Saturday by the Fire

It's was a relaxing weekend in general. After spending a little time Saturday morning clearing some underbrush and fallen trees, we decided to spend the better part of the day relaxing around the fire pit. After getting the fire started, and pouring a couple beers for Colleen and I, the first cigar I lit was the Micallef A. 

The Micallef A was first introduced last spring as the "To Be Named Maduro." The preview of the cigar gave members of the Micallef Ambassador program the opportunity to try the cigar and suggest a name for the final release. The final naming as simply 'A' is to honor the Micallef Ambassadors.

Micallef A features a Nicaraguan Maduro wrapper, an Ecuadorian Sumatra binder, and fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. The 6¾ x 54 Churchill is the only vitola offered. When I smoked the preview stick, there were frequent burn touchups required to maintain an even burn line. The experience this time still required touchups, though they were less frequent. However, the wrapper peeled away from the cut end in several chunks, leaving only binder exposed for the last one inch of the stick that I held in my mouth.

Despite the construction issues, the flavor of the stick was quite enjoyable. A rich coffee and chocolate "mocha" profile dominated. There was a bit of pepper spice that built towards the finish. I paired a Lagunitas IPA with the Micallef A, and the stick lasted well into my second pint.

With the fire burning strong, and the sun starting to slip behind the trees, I returned to the humidor for a Fratello DMV Delaware (2019.) The cigars of the 2019 release of the DMV series all have an Ecuadorian binder with Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. Different wrapper leaves gives the variation between the four cigars in the annual release. The Delaware sports a Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper. 

The 5 x 47 stick burned well and held a long ash. The flavor profile was full bodied with dark chocolate and espresso backed by cedar and pepper. I also detected a bit of leather and wood coming through. I have enjoyed all of the Fratello DMV variations I have tried, and this was no exception.

It was eventually time to stop feeding the fire and head inside for a late dinner. I hated to walk away from the smoky pleasures, but tomorrow was another day holding the expectation of more cigars before the weekend wound down.

BLTC Last Rites and Lagunitas IPA

After dinner Friday I was in the mood for a nice IPA. I was also in the mood for a good cigar. IPA's aren't always the best companions for cigars, so I had to give my selection some thought. I originally had my eyes on some new cigars I'd not yet tried, but opted for the known. 

I had a few bottles of Lagunitas IPA in the fridge, left from a friend's visit recently. That part of my choice was easy. Now for the cigar. After a few scans of the humidor I settled on a Black Label Trading Company Last Rites.

Lagunitas IPA pours a golden amber with a frothy white head. The aroma is citrus and pine. The flavor profile has robust citrus and pine hop notes, with a caramel malt backbone. The sweet malt and bitter hop aspects are in good balance. There's a lingering bitterness in the oily finish. This is a not a palate killer, but still highly flavorful. 

I felt confident about the cigar choice, having enjoyed many Last Rites previously. The 6" x 60 Toro features a slightly oily Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, over a Honduran binder with Honduran and Nicaraguan fillers. The full body smoke has notes of creamy chocolate, coffee, and cedar throughout.

The bold, mildly spicy cigar cuts through the piney bitterness of the beer very well. At the same time the bold hop flavor of the beer isn't lost in the smoke either. I was very pleased with my selections for this flavorful pairing.

Molly Malone's, Washington DC

Before attending the Evening Parade at Marine Barracks Washington, we were in search of dinner and drinks. We knew that the area around the Barracks was home to many restaurants, and we strolled several blocks looking for a place that would entice us in. We came upon Molly Malone's and quick perusal of the posted menu lured us in. Although it was barely evening the restaurant was filled with patrons. We were directed upstairs, to the part of the restaurant called Chesty’s 2nd Floor Saloon, where we quickly found a table.

The beverage menu consisted of a surprisingly extensive mix of craft beers. There were several double IPAs and other "big" beers that were tempting me. However, I knew I'd be spending the next couple of hours sitting in the sun, so I opted for something more moderate. I selected Lagunitas Dogtown Pale Ale. This ale poured a light amber color with a thin head. The aroma was slightly fruity with a bit of citrus hops. The flavor was much more bitter than I expected. The description that came immediately to mind was "grapefruit rind." Not unpleasant, but more of what I'd expect from an IPA. The finish was dry with lingering bitterness.

The food menu consists of a variety of "bar fare." For my meal, I ordered the Bacon Burger with fries. The Angus burger was thick and juicy, and topped with caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato & smoked bacon. The other members of our party all selected the Chicken Tenders. The tenders are made from sliced chicken breast with a crispy coating. During our meal we saw many orders of the pub's buffalo wings going by our table. They looked quite appetizing and we all vowed that we needed to make a return visit to try them out. And of course, Molly Malone's craft beer menu certainly warrants further exploration.

Lagunitas Brown Shugga'

It's my favorite time of the beer year. The breweries are bringing out their Winter releases, the Christmas Beers, Winter Warmers, Holiday Ales. Call them what you want, but Winter is bonanza time for this beer lover. I was happy to discover a new-to-me seasonal recently. Actually, the credit goes to my wife. We were shopping at a local candy store when she spied Lagunitas Brown Shugga' on the shelf. Colleen remarked that it sounded interesting and suggested we try it out. I already had a case of Clipper City Winter Storm in the cart, along with a few other items, but I'm always up for trying something new so we added the Brown Shugga' to the haul.

Well, Colleen picked a winner. Brown Shugga' is a Winter seasonal from Lagunitas Brewing Company in California. This strong ale pours a translucent copper-red color with a thin, short-lived beige head. One thing we remarked on while enjoying it was just how attractive the beer is. The aroma is a very pleasant blend of citrus hops and sweet malt. My first impression of the flavor was the sweet brown sugar tone to the malt. The sweetness is present, but not cloying. The sweet malt provides a nice foil to the big, bitter hop flavors. The beer is nicely balanced and it's easy to drink without burning out one's palate. As the beer warmed, I began to pick up subtle fruit notes. Colleen pegged it as cherries. The flavor is complex and I spent too much time trying to pick out the subtleties. Next time, I'll just drink and enjoy. The ale has a thick, sticky mouthfeel with a lingering hop bitterness.

Lagunitas Brown Shugga' is a big beer. It's big not only in flavor, but in potency, weighing in at 9.5% alcohol. The alcohol is warming but well-masked. This is definitely a sipper for cold, Winter evenings. Bring out some pungent cheese and dried dark fruits and I think there's a feast in the making.

I'm fortunate to have a wife who appreciates good beer and who keeps her eye out for new and interesting beers for us to try. We didn't know what to expect from Brown Shugga'. It turned out to be a very enjoyable late evening treat.