Hibiscus Quercus | Beer Review

Tequila Barrel-Aged Tart Hibiscus Ale – La Cumbre Brewing Company 

Every once in a while a beer calls to you like a siren. There can be no explanation – taking the first sip is simply something that has to happen. Our focus will always remain on Colorado beers but to my knowledge, no one locally has tried this particular combination. A tart beer aged in tequila barrels with hibiscus added pulled at my inner beer spirit. La Cumbre comes from our neighboring state of New Mexico – so if you think about it I am just sticking my toes across the border for this beer.

Visual: Light ruby red with minimal head.

Aroma: You are immediately hit with the scent of tequila. This is followed by fruity and floral notes – if you knew you were looking for hibiscus it would jump out. Do not let the strong tequila aroma dissuade you. There is no hint of hops.

Taste: The beer bubbles on the tip of your tongue and then the strangest thing happens. You notice that the tequila you smell strongly only lingers lightly in the taste. It’s tart – a bit juicy and finishes dry. The hibiscus flavor almost takes over where the tequila scent began. Sip after sip it doesn’t make sense – it just works.

ABV: 7.3%

Overall Beer Rating:     8.5 spades out of 10