Episode 406 - Cruz Blanca Luchadors 2021

Add a 2021 FoBAB Gold Medal to the many reasons why Cruz Blanca’s seasonal barrel-aged beer release is not to be missed, but you hopefully already knew that anyways. For this one, we chat with head brewer Jacob Sembrano before opening up all eight of these grapplers in the Luchador series. Jacob talks with us about growing Cruz beyond just a brewpub, what makes something a “Cruz beer,” and some of the surprising flavor inspirations behind this year’s Luchadors. Then we drink ‘em all up, and it’s a wild ride, y’all. Also, Craig has a hard time enjoying the aquarium, and Ryan just wants to talk about candles. 

Beers Reviewed

Escorpión (Imperial prickly pear and dragon fruit ale aged in Cabernet red wine and Barbados rum barrels)

Barbarosa (Imperial black and red raspberry ale aged in Heaven Hill bourbon and Cabernet red wine barrels)

Maravilla (Imperial blonde ale aged in Barbados rum and Woody Creek rye whiskey barrels with Mexican vanilla)

Coco Fantasma (Imperial blonde ale aged in Barbados rum and Woody Creek rye whiskey barrels with chocolate, coconut, and almond)

Carmelita Suave (Imperial stout aged in Barbados rum barrels with Metric coffee and dulce de leche)

Señor Bandito (Imperial stout aged in Woody Creek rye whiskey barrels with black, Morello, and Luxardo cherries, Mexican cassia bark, and Ceylon cinnamon)

Rey Gordo (Imperial stout aged in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels)

Rey Cuvée (2018 + 2019 + 2020 Rey Gordo blended and double barrel-aged in Woodford Reserve barrels)