Or Xata
The Bruery
Story by:
Chris Guest
Spice, Herb or Vegetable Beer
Seasonal
California
United States
Judges Ratings 85
Aroma: 20 / 24
Flavor: 34 / 40
Appearance: 5 / 6
Mouthfeel: 10 / 10
Overall Impression: 16 / 20
Description
Horchata is a traditional, sweet, milky drink originating in Spain and Latin America that has become quite popular in Southern California, particularly with Mexican cuisine. Our take on the traditionally non-alcoholic drink is a blonde ale brewed with a heavy dosing of rice, cinnamon and fresh vanilla beans along with lactose for a little extra creamy character. If you didn’t know better, you’d think it was carbonated horchata. The flavor is hard to describe, but for those who know it, you know you love it.
Beverage Profile
ABV: 7.20%
IBUs: 11
Served at: ()
Hops:
Malts:
Judges Review
By Michael Heniff
Judges Ratings 85
Aroma: 20 / 24 / 24
Flavor: 34 / 40 / 40
Appearance: 5 / 6 / 6
Mouthfeel: 10 / 10 / 10
Overall Impression: 16 / 20 / 20
This beer was brewed to mimic the non-alcoholic Spanish and Latin American drink Horchata. The spices in Horchata can vary by region, but the flavorings in this beer are a common combination: vanilla, cinnamon, rice and lactose (to replicate the creaminess from milk). Vanilla dominates the aroma and flavor with light cinnamon to add some contrast. The body is silky smooth with a moderate-light carbonation. The bitterness is low, allowing the vanilla to linger longer with a smooth finish. The blonde ale base style is nowhere to be found among the spices.
For those wanting a version of Horchata with alcohol, this beer is for you; you’ll consider it worth a score of 100. But for the rest of us that can live without a regular Horchata fix, this beer is a fairly straightforward vanilla-flavored spice beer.
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