Cellar Series: Vaquero Breakfast
Põhjala Brewery & Tap Room

 

Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours a very dark mahogany brown, appearing opaque black in the glass with a a thin khaki head that dissipates to a thin patch with slight lacing. Aroma of dark toasted malt, molasses, coffee, bourbon, dry caramel and a light hot pepper burn. Flavor is dark toasted malt, Mexican chocolate (chocolate with a little cinnamon), a light, unidentifiable fruit note that must be the tequila barrel influence, coffee, caramel, molasses and oak. Mild pepper flavor and heat in the finish; somewhat sweet. Medium bodied with light creaminess and satisfactory, but not moderate carbonation. Lots going on in this one. Mexican style spiced chocolate is here, agave sweetness, mild notes of tequila, mystery fruit, as well as caramel and a well handled hot pepper element that does not intrude. This is a one or two year old bottle that I bought recently, but had been in refrigerated storage and shows some light signs of aging. This probably should be listed as a strong ale as it does not have a RIS profile, except for the toasted malt, nor does it seem to be a barleywine, although it has some fruit character. Resembles an American blended stout/barleywine with flavor adjuncts for the Mexican theme. As a strong ale, complex and interesting. Busy flavors and a little sweetness, but holds together nicely. This brewery is stellar with these unusual big ales; this might be one of their more interesting ones. A bit undercarbonated, but drinks well.

Pours a pitch black color no light shinning through this brew, no real head just few sparse light bubbles floating about.

Aroma is deep roasted notes, coffee, loads of bourbon notes with good vanilla, light chocolate, good smoky peat notes, tequila hints.

Taste is smooth sweet roasted malts, weird more chocolate in the taste then coffee opposite of the nose. Lots of vanilla and sweetness from the bourbon and tequila barrels. Some dark fruit notes, just a touch of smoke hints, more lingering chocolate in the finish that's when the chipotle chilis show up, didn't really pick any up in the nose, but the show in the flavor a light flavor with just a hint of spice to balance this brew out so its not cloying. This thing is so smooth and and favorable more so as it warms .

Mouthfeel is a full big and chewy, carbonation is about as low as it could go just a light tingle on the tongue in the finish. Probably why mine had no head.

Overall was probably going with 4s but as it warms and I keep sipping find more and more to enjoy in this one.

 

11.2 ounce wax capped bottle. Served in a snifter, the beer pours dark brown/black with about an inch tan head that didn't stay around for too long. There's a small amount of lacing. I like the aroma a lot, the brew smells like chilies, tequila, vanilla, bourbon, roasted malt, smoke, and a hint of dark fruit. Taste is similar to the aroma, with the addition of some dark chocolate, caramel, oak and molasses flavors. Both kinds of barrels are noticeable but I think the tequila ones stand out a little more. Mouthfeel/body is medium/full, it's coating, smooth and a bit creamy with a low/moderate amount of carbonation. I thought this was a pretty tasty brew, certainly worth picking up if you find any. I know I'd buy this one again in the future if I had the chance!