Embargo Cuban Tobacco Leaf Porter
Herzl Beer

 

Poured from 12 oz. bottle into half liter glass. It pours a dark walnut - almost black - with a full finger of fluffy, light khaki head and thick lacing. It's as pretty a pour as I've seen in a Porter. The nose features roasted malt, toffee, peat, and cigar smoke. It's highly aromatic. The taste is really unique: tobacco smoke vying with toffee; it's smoky up front and sweet at the back end. There's also a modest hop presence. It's viscous and creamy for a Porter with moderate carbonation, and the 6% ABV doesn't distract from the interesting combination of tastes. Overall, this is the best Israeli-brewed craft beer I've reviewed. It's adventuresome but well-conceived and executed. It's worth seeking out.

 

Got this at a cool boutique liquor store in the Machane Yehuda market near Jerusalem, and brought it home to the US to try.

The bottle is 98% in Hebrew, the only english words being "Cuban Tobacco Leaf Porter" and "Embargo" in small letter on the side of the label. It was recommended to me by an employee at the store, so I bought it.

LOOK: Pours pretty dark, but shows some ruby/brown on the edges when held up to the light. Thin rim of head remains throughout the session.

SMELL: Woah, what is that smell? Obviously this is called Cuban Tobacco Leaf...I guess it's that cloyingly sweet tobacco smell. This gets a 5 just because I've never smelled a beer anything like this. "Earthy" would be another way to describe it.

TASTE: Much less of the tobacco flavor than the aroma would indicate, but as it warms, the tobacco flavor starts coming through more. Also malt-dominated, just hints of smokiness but this beer is all about the malt/tobacco vibe. Not my go-to, but glad I tried this.

FEEL: Just on the thicker side of things, but really enjoyable chewiness to it. Supports the roundness of the flavors nicely.

Great experience drinking this beer, if you're in the Holy Land, pick one up! You probably won't find anything else like it.

 

 

Pours dark brown, almost black. Aromas of roasted malts, tobacco leaf, and coffee. Heavy toasted malt taste, tobacco, coffee, slight sweetness to it.