Siren Song
La Cumbre Brewing Co.

 

2024-02-21
22oz bottle served in a hotel glass. Don't see a date on the bottle. Bought it at the brewery about an hour ago.

Pours dark reddish brown, clear, with about a centimeter and a half of head that settles into a thick ring and heavy dusting that tends to contract into a big island. Smell is bourbon and grain, some toastiness to the grain, maybe some toffee. Lots of bourbon.

Taste is...I was about to say, along the same lines, and that's kind of true. But there's a different balance of things. Bourbon and toffee sweetness against some grapefruit rind bitterness that's not very detectable in the aroma. More of the wood comes out of the bourbon. There's a distinct amped up Irish red vibe.

Mouthfeel is surprisingly light and dry, incredibly so for an 11% behemoth. Overall, it's good. I'm enjoying it. I could see myself craving it or something like it at some point in the future.

Poured from a bottle into a pint glass. Beautiful mahogany color with a fluffy beige head and great curtain lacing. Malty, caramel smell and taste. Pleasant warming booziness. Very smooth, creamy feel. Nice full bodied beer. Always have like imperial red ales.

This is a wonderful imperial red ale, and kind of a throwback to earlier days of craft innovation and experimentation.

With only five months in rye whiskey barrels, and an 11% ABV base beer, you might think there isn't going to be much whiskey expression - but you'd be wrong.

The flavor profile is a wonderful blend of rye whiskey, mash, oak, caramel malt, brown sugar, vanilla, and bright, herbal hops. Drinks a bit thick but very clean.

Really just an experience and a trip, a beer to challenge your palate and your assumptions, and in the best of ways.

Dark, reddish body topped with an excellent sudsy, velvety head. The nose is earthy with a suggestion of rye grains and caramel malts. Sweet and boozy flavors; honey-like; oak; rye bourbon. Heavy body; sticky and lip-smacking; dull sweetness overall with a strong boozy heat.

A bold and boozy imperial red ale sporting a thick and muted sweetness to the taste and body. The rye bourbon barrel shines through nicely in the aroma and delivers some bold warmth and heat in the taste and mouthfeel. Not too shabby for an 11.0% ABV monster...

It pours a mahogany color with a small beige head. A little bit of lace.
Beautiful aroma: caramel, cherry, vanilla, and booze.
Beautiful taste: bourbon, caramel, cherry, and vanilla.
A big beer. The alcohol is very present, but does not detract from the beer.
I hope there are more of these at the store!