Villiger 'Cuéllar Connecticut Krēmē  Toro Gordo. 6x54. Good build, smooth veins, straight lines. Light brown wrap. Good cut and light. Medium draw pre-light, easier post-light.

First half tastes of light toasted wood, earthy spice, medium mild leaf. Second half tastes of herbal leaf, slight pepper notes. Rich aroma, creamy taste, flat herbal expression. Dense pack to the band that never compromises the draw. Ash is well marbled, holding two inches. Burn is even from end to end.

This is a fine cigar, well crafted, with nice mild tobacco taste and light herbal notes. It prides itself on being creamy, and indeed it is once you are near the midpoint. For my taste, a creamy cigar starts as such rather than build to it. Still, this was a pleasurable hour session that I would try again. Recommended.

From the company:

“Named after Diego Velazquez de Cuellar, the Spanish conquistador who visited the new world with the crew of Christopher Columbus’s second voyage in 1493. Villiger Cigars North America has developed a luxurious brand Cuellar, the name is a tribute to the historic explorer. Cuellar combined the complex 1998 Cuban seed criollo from Jose ‘Jochi’ Blanco’s private farm in Jacagua Domician Republic. The cigar is blended with only the best Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper in order to make it a fabulously silky smooth to create a creamy smoking experience. Jochi Blano has inspired the creation of many top-notch premium cigars and has won impressive awards. He has created a stellar success with the creation of our new Cuellar cigar. This mellow smoke is absolutely exceptional and perfect for the everyday smoker. The flavors will invite you along on our voyage to taste perfection, discovery, and the creativity of our heritage and rich history with aged tobaccos.”
[source: promo]

Wexford Irish Style Créme Ale. 5% abv. Amber-copper color with two fingers of dense white foamy head, the kind that often comes from nitro cans. Superb retention and outstanding lace. Nose of sweet corn, light caramel, bread. Front taste of light malt, herbal hops, slight sweet veggie on the back end. Aftertaste is creamed corn, mild bitter, yeast on the sustain. Medium body. Mouthfeel is cool, creamy, silky, slightly thick, sticky on the front of the tongue.

This is an enjoyable old world beer that has some unexpected macro brew traits. While the head and body are on point with a silky nitro mouthfeel, the aroma and aftertaste bring to mind corn adjunct lagers. To be clear, this is certainly not a cheap adjunct brew, but it has flavors that bring them to mind.

I really wanted to *love* this beer because I have a deep love for old world classics as well as modern craft beers. Sadly, the cheap pedestrian components defy its heritage. The overall taste is pleasant with light malt and a background bitter, but is interrupted by an aftertaste that approaches canned corn. A lot of good and bad stuff here, with the good stuff tipping the scale. Barely.  Mildly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Based on a traditional Irish recipe from County Wexford that dates back to 1810, we use only the best ingredients to ensure that our Wexford Ale has a smooth mellow creaminess we believe you will enjoy... Following in an age-old tradition only the freshest, most natural ingredients are used to create the smooth mellow taste of our Wexford Ale."

[source: can]

Track 7 Brewing 'Nukin' Futz' Imperial Peanut Butter Chocolate Cream Porter. 7.3% abv. 30 IBU. Black in color with two+ fingers of creamy tan head. Outstanding retention and superb lace. Nose of peanut butter, roasted malt, dark chocolate. Front taste of bitter dark chocolate, smoked grain, dank herbal, strong peanut butter taste on the back end. Aftertaste of peanuts, cocoa powder, smoked wood. Medium body. Mouthfeel is creamy, silky, with a surprisingly somewhat dry finish.

This is a wonderful beer with unique flavor profile. The aroma is strong with peanut butter, and the taste delivers somewhat on that promise. Smoke notes help bring out the peanut butter and chocolate flavors in this dank yet creamy beer. My tasting partner and I wanted more peanut butter taste throughout, but it was certainly there in places, particularly the nose. An excellent beer, worthy of your time if you can get a bomber. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"This creamy and crazy ale takes our burnt fog smoked porter receive, drops the smoked malt and add peanut butter, chocolate and lactose sugar. The combination produced a creamy peanut butter cup of a beer fitting of a celebration and capable of easing the winter doldrums. Nuking' Futz was brewed for our 3rd anniversary on New Year's Eve but will continue as an occasional release. We want to raise our glass to you Sacramento for being supportive of our little brewery. Our 3rd year in business concluded with us opening our new production facility and tap room in Natomas cuz we are nuking' futz!"
[source: bottle]

My sister and I enjoying a bottle of Track 7 Nukin Futz

Mike Hess 'Grazias' Vienna-Style Cream Ale. 6.3% abv. 30 IBU. Dark ruby color. Thick creamy head. Good retention. Small bits of lace. Sweet nose of malt, vanilla, hops. Front taste of caramel, vanilla, roasted malt, herbal hops, notes of cocoa. Medium-full body. Mouthfeel is thick, sticky. Aftertaste is balanced hops with vanilla and a toasted biscuity taste.

This is an excellent cream ale, hoppier and a more complex than its category warrants. I look forward to trying the rest of the lineup from this rising nano-brewer. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"A twist on the old-world classic Vienna lager, our signature beer is smooth, malty and perfectly balanced with Noble hops. It has a creamy, smooth texture, and the malt contributes chocolate, vanilla and slightly toasted flavors that play off the German hops for a sublime flavor and a surprisingly dark color."

Mike Hess beers are new to my neck of the woods. I'm enjoying this one at Das Bierhaus, a bottle shop in the Tower District.