Don't Judge a Woman by its cover - A Western in Longford!

This review has been sitting in a folder cos I, well forgot about it. 

Ragin cos there's a "hoedown" on tonight (27.11.15) I believe somewhere in the midlands where "ass-less leather chaps" are standard attire*. Despite my interest, I'm afraid I'm up at "high noon". 

Why the Cowboy references? Let me bring through the swingin doors St. Mel's Brewing Companys'  NEOMEXICANUS!

"She" (apparently) is cloaked in a VERY BUSY label, maybe that's to get your attention, maybe it needs to be.  I'll be honest, I was a little "ah here", with a look that a dog gives you when you show them a card trick, when I looked at the label.

Apologies for the brutal pic! 

A very busy cowboy western label. Black n white very bold. It's not my kinda thing, but they often say don't judge a woman by its cover, right?

BUT, I wanted to see who made it, almost embossed in shadow is St. Mels at the top.  I had it in my hand, her wicked spell had worked, kudos to marketing!

The Sniff

Chocolate oats aroma from the off and pretty much linger away all through this review. Nice, wasn't expecting Chocolate. There is a mellow roast off this, I reckon the brewers pretty much showed the mix to the flame, rather than roasted the b'jesus outta her! Twist of nuts on the air too.

The Squint

Jack Daniels colour pretty much sums up this lady's tan line! She comes equipped with some fading lacing and a diminishing head, pretty quickly actually. Maybe she's shy! 

The Quench
The peanuts that were hinted at in the smell are all over the tongue in the taste along with a number of others I've yet to decide, but theres a real earthy feel to this, grass, hay, the usuals but something else, certainly not Irish born and bred, nor does it have to be to qualify! One thing that I loved about this is IT WAS A BREAK FROM THE NORM! Let me explain.

I feel a lot of Irish offerings in the IPA range taste good, bad and indifferent. There's no such thing as a bad beer apparently, but from talking to a number of "experts" recently, we are seeing a pattern form that there's an underlying taste, a common taste amongst at least 50% of the Irish Crafts on offer at the moment. More and more and of very good quality, but failing to "WOW" the audience! 

Read back on some of my reviews, the ones that stand out, really stand out.  Anyways I'll write about these findings another time!

The Finale

Definitely different and not typical of irish - a wild hopped ale. It shows, its a cracker! St. Mels have created a Black Label Series, I'll have plenty more. Thise lady, like most is one to take your time with, don't rush, its not an all day session! 

If it ends up being on limited release I'd suggest to stock up, enjoy this one.

"The hop variety from which the beer takes it's name, and which is cultivated by a Mexican order of Benedictine monks"

 Praise the Lord, or whatever they say in Mexico/Longford!

* may not be standard.

Slainte

@davyod