El Lector | Cigar City Brewing

3.83/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

3.52/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

3.92/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

4/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

3.65/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

4/5  rDev +3.6%

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%

3.5/5  rDev -9.3%

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%

3.5/5  rDev -9.3%

3.75/5  rDev -2.8%

4/5  rDev +3.6%

4/5  rDev +3.6%

4.5/5  rDev +16.6%

3/5  rDev -22.3%

3.76/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at Cigar City, Tampa, FL

Dark woody brown color, deep to the point of being nearly opaque, capped off with a small tan head that receded to a ringlet; minimal lacing. Light aroma, nutty, sweet bready malts, mild earthy hops. Taste was about spot-on for the style, slightly roasty malts, nutty, pumpernickel, grassy and earthy hoppiness, for a gentle, woody bitterness. Medium body, simple, quite drinkable, and very sessionable [to use a cliche expression for a lower ABV beer]. Perhaps not the most popular style of beer, but I do get in the mood for a good dark mild every once in a while, so this was nice.

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4.2/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Being from New England (w/ lots of great micro-brews), my brother proudly took me to Cigar City Brewing in Tampa Florida. And I must say I was very impressed with both the quality and the number of excellent craft-brews on tap. The organization is very well run, and I fully expect to find their beers in the New England region in the near future ( I can see them expanding nationally).
I started with a taster rack of Jai Alai (IPA), Resonator Double Bock, El Lector English Style Dark Ale, and the Puppy Breath Porter. All were excellent.

Had the El Lector in a small 4oz tasting glass. ABV was 4.5%

Appearance:
Very nice dark translucent brown. Appropriate for a dark English ale.

Smell:
Nice balance between hops and malts. Definitely noted the nutty aromas.

Taste:
Consistent with the smell. Nutty, nice balance between hops and malts. Slight after taste of floral notes ... added to the complexity of the beer.

MF:
lighter bodied beer, appropriate for an ale. But definitely heavier than a lager.

Overall:
Very good to great, drinkable beer. Would definitely have again. Probably one of my favorite Dark English Ales. Highly recommended.

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4.25/5  rDev +10.1%

3.5/5  rDev -9.3%

4/5  rDev +3.6%

3.5/5  rDev -9.3%

2.75/5  rDev -28.8%