Wednesday 4 January 2006

Review: Noche Buena 2005

Noche Buena 2005 from Cervecería Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma, S.A. de C.V.
Rating: B+

Read up on Mexican brews before my trip to Cancun last week, and made a point of sampling a few while I was there. Since this was December, I was excited at the prospect of trying a Noche Buena, but I was surprised at how difficult it turned out to be, since they're not carried by the touristy bars and hotels and it was getting late in the season for it. I wound up having to enlist the help of a waitress, who said she'd track them down and meet me the next day for delivery. Brought a couple back to the U.S., along with a Victoria.

Pours a very pretty dark honey, little lacing and a consistent bubbles of carbonation that continue for a long while.

Pleasant smell, malty with a touch of sweet and holiday spice (curious how much of the latter is illusory, association with the name)

Crisp taste, malt and a bit of sweet. Resolves nicely into a hoppy aftertaste.

Good amount of carbonation and otherwise pleasant mouthfeel, but unextroidinary. Not a whole lot there, but nothing unpleasant either.

It's a beer that would be very easy to drink down quickly, but good enough to know that you shouldn't. Light enough to drink several, but satisfying enough to stop after one, too. Recommended.

(first review on BA)

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 01-04-2006 01:56:27

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