Cigar City ‘Capricho Oscuro’ Barrel Aged American Strong Ale

Rating:

44130513_967179000132912_6599935188447264768_n“When Cigar City’s dark whim, or “capricho oscuro”, gets the best of us, we select our favorite barrel-aged beers to blend into a Gordian knot of liquid complexity.  Capricho Oscuro #6 is a blend of a bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout, a bourbon barrel-aged Belgian-style dark ale, a brandy barrel-aged double nut brown ale and a bourbon barrel-aged Baltic porter.”

Glassware: Snifter.

Appearance: Impenetrable black with a thumb of tan foam emerging on top. The head peels off to a film and sheds some patchy lace as we go.

Aroma: Phwoar! Saying it’s pungent would be a massive understatement. The layering and overall complexity is just insane. Big impressions of woody oak, vanilla essence, molasses and licorice battle it out with roasted hazelnuts, chocolate mud cake, bourbon and charred malts. Raisin-like dark fruits, earthy tobacco and a nose-tingling alcohol warmth underpins it all. Super rich but still incredibly well balanced.

Flavour: The transition from the nose is excellent…pretty much a mirror image with the big woody barrel notes, rich molasses, bourbon, licorice and vanilla upfront. There’s no lack of intensity as it surges on through a slightly smoky, nutty and roasty middle then on to a boozy, decadent and earthy finish with a dark fruit sweetness remaining on the back end.

Mouthfeel: Full bodied, oily and somewhat silky texture. Mild co2 with an unbelievably well disguised AbV (12.2%).

Overall: From the beginning through to the end it constantly reminded us of The Bruery’s big dessert stouts. Then add the intensity of a Hunahpu and the balance of a 50/50 Eclipse. With names like that being thrown around we’re sure you get where we’re going. Outstanding drop.