Gurkha Grand Age and Allagash Victor Ale: Pairing

The Ale



I'll get a picture of the right cigar - I changed at
the last minute and didn't take pics I guess



Allagash Victor

Ale Brewed with Grapes

9% abv

1pt 9.4oz (750ml) bottle

$17.00 a bottle

Allagash Brewing

Portland, Maine, USA

Allagash.com

One of my favorite grapes, Cabernet Franc, was used in the brewing process to make this tasty ale.

Appearance: hazy burnt orange if you roll the bottle before opening or a bright semi-transparent burnt orange if you do not roll the bottle.  I like to stir up the sediment.  A ½ finger eggshell colored head.

Aroma: very light yet fruity when chilled.  A little more spice on the nose as the ale warms up. 

Flavors: there is a nice earthy yeast and grain like quality.  Knowing that Cab Franc is used in this ale has thrown me for a loop.  My brain is looking for big blackberries, black raspberries, tobacco and a big earthy style.  I am picking up more white wine and beer like qualities; like a splash of tart apple, plum (okay a red wine note), apricot (back to beer and white wine), a little nectarine to keep things smooth.  The malts are sweet but, not overwhelming.  The hops are in the mix to add some good balance to this brew. 

It is funny reading beeradvocate on this ale for they think it tastes too much like ‘cab franc’ or wine.  I am a big time cab franc slappy and this is not even close to a cab franc wine.  It is more beer like with some white wine qualities.

And, for you beer geeks – white wine and beer have a lot of tasting notes in common.  How about this profile: “ripe citrus and pineapple flavors followed by floral notes and subtle minerality.”  IPA or Chardonnay?

Mouthfeel: fine carbonation that leaves a light fizz on the tongue.  Moderate body weight and a lingering apricot skin (slight bitter/tart note) aftertaste.  Dry on the palate.   

My Strength Rating: 5

The Cigar and Pairing

Gurkha Grand Age

Wrapper: Cameroon (dark)

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan and Peruvian

Size: 7.5x54

Off the light: light to moderate earthy tone.  After a few puffs I am thinking of a firm cedar bite along with some earthy notes. 

There is a dry soil earthiness that is mixed with a medium roast coffee profile.  The texture seems to be dry and a little wool like.  There is a sharp cedary bite that adds a little twang to the palate. 

The Pairing: wow, does this cigar change the profile of this ale.  I don’t notice any of the sweet fruit or sweet malts and I don’t get the tart fruit skin on the aftertaste.  I do get a big time earthy profile on this ale while I am smoking this Gurkha. 

Mid-Point: I would say this is a medium bodied smoke. The sharp cedar, not cheddar, is still the main profile.  Underneath there is the earthy coffee taste. 

The Pairing: boy, oh boy, this ale is certainly different.  I don’t think I like the changes.  In other words, I don’t like this pairing.  I think the firm cedar profile of the cigar is affecting the sweet style of the ale.

The ale does not even affect the cigar.   

Down the Stretch: The coffee and earthy profile is pleasing to the palate.  The earthy notes are soil and wood like in quality.  The coffee note is still a medium roast style.  The cedar has settled; it is not as sharp. 

The Pairing: I just can’t recommend this pairing.  The cigar has too big of a negative effect on the ale. 

My Strength Rating (cigar): 6 – during this pairing. 

Gurkha Grand Age Cigar and Maredsous 8 Dubbel: Review

The Cigar

Gurkha Grand Age

Wrapper: Cameroon (dark)

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan and Peruvian

Size: 7.5x54

My Strength Rating:

Interesting, the cigar that I selected from this six pack is a lot darker than the Grand Age in the other six pack.  See picture below.  This makes my point that Cigar International can sell these at a great price point because they are probably ‘Seconds.’  These cigars did not make the cut to be sold a full price because of flaws.

Off the light I get a strange bitter bite.  After a few puffs I am thinking of a strong cedar bite and earthy notes.  That little flaw in the wrapper was not an issue on the burn.  But, I did get a big crack in the wrapper just before the half-way point on the cigar. 

Once past a couple of inches that strange cedar bitter bite calmed down.  Now, I can start to think of what are the other flavors here.  There is a dry soil earthiness that is mixed with a medium roast coffee profile.  The texture seems to be dry and a little wool like.  The overall flavor is much better than when it started off.  Here at the mid-point I would say this is a medium to medium-full bodied smoke.

I made it past the spot where the wrapper  had busted open.  The wrapper did not continue to bust open.  The cigar probably got bumped in shipping and created that spot. 

The cigar is tasty as it passes the halfway point.  The coffee and earthy profile is pleasing to the palate.  The earthy notes are soil and wood like in quality.  The coffee note is still a medium roast style.

The Beer

Maredsous 8 Dubbel

Belgain Abbey Ale – Refermented in the bottle

8% abv

1pt 9.4oz bottle

$10.00 a bottle

Duvel Moortgat NV

Puurs, Belgium

Best before on the side of the bottle: 09 2010 – Just 4 months past date.

Being bottled conditioned this should not be a big factor.

Dried dark fruits on the nose with some crisp slightly toasted malts.

The body is brown in color with a beige colored head that dissipated fairly fast leaving a thin layer of foam.  Nice lacing on the glass from the head.  Just swirl the beverage in the glass and the foam is kicked back up.  Typical fine carbonation for a Belgian Ale. 

On my first glass I notice the dried fruits right off the bat.  Dark raisin and prune like.  On the bottle it says, ‘subtle hints of chocolate and toffee.’  I detect a bit of chocolate but, nothing to write home about.  But, then I am at home.  I am missing the toffee note.  The ale seems to have a pleasing earthiness as its main profile a bit mineral like in quality.  There is a slight bitterness on the aftertaste. 

I just visit beeradvocate.com and they give it an A- out of 527 reviews.  I don’t think I would be that generous.  But, maybe the freshness factor (9-2010) is playing a factor after all. 

I am thinking that I would not buy this bottle again but, then again, I’ll just have to check the freshness date on the next bottle and maybe give it one more try. 

The Pairing

I like these two together.  They seem to help each other out.  The earthy style of each work well together.  The coffee notes of the cigar seem to mingle well with the dried dark fruits of the ale making a tasty experience.