua, Condega and Esteli, Jalapa

Size: 6.5 x 52

Off the Light: roasted grains and rich soil.  As the smoking experience continues a dash of pepper appears with the tasty grains and rich soil profile. 

Mid-Point: soil and grains are still present with a medium-full coffee note and the black pepper appears.  If you like a peppery cigar this is good but not as peppery as the other sizes in this line-up.     

Down the Stretch: pretty much like the mid-point. 

The Pairing

Okay, not the best pairing but the beer dose refresh the palate after puffing on the cigar.  I had to pitch the beer half way through.  Can't expect much out of a beer-cooler style beer.  This cigar deserves better.  

Oliva Serie V Melanio Torpedo and Founders Dirty Bastard: Pairing

The Cigar

Oliva Serie V Melanio Torpedo

Wrapper: Cuadorian-grown Sumatra

Fillers: Ligero from Nicaragua, Condega and Esteli, Jalapa

Size: 6.5 x 52

$13.50 a stick in Michigan

Smoke Profile: Nice dose of black pepper, tasty grains, mellow and somewhat creamy coffee (coffee with milk undertone).  The cigar does start off strong and mellows a bite as it moves to the mid-section and finishes with a robust style (some burnt notes). 

To the Point: I like this full-medium style cigar.  This Torpedo is not as full as the Robusto size. 

The Ale

Founders Dirty Bastard

Scotch Style Ale

Founders Brewing

Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA

Foundersbrewing.com

8.5% abv

50 IBUs

I got these two bottles from my neighbor up-north.  I think it costs around 12 or 14 bucks a six pack – but, don’t trust me here – just a guess. 

Appearance: murky brown body with a nice tan two finger head that leaves some lacing on the glass.

Aroma: lightly toasted caramel, earthy grains, a little toffee coffee tone

Flavors: the seven varieties of imported malts give you layers of rich tasty notes, some sweet grains, toasted caramel, hint of oak, a swirl of that toffee coffee note, light spice (mild green peppercorn like) probably coming from the alcohol and hops,

Mouthfeel: rich, very light fizzy carbonation feel, earthy, light bitterness (I expected more), the alcohol does not stand out that much to me but has a little alcohol warmth on the finish,

The Pairing

This is a great pairing.  The black pepper note from the cigar brings the light peppery spice of the ale up a bit and I like that; the light creamy coffee undertone of the cigar mingles with the hint of toffee coffee note of the ale; the ale has a rich style to the taste and the cigar helps to manage that; 

Oliva Serie V Melanio Robusto and He’brew Funky Jewbelation: Pairing

The Cigar

Oliva Serie V Melanio Robusto 

Wrapper: Cuadorian-grown Sumatra

Fillers: Ligero from Nicaragua, Condega and Esteli, Jalapa

Size: 5 x 52

Taste Profile: full black pepper spice off the start.  The peppery profile continues to be front and center with some earthy tones in the background.  By the mid-point the black pepper spice calms down some and the earthy style plays a bigger role.  The spiciness of this cigar gives it a full-medium feel overall to me.   

The Ale or Ales in this Case

He’brew Funky Jewbelation

The Chosen Beer

A blend of 6 ales aged in 73% Rye Whiskey Barrels and 27% Bourbon Barrels

Here are the six ales from Shmaltz He’brew line-up: Jewbelation Fifteen aged 3 months; Vintage Jewbbelation aged 9 mths; Bittersweet Lenny’s RIPA aged 1 mth; Origin aged 14 mths; Reunion Ale ’11 aged 7 mths; Messiah aged 14 mths.

Shmaltz Brewing Company

Shmaltzbrewing.com

Saratoga Springs, New York, USA

9.8% abv

$12.99 a bottle

1pt. 6oz bottle

I just might have to do a glass of Crown Reserve with this beer.

Appearance: black body with a good two finger dark tan head that leaves some nice lacing.

Aroma: sweet grains from the bourbon and whiskey barrels; dark roasted malts, dark fruits, dark chocolate like,

Flavors/mouthfeel: what a mix a flavors and mouthfeel; the sweet mixes well with the bitter; fig juice, sweet grains, light spice from the rye, semi-sweet chocolate, low carbonation, light syrupy feel, nice lingering coffee bitter note lingers on the palate; medium-full to me … I’ll give it a 6 on my strength scale. 

To the Point: a very tasty ale, the ale builds some body as it warms up, the aroma is pleasing and the flavors interesting, a must try for those who like dark ales. 

The Pairing

Both of these are in the medium-full range with the cigar leaning toward the fuller side and the ale leaning toward the medium side of town.  The spiciness of the cigar blends well with the dark fruit and dark roasted notes of the ale.