May Brew Review

Cusquena Premium Peruvian Beer
Compania Cervecera Del Sur Del Peru S.A. / Cusco, Peru / cusquena.co.uk

Cusquena streams into the pint glass from the unique brown bottle and displays a frothy two-finger head and a transparent golden straw color. Aroma of malt, caramel, and a slight Saaz floral hop character. The taste parallels the aroma and is very balanced and carbonated with a light body. This is a surprising beer and is a great transition from the true mass-marketed American Macro Lagers. Cusquena is refreshing and a fantastic buy for these hot Texas summers.

Appearance: 3 

Smell: 3 

Taste: 4 

Mouthfeel: 3.5 

Drinkability:4.5

Overall = 3.6

Style: American Macro Lager 

Alcohol By Volume : 5.00%

Availability : Year Round

Sample Size: 11.2 oz. brown bottle

Pairings:
Cheese: Monterey Jack
Cuisine: Ceviche (see my easy recipe below), Braised Pork Tacos, Chicken Tikka Masala
Glassware: Pint glass

Price: $7.50 six pack

 ApriHop

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery / Milton, Delaware / dogfish.com

Brown bottle reads, “A serious India Pale Ale brewed with real apricots.” Pours an orange-amber color, with an approaching crown of dense, fluffy, and creamy suds.  Apricot, slight pineapple, and pine oiled hops notes fills the nose. Middling apricot taste with dashed tartness and a hoppy bitterness that settles in the middle then balances with subtle malt character. Finishes with a medium mouthfeel that is crisp, quite dry, and a good bite expected for an India Pale Ale. ApriHop is an amazing beer that is not artificial or overpoweringly sweet; just a harmonious marriage of real fruit and real beer. 

Appearance: 4
Smell: 4
Taste: 4
Mouthfeel: 4
Drinkability: 4.5
Overall = 4.05
 
Style: Fruit Beer (India Pale Ale)
Alcohol By Volume : 7.00%
Availability : Spring Release
Sample Size: 12 oz. brown bottle

Pairings:
Cheese: Manchego
Cuisine: Hummus, Cuban Pork Tamales, Salad

Glassware: Pint glass
Price: $9 four pack


Style Profile:
Cusqueña (pronounced CUS-KEN-YA) is produced near the lost city of Machu Picchu-center of the Incas civilization in the Peruvian Andes. It is made with pure glacial mountain water from a source at 18,000 feet in the Andes and is the only Latin beer brewed to the German purity laws of 1516.

Within the style of Fruit Beer, components such as hops and malt may be intentionally subdued to allow the fruit character to dominate. The fruit should simply add an extra complexity and should be supportive to the beer while not artificial, but not be so prominent as to unbalance the final result. Remember that adding fruit should generally add flavor not sweetness to fruit beers. Kudos to Sam Calagione and his extreme style at Dogfish Head Brewery for creating his off-centered ales; always a treat.

Peruvian Ceviche Recipe

1 pound sea bass, chopped finely
1 cup lime juice
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup diced red onion
3 scallions, finely chopped
4 serrano chiles, seeds and ribs removed, diced
1/2 cup roughly chopped cilantro
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
1 avocado, peeled, seed removed, sliced
Tortilla chips, for serving

In a non-reactive dish, such as a glass bowl, toss together the sea bass, lime juice, salt and garlic. Marinate for 30 minutes in the refrigerator. Drain the fish; it will have made a milky liquid. Add the scallions, chile and cilantro and stir gently together with the fish. Garnish each serving with slices of avocado and cilantro. Serve with tortilla chips and a bucket of Cusquena.