Cucapa Brewing Company- Cucapá Obscura: Not down with this brown
Thursday, August 5, 2010 at 6:39PM | by Steve 
Okay, so this is my first foray into writing for TGBOAT. I’m a little nervous but ready to get my feet, and tongue, wet. Recently, Jason presented me with several beers to review and one of those stood out of the bunch first because it was in a can and also because it is from Mexico. That’s right a craft beer from Mexico that is not yellow fizzy water and does not require a lime.
Obscura is an American style brown ale from the Cerveza Cucapá Brewery in Mexicali, Mexico. Obscura poured with an impressive two finger head that lingered for a while. The aroma is metallic and lightly malty. The color was a deep dark reddish-brown. The body is very light and the flavor is as metallic as the aroma. There is a light malty sweetness and an off-putting sourness. There is also a snappy bite from the carbonation that evens out before the finish of the sip.
I am a big fan of brown ales but was sadly disappointed by Cerveza Cucapá Obscura. Usually when ordering a brown ale you feel fairly confident knowing what you are about to receive, rich malty flavors with lots of complexity, medium body, and light hop character. I guess I didn’t understand their intention because all I received was a dark colored light beer with little malt complexity, and light hop character. The brown ale style was not very distinctly conveyed.
Webster defines Obscure in two ways. First, shrouded in or hidden by darkness. Secondly, not readily understood or clearly expressed. While I believe it was Cerveza Cucapá’s intention to have their beer’s name exemplify the first definition, unfortunately I feel the second is more appropriate.
ABV: 4.8%
Consumed: Pint Glass
Verdict: Bum One From A Friend
