Taboo Dominican Maduro and a Munchen Hacker-Pschorr Octoberfest

[drat]

I had these a few nights ago while sitting on the front stoop. It was pretty cold out so I never got to taste the beer at a cellar temperature.

The Cigar:
I picked up the Taboo Dominican Maduro (5X50) in a sampler pack from Taboo Cigars. Its appearance was nice with a tan wrapper that showed little veins. It smelled WONDERFUL! A little bit of spiciness and a ton of rich earthy tobacco smell. It lit evenly and quickly and instantly blasted me with a chocolately, dark roasted coffee flavor. The hint of spiciness was not there but I didn't mind. Some earthy tobacco flavor hid in the background but the chocolate coffee pressed forward like nobody's business. About halfway through I found myself commenting to my friend sitting across from me that this was one of the best cigars I've ever had, which isn't really saying much considering I have smoked only about 6 total in my life... When it started getting toward the band, I noticed that it picked up a sharpness to it. I always equate this to the burning of the tar that's being sucked back each time I draw, but this seemed less offensive than other cigars I have smoked. The initial rich flavor never came back once I got close to the band, but it wasn't a deal killer. I nearly burned my fingers before letting this one die a graceful death in the ashtray.

The beer:
This was gifted to me by a friend from Jersey who doesn't drink beer. I don't know who recommended he get it, but I need to thank them profusely. I've always been on the fence about Octoberfest beers, but this one not only knocked me off the fence, it gave me a shiner to boot (in a good way). Poured from a 12 oz bottle into a pint glass. The date on the bottle was 08/07, which I couldn't figure out if that meant July of 08 or August of 07. Pours a deep rusty brown with about an inch of tan head. The head disappeared with lacing pretty quickly. Aroma was sweet, caramel, molasses, raisin and faint apple pie.

Taste was spot on for what an Octoberfest should be, sweet, but not overpowering. The molasses and caramel flavors stayed strong throughout and the 5.8% abv was not noticable at all. Drinkability is top notch. I could drink this one all night long.

The combo:
The chocolate coffee flavor of the cigar definitely highlighted the caramel flavors in the beer. The toasted maltiness of the beer dropped away when sipped right after a puff on the cigar and the sweetness was right upfront to say hello. The cigar had enough of its own strong flavors to come off reasonably unaffected by the beer, but I did notice some of the spiciness that I smelled before lighting it when puffing right after sipping the beer.

Overall, this was a combo made in heaven. If you have the means, I highly recommend it (Ferris Beuller anyone?)

[MrMoJoe]

Haven't had a Taboo yet, but the Hacker-Pschorr is one of the best Octoberfest offerings available, and it goes well with a lot of cigars.

[scottw]

Overall, this was a combo made in heaven. If you have the means, I highly recommend it (Ferris Beuller anyone?)[/quote]

Great movie and great review, thanks!