El Armadillo
Cerveceria Norte

an absolutely elite horchata stout, aged on mezcal and oak, maybe soaked spirals or something, not sure the process, but this is wonderful beer, complex in the right ways, not at all desserty or too sweet, and really quite unforgettable, my first from these guys and boy does it have me eager to try more of their stuff! black with some shine, a short half inch of tan toned head, lathered up and lasting. the nose on this is mezcal before its horchata to me, although cinnamon is there, earthy and spicy and setting up the lush and smoky mezcal and wood extremely well, these are heavy aromas and flavors, but it is not heavy beer. the base stout is of interest even with the horchata elements, there is rice in it, oats too, and some specialty dark malt that gives it a ton of character, hints of smoke, cocoa, raisin, and whole leaf tobacco, all so compatible with the mezcal element, which has nuances of aloe and menthol and pepper. there is vanilla here but its not overdone, an accent more than anything else, and other spices do not run away with this, its so well integrated and smoothed out and long without being sugary, nice roasted bitterness on the back end but without it tasting like coffee. way interesting. only medium bodied, spicy with the mezcal, enough carbonation, and a really pleasant spiced linger on the palate. this is really fun and different, not to be missed, love the mezcal inclusion!