Your pumpkin ale sounds yummy, as does that black voodoo. I take it you enjoyed the wolfman more than the face?

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I remember liking the face when it came out and liking it only a little less a year later. The wolfman was good now but seems like it should age well. So far, I've had 4 halloween sticks and have enjoyed all 4 for different reasons.

I figured, since I haven't updated this in a while, I'd give it a go. Unfortunately, only one cigar review and I'm moving some of my beer reviews from the "what did you drink" thread over here so I can keep track of everything.

Fuente Forbidden X 13 - prelight notes of peppery spice with a cinnamon, sugar draw. Lit with pepper, cinnamon, sugar cane, oak, bread and earth with a long, spicy finish. I have to say, the construction on this cigar was NOT up to par. Mine was cracked at the foot with a few gobs of glue on the wrapper and a few small holes. When I mentioned it to the clerk at the B&M, he said quite a few had come out of the box like that. I had picked up the last two, otherwise he would have exchanged it for me. Is Fuente going downhill on QC?

Avery Rumpkin (Barley wine aged in rum barrels) - absolutely fantastic with a bit of booze, notes of pumpkin, warm, sweet spices and rum-caramel sweetness. A bit hot now but should settle out very well.

Aventinus Weisenbock - clove, nutmeg, and banana forward with a caramel sweetness - very similar to the original Aventinus with more pronounced flavors and aromas and a considerable alcohol punch.

Le Toument Verte Absinthe - not absinthe, not even good. Glad I only wasted a few bucks on a nip. Artificial blue-green color, almost no louche, perfume and eucalyptus on the nose, sweet without the addition of sugar, anise, eucalyptus, mint and ethanol on the pallet.

Dalmore Castle Leod (not available in the states) - Very nice stuff - lots of fruit up front, a nice grain profile and a touch of smoke that really set this above what I would expect for a 15 year old scotch.

Widmer Brothers Cherry Oak Doppelbock - Definite black cherry on the nose and the opening taste with oak, caramel and a molasses like sweet/savory note.

Firestone Walker XV - loaded with vanilla, caramel, burnt / toasted notes, bourbon, molasses notes - sweeter profile, great texture. Overall, a really nice beer but I think the 14 might have been better. We might have to do a side-by-side.

Nogne O Sweet Horizon - I've reviewed this one before but this is the port of beer - cola syrup, molasses, coffee, chocolate, sweet, roasted malts, very sugary and syrupy but a perfect dessert beer. At 14% it's heavy and for an 8oz bottle, I'd still recommend splitting it at least 2 ways, if not 4. Like port, just a few sips is enough.

Brooklyn Black Ops - Interesting stout - hints of dry cocoa, earth and bourbon with a very dry, champagne-like finish and texture.

The Bruery 4 Calling Birds - nice dark ale, good spice profile - my only complaint is that it already tasted slightly oxidized or metallic.

Rob1110:

Fuente Forbidden X 13 - prelight notes of peppery spice with a cinnamon, sugar draw. Lit with pepper, cinnamon, sugar cane, oak, bread and earth with a long, spicy finish. I have to say, the construction on this cigar was NOT up to par. Mine was cracked at the foot with a few gobs of glue on the wrapper and a few small holes. When I mentioned it to the clerk at the B&M, he said quite a few had come out of the box like that. I had picked up the last two, otherwise he would have exchanged it for me. Is Fuente going downhill on QC?

Hmm, none of them that I have are damaged, and actually if anything, Fuente has gotten a lot better about the blobs of excess pectin recently, which is something they have been a bit notorious for (using a bit too much glue on bands). As for flavor, I'm actually about to post a review of the Heart of the Bull size, but basically, they seem like they are still way too wet from rolling, and need some real time down, much like fresh Opus X.

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SMOKE INTO OBLIVION CIGAR BLOG

Nice reviews Rob, always nice to read what you have. Sux about that foot though. I'm hoping on getting some of these guys, the 5 1/2 x 50 is the size I'm going for.

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Oh and that firestone walker, I liked the one you sent though it was freaking thick. I got I think a 20 year or something at a local shop and that was great as well. They make some great bear. That widmere sounds good though I have them on the black list as they stopped making snow plow!!!!!

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@Doc - the other one I bought doesn't look damaged, so I'm just gonna keep my fingers crossed and hang on to that one for a few years before lighting up. I felt the stick was worth the money (I paid just over $10) but not much more and definitely not worth the chase if I couldn't find them.

@Squirrel - Thanks. Again, if you can get them easily enough around MSRP, they're worth it. I'd say let them sit for a while before smoking one. Did you get the Firestone XV? That's their newest anniversary blend. That one's amazing. Very barley wine heavy but a great blend of barrel aged beers. The Widmer Doppelbock was decent but their Galaxy was pretty interesting (super hopped barley wine). Their Alchemy - Barrel Aged Brrrbon was pretty good last year but I haven't cracked my new bottle from 2011 yet.

Haven't updated in a while and decided to pull one of my new Tatuaje T114s out today. I'll try to keep up with this more often.

Tatuaje Limited T114 - prelight was earthy and musty with damp compost, dark chocolate and black pepper. Upon lighting, I was hit with big notes of wood spice, black pepper, earth and cocoa wrapped up in a silky, thick smoke. As the smoke progressed, notes of cinnamon anise and a hint of clove became the dominant players.