1001 Beers

Beer No: 79
Page No: 93
Category: Amber

Well, despite a pretty boring second game with a 0-0 tie between France and Uruguay, the day went very well in South Africa.  Somehow, as the #83 ranked team in the world, South Africa was able to get a 1-1 tie with #17 ranked Mexico.  The game was actually very entertaining with Mexico dominating the first half, having a goal wiped away on an offsides (the correct call) and then coming out in the second half somewhat listless and allowing South Africa to score first on Tshabalala's goal - the first goal in a World Cup on African soil (trivia right there for y'all).  So with those four teams going, today's first World Cup beer came from Mexico - the Cucapa Barley Wine Ale.

Now, I'm not a fan of Barley Wines - I think I've made that clear in the past.  The alcohol just isn't hidden enough for me and I always prefer hops to malts.  So these strong, high ABV, malty beverages just don't sit well with me and I tend to avoid them when I have the choice.  However, this was the only Mexican beer left that I could find in stores, so, a barley wine it is.  1001 Beers doesn't really have much to say about this barley wine and instead goes into how the brewery was named, which is probably a good idea, as I didn't enjoy this barley wine at all.  I found it just way too sweet - full of malts, alcohol, and flavors of raisins and sugar.  Overall, not the best start to the World Cup drinking experience, but, I'll be sampling upwards of 32 stouts tomorrow, so I'm sure that will be a much better experience.

My review, cross-posted at RateBeer.com:

Cucapa Barley Wine Ale (Centenario) by Cerveceria Cucapa

Aroma: 6/10
Appearance: 3/5
Taste: 6/10
Palate: 2/5
Overall: 11/20

Rating: 2.8 / 5.0

Had from 750 ml bottle from Hi Time Wines. Pours ruby brown with no head and very slight carbonation. Lacing is good. Aromas of sugar, fruits, raisin, toffee, malts, and caramel. Taste is similar, very sweet, overpowering sugars and fruits. Heavy alcohol flavor with lots of malts and toffee. Finishes sweet. Not my favorite style, but I have had better barley wines. An ambitious beer from Mexico though.

Beer No: 49
Page No: 101
Category: Amber

Today, I wasn't quite sure what to say about the Dos XX Amber.  I mean, it's a fine cheap amber and all, but it just doesn't have that wow factor.  At the same time, while having a pointless argument on Facebook over where to find chili in Orange, I decided to make my own chili.  Heck, if I can't find a good, hearty chili in Orange, I'll just do it myself.  So I searched the internet, landed on Emeril's Texas Style Chili and set off to the store to pick up the ingredients.  One of them just happened to be a Lone Star or Shiner Bock beer (it being a Texas chili and all), but I decided, since I've got this six-pack of Dos Equis, why not throw that in my chili instead?

3 jalepenos, 2 anaheim, 2 serrano, and 3 chipotle peppers/chilis later along with a little tequila and Dos Equis, and I had a hearty, spicy chili.  It didn't quite thicken up like I prefer my chili, but in the end, it did earn some positive reviews and I'll probably attempt it again here soon with some slight modifications.  Either way, it was my first chili, and a great learning experience.  I think I have just one chili place to try out around town and then I'll probably be back cooking my own again because it'll probably not live up to standards or have something like beans in it...

My review, cross-posted at RateBeer.com:

Dos Equis XX Amber from FEMSA

Aroma: 3/10
Appearance: 3/5
Taste: 5/10
Palate: 2/5
Overall: 7/20

Rating: 2.0 / 5.0

Had from 12 oz. bottle. Pours amber / brown with slight white head and no lacing. Heavily carbonated, lacking in flavor. Aroma f just roasted malts and grains. Flavor is bland, watery, and boring. Nothing special. A step up from the fizzy yellow crap that comes out of Mexico, but not a big step.

Beer No: 42/1001
Page No: 93
Category: Amber

Happy Cinco de Mayo!!  For today's celebrations, I headed down to Total Wine & More and picked up all the Mexican beers I could find from 1001 Beers.  I was actually quite surprised to find 3 of the 7 Mexican beers at Total Wine.  I expected the Dos Equis XX Amber and Negra Modelo to be there, but not this one, the Cucapa Chupacabras.  Brewed down in Mexicali, master brewer Roberto Gonzales has taken his U.S. craft beer experience south of the border.  Unfortunately, with this pale, it doesn't really pay off.

1001 Beers mentions that he took a standard pale ale recipe and blended it with waters from the Colorado River, which are quite high in mineral content.  Supposedly, the water should help extract the sugars from the malt, but I just didn't taste it.  I found the beer slightly bitter with too many malts and just not the consistency I would expect from a pale ale.  But in the end, I think what put me off about this beer was just how basic it all seemed.  There was nothing special or redeeming about this pale.  It was drinkable, maybe even sessionable, but just bleh.

My review, cross-posted at RateBeer.com:

Cucapa Chupacabras Pale Ale from Cerveceria Cucapa

Aroma: 5/10
Appearance: 3/5
Taste: 5/10
Palate: 2/5
Overall: 9/20

Rating: 2.4 / 5.0

Had from bottle from Total Wine six-pack. Pours clear copper with good carbonation and frothy head. Lacing is minimal. Aroma of sugar, malt, and just a hint of hop citrus. Flavors are weak, mostly malty, metallic, and bitter. Hops definitely get lost in the malts in this one. Body is watery with good carbonation from start to finish. Too malty for a pale, bitter finish. I’ve had much better pales.