La Negra (Bourbon Barrel Aged)
La Cumbre Brewing Co.

22-ounce bottle purchased at the La Cumbre Westside Taproom. No date stamp, but the label indicates this is the 2025 vintage. Enjoyed in a snifter.

Look:
Deep reddish-brown with cola brown highlights. A thick but fizzy head of rich tan foam shrinks quickly to a frothy collar and a persistent skin. A few flecks of lacing mark my progress through the first pour.

Smell:
Dark roasted malt, oak, booze, blackberries, and a swarm of spicy notes (licorice, pepper, rye, an unexpected minty herb). As it warms, unsweetened cocoa and brown bread come forward, followed closely by graham crackers and a soft "cheesy" malt note that reminds me of Samichlaus. Not too sweet.

Taste:
Dark chocolate hits first, followed by ashy roasted malt that means business. Not too sweet! Raisins come up next, then toasted brown bread, a crumb of toffee, a splash of room-temperature bourbon. Blackberries jump into the ring before getting bum-rushed by black coffee and a surge of roasted malt. A mild oaky tang sneaks in. That "cheesy" Samichlaus malt sticks its head in the door and bails quickly. The long finish is dark chocolate, prominent bourbon, a placating note of caramel, and roasted malt that just won't quit.

Feel:
Body is medium-heavy at best, smooth but a little thin and mean. Carbonation prickles but ultimately offers more grit than bite. Respectable alcohol heat spreads out like a shockwave and kicks embers into the air.

Overall:
Lots of good flavors here, and not too sweet, but beware: this bruiser pulls no punches. Big roasted malt, big booze, hot finish. The caramel, unsweetened cocoa, and spicy notes are tasty. The mint and blackberry flourishes are just nuts. La Negra is a beast. It's a little unusual, and more than the sum of its parts. Approach with caution and respect.

 

Enjoying the first glass at fridge temp over the course of an hour. Dry overall, lots of roasty cocoa with just a whisper of sweetness and hint of oaky char. As it warms semi-sweet chocolate emerges along with some caramel and gentle. I plan to enjoy the second glass at cellar temp after dinner. Old school stout that work here and I love it. While I love a sweet barleywine my tastes runs drier when it comes to stout and this is right in my sweet spot so to speak. Very glad to have tried this, thanks Dave!

 

 

22 ounce bottle, no bottle date observed. Poured into tulip. Pours a dark, dark black with cola highlights. Creamy mocha colored head that leaves. Oh baby, the nose is where it's at. Fudgey, brownies with hints of nuttiness and molasses. Liquid chocolate, but not that fake ass kind. This is like that fancy drinking chocolate you overpay for but it's oh so delicious. Just a small hint of raisins before it opens up into chewy brownies, vanilla, smooth bourbon and hints of toasted coconut from the wood. Honeycomb and red berries too. Smooth and creamy body that envelopes your tongue and washes down the throat, Slightly drying finish.

 

 

 

L: Pours a pitch black color with a medium creamy tan head that dissipates rather quickly and leaves very little lacing.

S: The bourbon is forefront, with notes of oak, vanilla, and sweet cherry licorice. I get a let bit of roasted malt, but the bourbon notes overpower much of the aromas you expect from a stout.

T; Strong notes of bourbon with notes of oak, vanilla, and once again the sweet cherry licorice and maybe a little black licorice. A bit of bitter coffee, chocolate, and roast, but the bourbon is forefront and overshadows many of the stout characteristics. The booze is noticeable and definitely warms the stomach.

F: Heavy body, not as creamy as I would like, I think that is due to the very strong bourbon note that makes the carbonation a little more cola like.

O: This beer is very bourbon forward, it's not bad, but I prefer my barrel aged stouts to be more balanced between the bourbon and the stout characteristics.