March Matching 2013 The Final Game

We have The Edge Maduro Toro going against the Padilla Limitado 2006.  The beer that I have selected for the March Matching 2013 is the Witch’s Hat Sir Edward’s Double Brown Ale.  This is going to be a great game.  Both these cigars show characteristics that will match up with the Ales taste profile.  From what I experienced in Game 1 and Game 2 from these two cigars and the Sir Edward’s Ale I am going to love this experience. 

My only concern is with The Edge.  The Edge and the Ale became a little too rich in taste in the final third of the cigar.  The first two thirds of the smoking experience were just wonderful and hard to beat. 

The Padilla Limitado 06 was just smooth and delightful from start to finish. 

To read about (click on link below)

The Set-up – March Matching 2013

Play in Game Pinar del Rio’s Oscuro vs Habano

Game 1 Padilla Limitado 2002 vs Kinkycristo by KinkyFriedman

Game 2 The Edge by Rocky Patel vs Pinar del Rio Habano

March Matching 2010

March Matching 2011

No 2012

Today’s Match-up

Padilla Limitado Edicion Especial 2006 Stats:

Size: 6 x 54

smooth rich soil, medium roast coffee, and baker’s chocolate

I am going to give this match up a 1:9 odds on favorite

The Edge Maduro Toro by Rocky Patel Stats:

Size: 6 x 52

Dark roasted French Roast coffee notes mingles with some dried brown spice and toasted pumpernickel.  The mouthfeel is very pleasing and smooth for a medium-full bodied smoke.

I am going to make the betting odds 2:1 with The Edge and Sir Edward’s match up

The Ale

Sir Edward’s Double Brown by Witch’s Hat Stats:

South Lyon, Michigan, USA

Witchshatbrewing.com

The taste profile follows the nose with toasted grains, rich coffee with a light shot of cream, dry sea grass swirls around the mid palate, and 85% dark chocolate like bitterness on the finish and more so on the aftertaste.  The mouthfeel has a moderate-syrupy feel with roasted notes lingering on the palate and a dry finish.

The Padilla won the coin flip to meet the lighter and be paired up with this tasty Double Brown Ale. 

No problems off the light and boy this cigar just hitting the spot.  This stick has been sitting in my humidor for about four years and the sad part is I will only have one more left after doing this March Matching.  The dark rich soil note of the cigar adds some nice depth and structure to the Double Brown Ale.  The medium-full coffee style of the cigar is playing well with the medium roast coffee tone of Sir Edward’s Double Brown Ale.  The dry baker’s chocolate like style of the cigar mingles nicely with the ales dark chocolate like note.  This pairing is smooth, rich, and delicious. 

Time to light up The Edge: a perfect light of the cigar and a nice 1-1/2 finger pour of the Sir Edward’s Double Brown Ale.  The Edge shows a tasty display of dark roasted coffee notes right off the get go.  Some dried fall leafs; light dry green and/or brown spice; and the pumpernickel bread like quality starts to all mingle together on the cigars flavor profile.  A few sips of the ale and we have a game going on here.  The cigar really brings out that coffee with a shot of cream in the ale.  There is a sheet of lacing clinging to the glass and long syrupy legs gently glide down the side of the glass.  The rich flavors and mouthfeel – of both the cigar and the ale are just heightened in this pairing. 

Half Time Report:

What a battle.  The Padilla Limitado comes out hitting on all cylinders.  The experience was rich and delicious.  It looked like no other cigar could come close in maximizing ones experience then, The Edge hit the hardwood floor with its rich and bold pairing with the Sir Edward’s Double Brown Ale.  We have a tie here at the half in the March Matching Final Game. 

Second Half

The Edge takes the first possession.  The mild coffee note of the cigar shows up to play with the ales rich coffee and shot of cream.  The toasted fall leafs and light spice of the cigar brings out the roasted grains of the ale.  The experience is rich and full of flavors.  This is a must pairing. 

The Padilla Limitado Edicion Especial 2006 Cigar comes out swinging.  The cigar is still maintaining its smooth style and during the pairing the cigar has a creamy feel to it.  This is a smooth, rich, and elegant pairing.  This cigar always the Sir Edward’s Ale to display all its tasty notes; the dark chocolate, dry sea grass, roasted grains and that wonderful coffee like flavor. 

This is one special March Matching – The Ale – The Cigars – The Experience – this is the place to be.  Let’s take a commercial break.  The Padilla leads by two points with 5 minutes to go.  In basketball terms that will be a half hour. 

For those of you who live in Michigan - Witch’s Hat Brewing is located in the town of South Lyon on 22235 Pontiac Trail.  They are in a strip mall located near Busch’s grocery store and Taco Bell.  The have a mug club and the mugs are hand blown glass made by the Dearborn Glass Academy and each mug is unique.  If I lived near the place I would be a member for sure. 

Back to the Game

What a classic game for the ages.  These two fine cigars found their perfect beverage pairing with this Sir Edward’s Double Brown Ale. 

This Ale is named after the owner’s dog Edward.  Right now if you buy the Sir Edward’s they are donating 10% of their sales to the Huron Valley Humane Society.

Each time I smoke one of these cigars with the ale I think it’s the winner.  This is nip and tuck right up to the end.  The one thing that I do find interesting is that the 8.9% abv is not really a factor except that I am starting to feel it myself with only 10 or so ounces left in the 32 oz growler. 

The Padilla pairing is still so smooth and rich with each sip of the ale.  The Edge by Rocky Patel pairing is rich and bold and is not becoming too powerful like it did in Game 1. 

At the end of regulation we have a tie and we are going into overtime.  This is a first for the March Matching Games.  Hoop tee dew baby this is one great March Matching. 

With only two inches to smoke in each cigar let’s see which one comes out the winner.    

The Padilla comes out with a three point lead with its smooth and elegant style still hanging on.

The Edge’s bold style is now getting in the way.  The cigar picks up a slight bitter note that brings out the dry sea grass bite in the ale. 

In overtime we have the Padilla Limitado Edicion Especial 2006 Cigar coming out on top with its smooth and elegant pairing with the Sir Edward’s Double Brown Ale.

It was one of those games you don’t won’t to see a loser for there really is not one – expect for if you don’t ever experience either one of these with this tasty ale.  

March Matching 2013 Game 2

Pinar del Rio Habano and Rocky Patel The Edge Maduro go head to head while

I enjoy a 32 oz growler of Sir Edward’s Double Brown Ale from Witch’s Hat Brewery.

sorry the best pic I could get

To read about (click on link below)

The Set-up

Play in Game

Game 1

Let’s introduce the Ale and the Cigars:

The Ale

Sir Edward’s Double Brown Ale

Witch’s Hat

South Lyon, Michigan, USA

8.9% abv

Witchshatbrewing.com

The Double Brown Ale has a rich malty nose with touch of coffee and lightly roasted grains.  The taste profile follows the nose with toasted grains, rich coffee with a light shot of cream, dry sea grass swirls around the mid palate, and 85% dark chocolate like bitterness on the finish and more so on the aftertaste.  The mouthfeel has a syrupy feel with roasted notes lingering on the palate and a dry finish.

The pictures have been taken, the pre-game stats have been written, and a few sips of the Double Brown Ale have my palate ready to light these cigars up.

The Cigars:

The Habano

Pinar del Rio Toro Habano

Habano Sun Grown

Liga Cubana No. 5

Wrapper: Dominican Republic Habano Sun Grown

Binder: Criollo ’98 from Dom.

Fillers: Nicaraguan and Dom. Rep.

Size: 6 x 50

This cigar starts off with a nice Habano spicy flavor.  The spice reminds me of green peppercorn.  There is a good earthy tone with a touch of woody notes that help to give it some body.  I’ll give it a 6/6.5 on my strength scale. 

By the mid-point the peppery spice has settled.  The dusty earthy tone remains with a mild-medium coffee note and a sweet woody character – I am thing Alder wood.  I think I’ll give it a 5/5.5 on my strength scale here at the mid-point.

The cigar is pretty much like the mid-point as it smokes through the final third.  It is a little more robust in body. 

This cigar won the play in game beating its brother the Pinar del Rio Oscuro cigar.  It was the contrast in flavors that made this an interesting pairing.  The Edge is going to be similar to the Pinar Oscuro in that the cigar will complement the ales flavors.  Let’s see how they rumble here today on the hardwood.  

The Edge

Rocky Patel ‘The Edge’ Toro Maduro

Wrapper: Maduro

Binder: Nicaraguan

Fillers: ? Secrete

According to Rockypatel.com

Size: 6 x 52

My Strength Rating: 6.5

Here is what I had to say about ‘The Edge’ back on May of 2011.

I can’t believe I have never reviewed this stick.  A few years back every time I went in to the cigar store I would pick up 4 sticks just to store away in my humidor.  Well, I have a good collection of these babies.  So, it is time for a review. 

I have always liked this cigar for its size, price, and flavor.  The flavor is fairly consistent all the way thru the smoking experience.  Dark roasted French Roast coffee notes mingled with some dried brown spice and toasted pumpernickel.  The mouthfeel is very pleasing and smooth for a medium-full bodied smoke. 

This cigar should pair well with most stouts, porters and dopplebocks.

The Habano cigar has won the coin flip

The Battle

The Habano cigar opens up with some spicy notes and woody tones.  A few sips of the ale and that nice contrasting experience is still pleasing.  The cigar brings out the dry sea grass and moderate dark chocolate bitterness in the ale.

The Maduro cigar starts off with some dark bread and mild earthy coffee like qualities.  After getting the burn established I take a few sips of the Ale; ooooh, this is nice.  The dark roasted coffee like flavor of the Cigar starts to kick in and mingles oooh so well with the coffee with a light shot of cream like flavor of the Ale.  The moderate syrupy texture of the Ale seems to be more noticeable during this pairing compared to the Habano and Ale pairing. 

The Habano cigar comes back with some of that nice Alder wood like flavor and a touch of earthy mild-medium coffee like notes.  The things that I am not picking up during this exchange are the toasted grains and the moderate syrupy like mouthfeel of the Ale.  Otherwise, I really like this pairing.  I do like how the peppery notes of the cigar bring out the hoppy notes of the Ale. 

The Maduro cigar plays oh so nice with the Ale.  The coffee flavors mingle well; the gentle brown spice and pumpernickel like bready notes comingle with the Ales hops.  The bitter notes are more of an undertone during this pairing.  The Ales toasted grains, coffee, and dark chocolate like qualities are very pleasing with The Edge Cigar.  The moderate syrupy feel that the Ale should have is in play during this pairing.  I really like this mouthfeel during the exchange of these two. 

This has been a classic battle on the old hardwood floor.  The Pinar del Rio Habano played a great game with its contrasting style to the Sir Edward’s Double Brown Ales flavors.  But, the winner is Rocky Patel’s ‘The Edge’.  The Edge just plays so well with the Ales flavors and mouthfeel.  The toasted grains and dark chocolate like flavors of Sir Edward are spot on; the mouthfeel of the Ale is spot on.  I would smoke either one of these cigars with this ale and be satisfied.  But, The Edge by Rocky Patel just maximizes my experience.  It was the French Roast like coffee note of The Edge, the toasted grains, the mouthfeel, and the rich comingling notes of both that just hit the spot.  On this day The Edge wins by just five points.  

This should be a classic match-up with The Edge going against the Padilla Limitado.  Click hereto see the match-up 

March Matching 2013 - The Play in Game

March Matching - Let The Games Begin  

Today I am pairing up the Witch’s Hat Sir Edward’s Double Brown Ale against the Pinar del Rio Oscuro Cigar and the Pinar del Rio Habano Cigar.  When I do these March Matchings I smoke two cigars … yes at one sitting while I enjoy a fine beverage … whichever pairing taste the best with the beverage is the winner. 

The Ale

Sir Edward’s Double Brown Ale

Witch’s Hat

South Lyon, Michigan, USA

Witchshatbrewing.com

The Double Brown Ale has a rich malty nose with touch of coffee and lightly roasted grains.  The taste profile follows the nose with toasted grains, rich coffee with a light shot of cream, dry sea grass swirls around the mid palate, and 85% dark chocolate like bitterness on the finish and more so on the aftertaste.  The mouthfeel has a syrupy feel with roasted notes lingering on the palate and a dry finish.

Going into this March Matching I am going to give the Oscuro wrapped cigar the odds on favorite 1:9 over the Habano at 6:1.  Let’s see how they do.  Place your bets.  

The Oscuro Cigar won the coin flip to be the first cigar up.

First Cigar to Light up

Pinar del Rio Toro Oscuro

Liga Cubana No. 2

Wrapper: Brazilian Oscuro

Fillers: Dominican and Nicaraguan

Size: 6 x 50

Flavors: dark roasted coffee and dry soil earthy notes make up the main profile of this Toro.  There is a touch of dry cocoa powder that floats around during the smoking experience.   In the background there is a fine grind black pepper that adds some character to this stick.  The mouthfeel is dry and a little wool like.  I’ll give it a 6.5 on my strength scale.   

The cigar becomes very robust on the last third of the smoking experience.  Strong coffee and burnt woody notes dominate.

The Pairing – First Half of the Cigar: This cigar is matching up very well with the Sir Edward’s Double Brown Ale.  The dark roasted coffee and dry soil tones of the cigar complement the Ales medium roast coffee and toasted grains.  Both have a dry finish and a little water along the way will help.  These two are looking in the mirror at one another.

Next:

Pinar del Rio Toro Habano

Habano Sun Grown

Liga Cubana No. 5

Wrapper: Dominican Republic Habano Sun Grown

Binder: Criollo ’98 from Dom.

Fillers: Nicaraguan and Dom. Rep.

Size: 6 x 50

This cigar starts off with a nice Habano spicy flavor.  The spice reminds me of green peppercorn.  There is a good earthy tone with a touch of woody notes that help to give it some body.  I’ll give it a 6/6.5 on my strength scale. 

By the mid-point the peppery spice has settled.  The dusty earthy tone remains with a mild-medium coffee note and a sweet woody character – I am thing Alder wood.  I think I’ll give it a 5/5.5 on my strength scale here at the mid-point.

The cigar is pretty much like the mid-point as it smokes through the final third.  It is a little more robust in body. 

The Pairing – First Half of the Cigar: Here we have a nice contrast in taste.  The cigar has a nice little spicy taste of green peppercorn and alder wood as the main profile.  This cigar brings out a nice touch of spice in the Ale.  Alcohol usually has a little peppery touch to it and this cigar is bringing that out during this pairing.  The sweet Alder wood like note in the cigar is contrasted with the Ales slight hoppy bitter notes of dry sea grass and then the 85% dark chocolate like bitter note on the finish.  This is a very interesting pairing and that is in a good way. 

During the first half of the smoking experience I cannot make a call to which one I like the best. 

Second Half of the Game:

The Habano wrapped Cigar opens the second half with a big run.  The cigars mild coffee note starts to mingle in along with a tasty earthy tone and mixes it up well with the Ale.  The spice has settled a little on the cigar but, is still present to add some good character to the experience. I am liking the viscosity of the Ale and that syrupy feel seems to be in good control during this pairing.  I am really like this pairing.

The Oscuro wrapped Cigar is not giving up the fight.  As I said, this cigar and ale, are one and the same.  The maduro wrapper has that sweet syrupy feel to it while I drink the Sir Edward Double Brown. The coffee flavors are mixing well.  Damn this is enjoyable.  I hate to see one of these cigars lose. 

The final glass of Ale has been poured and we need a winner!

A fine two finger head is poured as I empty the 32 oz growler. 

The Pinar del Rio Habano is a great match with the Sir Edward’s.  These two have the contrast that makes it interesting.

The Pinar del Rio Oscuro is a great match with the Sir Edward’s.  These two complement one another very well. 

The Habano hits the three point shot at the final buzzer for a one point victory.  Hoopty to do baby!  What a game this was.  The Habano came in with no chance to win … a big time underdog … and this cigar showed a good contrast in your tasting experience can be a good thing. 

I hate making this call for both cigars were excellent with this Ale. 

The Pinar del Rio Habano moves on to the final four.