Cigar City Brewing
Tampa , FL
Available: FL, AL, GA, PA, NY and Continental Europe.
In Mayan myth, Hunahpu gave cocoa to the Mayans. The base recipe is Marshal Zhukov Imperial Stout. It is aged on pasilla and ancho peppers as well as vanilla, cinnamon and cocoa nibs.
ABV: 10.5
ABW: 8.4
Color: 80
Bitterness: 85
Original gravity: 1120
The Cold War is over—an American beer dedicated to a Soviet hero! It has a head the color of mocha with a massive aroma of espresso, dark chocolate and licorice with some peppery hops bold enough to show their head. The palate is a stunning blend of roasted grain, bitter hops, burnt fruit, coffee and chocolate, while the finish has some lingering sweetness from the rich blend of dark malts but hops, coffee and burnt fruit continue to make their mark. At 11 percent, it’s staggering in every possible way.
This beer is quite a thing to see. Blacker than black, it pours like a stream of motor oil. A dark reddish-brown head struggles to the surface. Concentrated in the aroma are licorice, pipe tobacco, molasses, coffee and more than a whiff of beer jerky. The mouthfeel is confoundingly thick, like a custard milkshake. Sweet, yes, but with enough roast to make it work. A fascinating and impressive beer, especially with cheesecake and Cohiba cigars.
Roger Protz is the author of Complete Guide to World Beer and 300 Beers to Try Before You Die. He is a respected beer authority and editor of the CAMRA Good Beer Guide.
Internationally recognized brewer and expert on traditional beer, Garrett Oliver is the brewmaster of the Brooklyn Brewery and the author of The Brewmaster's Table.
