Judge's Review: 87 Rating - Como Te Llamas by Monday Night Brewing

Como Te Llamas by Monday Night Brewing is being judged as a Specialty Wood-Aged Beer (Category 33B), with an Imperial Stout base beer (Category 20C) per the 2015 BJCP Guidelines. This tequila-aged Imperial Stout with cinnamon, vanilla, brown sugar and lactose is part of the Garage series by Monday Night Brewing.  

This beer pours a very dark brown color with opaque clarity due to the color of the beer. No head was present on the pour, though a very thin mocha-colored ring consisting of tiny bubbles gathers on the edge of the glass. The aroma consists of high notes of cinnamon with underlying low notes of vanilla, roast and chocolate. A low apparent sweetness is noted in this beer, and the use of the tequila barrel could not be detected. In the flavor, medium-high sweetness is quickly followed by a medium (bordering medium-high) cinnamon, which lingers well into the finish. Low vanilla and low-tempered dark chocolate are secondary to the sweet cinnamon and baking spice in the initial flavor. A very low astringency appears to be barrel-driven, which lends to a low sensation of bitterness with no hop flavor nor notes of tequila noted in this beer. This beer is full-bodied with low carbonation. Low astringency and a low well-tempered alcohol warmth are present in this beer. A slight stickiness is left on the lips after the sip. Overall, this is a good beer though the residual lactose and slightly overpowered cinnamon detract from the of the use of the tequila barrel and the overall balance of this beer.