CAO 'Pilón' Robusto Extra. 5x52. Superb construction, with straight lines, smooth surface, nearly invisible seams, a couple of subdued veins. Dark brown wrap with deeper shades marbled across. Cut perfectly. Lit very well, evenly, quickly. Medium draw pre-light, slightly easier from the first third.

First half tastes of fresh leaf, bright spice, sweet herbal, light wood. Second half taste is rich tobacco, oak, coriander on the exhale. Aroma is roasty, dark wood. Ash is very clean, light gray and smooth, dropping promptly at an inch. Burn was even throughout with no maintenance on my part. Perfection.

This is an outstanding cigar, with a rich creamy taste from first light, sweet herbal spice, plenty of wood notes and a tall, fresh leaf presence. It is expertly crafted, from filler to wrap, with every moment precisely executed. Wonderful. Strongly recommended.

From the company:

"Old-World Cuban Method. New-World of Flavor. CAO Classics are just that, classic. So when we set out to craft a new cigar for the Classic Series, we went straight to a fermentation technique that helped to build the mystique of old-world Cuban cigars, the round pilon. What’s a round pilon? We’re glad you asked. Sit back, lend an ear and let us tell you the story. The scene was the tobacco barns of late 1800s Cuba. Skilled men called piloneros were masters of a slow, 18-month long fermentation technique using round pilons. This method involved hemming tobacco leaves together and stacking them, layer by layer, in a circular pattern. While building and tending to the round pilon took as much patience as it did skill, this method of natural fermentation maximized the flavor and color of the leaves. Of course, it was of little concern that this methodical process was costly and time-consuming. Back then, the only bottom line that mattered was the flavor. And the tobacco didn’t lie. But time marched on, less costly fermentation methods were explored and the standard rectangular pilon was born. With CAO Pilon, we’re bringing back the round pilon from old-world Cuba. And along with it, the richer, more complex taste that’s unattainable through other methods. Crafted with an Ecuadoran Habano wrapper and Nicaraguan binder and filler, Pilon features a deep, rich color and an incredible depth of flavor with notes of wood, spice and a touch of sweetness. To top it off, the band features the signature of our Master Blender, Rick Rodriguez, along with an illustrated homage to the round pilon."
[source: caocigars.com]

"CAO is known for their laundry list of 90+ rated blends and for being one of the most innovative brands in the industry. From their breakthrough classic CAO Black, to the shape of the CAO Flathead, to their use of unique leaves in CAO OSA Sol, CAO has never been afraid to push the envelope. Now with their new release, CAO Pilon, they are resurrecting a seldom used and costly fermentation method, the circular pilon. A standard tobacco pilon is basically a pile of tobacco ‘hands,’ which are 10-15 tobacco leaves tied together, that are allowed to heat up and ferment. With a circular pilon the hands are carefully layered in a circular pattern, with the payoff being that the tobacco ferments at a slower rate which enhances the flavor. CAO Pilon comes dressed in a dazzling Ecuador Habano wrapper, encasing the binder and long-fillers from Nicaragua. This cigar is medium-bodied and packs flavor in droves with delicious notes of spice, cedar, pepper, nuts, and cocoa. CAO Pilon is a rich and hearty blend that continues CAO’s string of hits."

[source: cigarsinternational.com]

Full Sail Brewing 'ESB' Extra Special Bitter Ale. 6.5% abv. 35 IBU. Deep copper color. Thin tan bubbly head. Good retention, excellent lacing. Nose of caramel, malt, herbal. Front taste of caramel, ample earthy hops, biscuit. Aftertaste of bitter herbal hops, bitter fruit, light malt sustain. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, sharp, dry.

This is a good ESB brew. The hops are present throughout, joined by light caramel malty flavors. Faint fruit notes and a dry finish round out this pleasant beer. Compared to other ESB's, this beer is merely adequate. On its own, outside of category, it's a nice hoppy, somewhat malty beer worth your time. Recommended.

This beer is quite limited, offered for only 90 days each year. If you're a fan of ESB's, grab one while you can.

From the brewery:

"A medium bodied ale with caramel complexity and a crisp finish. Available for 90 days only - April to June. The telltale signs of Spring arrive in the Gorge as mountain bikers begin to replace snowboarders and the snow melt feeds the rivers as white water rafters and kayakers anticipate the first runs of the year. Flowers cover the mountain meadows and blooms fill the orchards in the valley. Our pub staff knows that our ESB will be just the right beer to welcome Spring in the Gorge. This three time gold medal winner is a traditional ale brewed with attention to balance, highlighting both malt and hops. A combination of crystal malts give this beer its orange hue, and caramel complexities. UK and US Challenger hops were used exclusively throughout. Aromas of dry caramel and herbs are followed by a malty, medium bodied palate finishing with caramel flavors and a crisp bitterness."

[source: fullsailbrewing.com]

Tioga-Sequoia Brewing 'Mt. Whitney XPA' Xtra Pale Ale. 5% abv. 58 IBU. Hazy golden color. Rich foamy white head. Outstanding retention and lacing. Nose of fruity hop bouquet, light malt, sweet bread, notes of spice. Front taste of bitter floral hops, citrus peel, faint tropical on the back. Aftertaste of grapefruit rind, bright bitter fruity hops, botanical, dry end. Light-medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, somewhat thick, coats the tongue, resiny.

This is an excellent beer. The complex hop profile is tall, bitter, fresh, flowery, fruity, creating an amazing aroma and taste. The malt is slightly sweet at the front with a clean, dry finish. If you like beers with a bitter hop bite weaved with a mix of bright flavors, you will enjoy this pale ale. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Mt Whitney XPA (Xtra Pale Ale) is our take on a non-traditional American Pale Ale. Our XPA has a very low use of colored malts, which makes this pale finish dryer and accentuates the hop profile and aroma to the fullest. Traditional Cascade hops are at its core, but we feature 'XTRA' amounts of Citra, Amarillo, and CTZ in the back end and in the dry hop for a modern take on this classic style. The idea with this newer breed of Pale is to have a year round session option that is hoppy and can appeal to both our classic and modern craft beer drinker."

[source: tiogasequoia.com]

Sierra Nevada 'Torpedo' Extra IPA. 7.2% abv. 65 IBU. Amber color. Two fingers of bubbly tan head. Excellent retention and lace. Nose of ample herbal-floral hops, pine, faint citrus rind on the back. Front taste of bright bitter herbal hops, grassy grain, bittersweet malt. Aftertaste of bitter hop resin, citrus rind, herbal sustain. Medium body. Mouthfeel is warm, bubbly, thick on the end.

This is an excellent beer. The hop profile is bright and fresh with a bitter-over-sweet taste running underneath. There's a nice botanical flavor from the first sip that feels like a fresh bouquet of hop cones. Very good, particularly if you are a lover of hoppy IPA's. A modern classic. Highly recommended.

From the brewery:

"Whole hops, the whole time.  Sierra Nevada and hops go hand in hand. What began as a crazy idea scribbled in a pub eventually became our newest year-round hop bomb, Torpedo Extra IPA. The first beer to feature our 'Hop Torpedo'—a revolutionary dry-hopping device that controls how much hop aroma is imparted into beer without adding additional bitterness. Torpedo Extra IPA is an aggressive yet balanced beer with massive hop aromas of citrus, pine, and tropical fruit."

[source: sierranevada.com]

Shipyard Brewing 'Old Thumper' Extra Special Ale. 5.6% abv. 35 IBU. Dark amber color. Thin white head. Moderate retention, excellent lace. Nose of caramel, honey, sweet malt. Front taste of caramel, sweet bread. Aftertaste of mild earthy hops, sweet light malt, yeasty sustain. Thin body. Mouthfeel is warm, thin, slightly sticky.

This is a nice malty beer with an easy-drinking body. It feels thinner that it tastes, similar to a low shilling Scotch ale. I enjoyed the flavors of this brew, but I prefer more body with a high malt profile, and more retention would have been nice. These notes are personal preference. You may very well enjoy the combination of easy-drinking body with a malty backbone. Try a bottle. Recommended.

From the brewery:

"A Beast of a Beer. Old Thumper Extra Special Ale was created by veteran British brewer, Peter Austin, founder of Ringwood Brewery in Hampshire, England and mentor to Shipyard’s master brewer is a non-traditional English bitter, brewed in the US solely by Shipyard."

[source: shipyard.com]

Baltika 'Grade 9' Extra Lager. 8% abv. Pale yellow color. Thin white head.

Low retention, moderate lace. Nose of sweet light malt, sweet corn. Front taste of faint toffee, faint corn, distant hops. Aftertaste of grain, sweet corn, faint hops, canned vegetables. Light body. Mouthfeel is thin, light carb.

This beer was disappointing, as I am a fan of several other beers from this Russian brewery. It had the scent, flavor, and body of a cheap adjunct beer. I'll have to review their other offerings to help make up for this one.

From the brewery:

"This beer is brewed from select ingredients using the most up-to-date technology. It uniquely combines a strong beverage with lightness of taste."