La Tortuga
Mirror Twin Brewing

4-pack from Trader Joe's
Mirror Twin keeps surprising me. This is a delicious dark lager, slightly sweet with a toasted malt character and caramel notes. I like it!

 

In celebration of the day when we are all Mexican, the brewers at Mirror Twin roll out the dark carpet for Cinco de Mayo festivities. Their Mexican dark lager brings a south-of-the-boarder flare to an otherwise rich and savory beer.

La Tortuga comes with a dark brown hue and adorned with a brim accompanying slice of lime. Chocolate aromas waft over top of a firm sheet of foam along with toast, pecan and an overall woodsy, almost coffee-like scent. Malt flavors of toffee, caramel and chocolate roll gently onto the tongue having the mind thinking English brown ale.

But a quick release of sweetness and its associated weight has the beer trending smoother, toasty and lightly peppery on the middle palate. Roasted pecans, toast char and light coffee evade the sweetness and carry over into a late palate of cereal and mint.

Balanced with hops but never bitter, a touch of brush fire accompanies a toasty, lightly roasty finish. Its medium body seems full at first but trails into a dunkel-like taste late along with the same type of drinkability, refreshment and enjoyment. Its perfect for even the cool-ish Kentucky celebrations in May.