Cucapa Obscura

Brewed by Cervecería Cucapá
Style: Brown Ale
Mexicali, Mexico

Bottle. Pours a dark brown (thin) with very little head and aromas of sweet brown sugar, nuts and a little earthiness. Flavor has quite a bit of burnt caramel, light chocolate and a peat-like earthy acidity. This is pretty thin bodied and ends with a bitter and nutty edge.

Canned. Pours a light brune body with an off white head. Malty with caramel tones, some light toast, hints of coco, and some light fruit. A bit grainy and thin but still a decent ale.

12 oz bottle from Secret Santa ’09. Pours a clear cola like brown with a very minimal off white head. Aroma was sweet, like caramel. Moderate palate, average carbonation. Flavor is a bit on the sweet side. Tastes of chocolate covered cherries, caramel, nuts with a touch of coffee. My first Mexican beer.

Can shared by badnewsbeers. Deep red-brown body, thin buff head. Aroma with cocoa puffs/cocoa syrup, soy, and light metallic notes. Acidic woody, roasted character with soy and cocoa puffs, somewhat tangy, thin. Cheap and somewhat cloying.

Bottle from Arizona. Brown pour. Fruity aroma, caramel malt, and alcohol. Flavor is nice. Bubbly and fruity with some toasty notes and some hops. Good stuff for a Mexican beer!

Bottle shared by daknole. Pours reddish brown with off white head. Roaslted malt and caramel aroma. Toasted malt flavor with some earthiness, nuttiness and a touch of tartness. Medium body with lively carbonation.

Bottle 35,5 cl. Courtesy of DrBill. Clear warm orangey brown with a dense beige head. Aroma of nuts, overripe fruit and roasted malts. Medium body, sweet hard roasted malts and pumpernickel. Hardly any bitterness. Almost a light Dunkler Bock. 100709

12 oz bottle
My expectations for this particular beer were not that high. It met and then exceeded them by revealing a solid beer from a brewery that seems to know what is going on. Either they nail everything or the two beers I have tried are their flagship products. I’ve made a note to keep an eye out for them in the future.

Aroma / Appearance - Thick but fast fading the gentle head was soon almost gone in the ruby red body. Cooled cherry pie and chocolate chip cookies make me crave dessert whereas the rye toast in the background reminds me of a quick morning breakfast. Earthy and sweet at the same time it leaves an impression without being overbearing in the slightest.

Flavor / Palate - Very fluid and crisp it gets to the point, makes a statement, and then moves on within a few minutes. Tart cherry, caramelized onions, and rye bread are an unusual mix but not unheard of. The sweet malty finish makes it hard to pin down exactly. Whatever is going on makes a nice beer for a cool summer evening when the humidity is not oppressive.