Noche Buena

2.5 stars out of 5

Brewed and bottled by Cerveceria Cuauhtemoc Moctezuma, Monterrey, Mexico. This is a Heineken owned brewery that also produces Dos Equis, Tecate, Sol and Carta Blanca beers amongst others.  Bought at Walmart on Fry Road in Katy and drunk at home in Katy, TX while preparing dinner of stuffed baked potatoes. Did most of the shopping this afternoon at Walmart as we needed printer cartridges and large post it notes that you cannot get at a regular grocery store. Unfortunately one stop shopping was not to be as Walmart inexplicably were out of blueberries and strawberries and do not stock Quercetin, an herbal supplement that helps Patricia's allergies, or Peter Vella Cabernet, the best tasting of the boxed wines,  so I still had to go to Kroger and the Vitamin Shoppe. A stop at the Yogurt Stop on the way back to the house to pick up frozen yogurts for Patricia and I was a nice reward for the afternoon's frustrations.

Web site (in Spanish) http://www.cuamoc.com/
The 12 pack carton says "Noche Buena was born in 1924 in Orizaba, Mexico, to capture the essence of the winter season. Over the years it has become the most beloved and awaited premium beer to celebrate the holiday season in Mexico. At first glance Noche Buena shows a brilliant copper red color dominated by mahogany hues. It's creamy texture produces a fine veil of lace that clings elegantly to the glass. This premium beer emits a nice caramel toasted malt aroma that dominates the nose. A combination of fine malts gives perfect balance to its spiced Styrian hops carefully grown in Slovenia. The carbonation level acentuates qthe carmelized whole grains that are adequately contrasted by a slight hop taste. As it rolls across the palate, it picks up a faint sweetness produced by toasted malts. You will notice certain very tones that precede a dry and lingering aftertaste."

Unfortunately I was disappointed by the beer. The beer does not live up to he expectations generated after reading the label. The color was nice in the glass, but the taste was flat and dull and uninteresting. The beer was slightly sweet but there was no happiness to balance the sweetness and all I was left with was an everyday beer that has little character.