Cucapá Chupacabras Pale Ale

Brewed by Cervecería Cucapá
Style: American Pale Ale
Mexicali, Mexico

Serve in Lager glass, Shaker

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   add pic

A reasonable pour almost overflows my 25cl tulip glass with foam as I end up with more than three-fingers of light tan froth. The beer is a clear, cranberry red color that shows a deeply red stained, copper color when held up to the light. The aroma smells of citrus hops with a light, clean backdrop of caramelized malt aromatics. Individual aromatics notes of light lychee, grapefruit, orange zest, malty biscuit notes, a pine like edge and caramelized almost toffee like notes.

Pretty sweet tasting, though not overly so, this accentuates a flavors of grapefruit and orange zest. The citrus hop notes are offset by an equal, if not greater, showing of herbal pine, light menthol and a substantial bitterness that lingers on in the palate well after the beer has left my mouth. This is actually quite hoppy, I was expecting this to be on the restrained side for an IPA and this is anything but that. This has a light-medium fullness to it that is quite appropriate for a Pale ale; quite quaffable but with enough texture to carry the ample hop character. The herbal hop notes and the bitterness end up being the most significant part of the flavor, though I wouldn’t characterize them as overwhelming (at least for those who love hops).

The biting bitterness from this beer was quite surprising; a welcome surprise, but a surprise none-the-less. This beer carries the hop character quite well, riding that line of too much hops just perfectly. Right on the edge of being too hoppy and harshly unbalanced, but this is not, there is just enough malt to restrain the hop notes. Though you should be a hop head to really enjoy this beer. I wasn’t expecting much from this brew, but I am really digging this. Quite enjoyable & just sticky with hops.

Purchased: Plaza Liquors, Tucson AZ

12oz can. Nice thin off-white head, leaving good lace. Half hazy rusty amber color, a little crisp carbonation, dry texture. Light bitter taste, with kind of an inappropriate alcohol bite. The texture and appearance is fine, but this is neither drinkable nor refreshing. Mostly malty metallic taste, doesn’t really taste fresh. The hops are kind of soapy. Not good.

Picked up during a trip to Baton Rouge. The beer pours a golden-orange color with a white head. The aroma is fairly sweet and has a lot of sugar, toffee and biscuit malt notes. The flavor is fairly similar, with some biscuit and toffee malt. The beer is very dry and there is not much, if any, hop flavor. Thin mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Bottle. Thin looking light copper with an inch of porous head. Minimalist aroma picks up bit with light hop. First sip seems like it is missing something. Second sip is stronger. Reminds me of a home brew recipe I made a few times. Light and woody. Lightness probably plays well in the Mexican heat.

Backlog Mexico january 2011 Bought/tasted at combined bar/shop The Beer Box in Playa del Carmen, tasted on bottle. Golden color, good foam Medium body & complexity Integrated well defined hops in taste Very enjoyable

Can. Decent slightly hazy orange pour with a frothy white head. Nose is mild caramel and citrus with some cardboard. Palate is a bit thin. Taste is citrus/grapefruit and light caramel malt.

Aroma of toasted malt and hard water. Classic pale ale look: dark hazy amber with a half finger tan head. Stark bitter taste of under ripened citrus fruits. Good thick, gritty body. Like an old bitter with india pale level hopping.

650ml bottle pours a golden amber color with a finger of white head and some nice lacing on the glass. Aroma is mild caramel and grassy hops. Taste is bold grassy hop bitterness with some light malty sweetness underneath. Medium body and light carbonation. A decent pale ale, but a little harsh on the taste buds for this style of beer.

Gotta say I like the new 650ml labels over the pic shown. Poured a clean amber brew with a small, bubbly tan head that you can watch lower. The half a bag of gummy rabbits I just ate haven’t had much affect on the overall flavour. Not overly sweet caramel, orange, honey, floral and something squash-like on the nose. Chug time! Heavy early bitterness works well, some points seem nullified by the bitterness leaving dust and caramel. The bitterness has weakened my palate a bit today as it’s quite heavy and blah blah. MIssing alot of the citrus I was hoping for - kind of an extra bitter ESB in a way... not quite but sort of. Lots of malts and a faint unsweetened grapefruit. Long bitter dull malty finish. Borderline on too carbonated but no complaints yet. An average beer at best that I won’t revisit. Then again, there are not a hell of a lot of good APA’s hanging around right now - why the fuck can’t we get SNPA????

650ml brown bottle. Pours out brassy orange, slighly off white head with a creamy makeup. Light lace. Nose has caramel malt with a little earthiness and orangey hops. In the mouth the beer has a lot of earthiness and toasted notes. Finishing hops are grassy with a little grapefruit. Mild bitterness in the finish with some grass lingering. Averaged in body and carbonation. Decent malty APA.

Bouteille 355 ml. 5.8%. Couleur ambrée, mosse blanche-beige. Arôme de caramel et malt. En bouche, sucrée, houblon, malt et caramel. Finale maltée. Bonne.