Paloma
Funky Buddha Brewery

 

Pours a hazy copper color with a light tan head that disappears in seconds. The nose is heavy on the tequila barrel, but there’s also a heavy dose of agave, grapefruit, and lime - and a nice caramalt aroma. Wow!!!

The tequila barrel is forward on the taste, but the agave, grapefruit, and lime are not shy, giving this a big flavor ride before easing into what I’m getting as a caramalt finish.

I don’t like booze, I don’t like mixed drinks, but I absolutely LOVE this. Way too crushable at 10% ABV, this is a dangerous drink.

 

 

 

 

 

As craft beer sees a growing threat to its growth from the fascination with cocktails, brewers like Funky Buddha usher in the "mixology" era of beer. Loosely playing off of Mexican working man's drink, the taste of paloma makes itself known in beer form.

And as part of the brewery's "Mixology Series", Paloma pours with a burnish brass color and cast in a fine haze. As the beer's foam rises and then falls swiftly, the calm ale gives off a citrusy, cider, spicy and sweet perfume. As flavors of honey, agave and light caramel dance on the early palate, its malt influence is relatively strong.

The caramel, toast and honey nuances are met with bright citrus notes on the middle palate. Leading with lime and grapefruit, a racy flavor begins to lighten the session. Aided by a spicy taste of tequila, brine, peppery oak and mild bitterness, and the beer starts to veer from the cocktail and toward something of a sweeter, spicier and more fruity German-styled Altbier late in tasste.

Medium full on the palate, the malty sweetness offers too much of a balance to allow the beer to side more with either the mixed drink nor sour ale. This beer despirately wants to go further into these directions but the assertion of malt structure, balance and interference simply won't let it.

Another one from their mixology series...

Unlike the last one I had, this one isn't as good - it's not bad, mind you, just not as good as the other one I had. Decent looking coloration, little to no head, and a smell that betrays the "mix" in mixology - no hiding this is infused with some wine of some form or fashion. Mouthfeel is crisp and astringent, also light-bodied - which I find intriguing considering this weighs in at 10% ABV. The taste is a blend of booze, what I feel is sangria, and a light note of hops, very light. Overall, a solid beer, and something that will remind me to keep looking for others from this series.