Colón Negra

Name: Colón Negra
 

Brewer: Palos De Moguer

Type: (Style / mode of delivery): English Brown Ale; Draft

ABV: 5%

Label (5): 2

Look-Cs (color, clarity, carbonation, cap, and constancy) (20): 10

Snout (15): 10

Texture (20): 9

Flavor (30): 20

X-Factor (10): 8

TOTAL: 59

If this stout English Brown Ale were a thrift store find, then it would be the perfect sweater, albeit a bit pilly. 

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Shortly after I started this blog, I decided leave the USA, and its emerging beer renaissance, in order to travel around South America for six months. I knew that light pilsner style beers would be the dominant players at the bar, and I assumed I would be lucky to find an overpriced Guinness at only the most tourist-infested spot. 

Colón Negra at El Paso

A bit of pre-trip anxiety led me to stumble across the site of Bogota Beer Company, and their Usaquén Stout (which I later found to be of limited edition). However, upon arrival, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that my neighborhood bar had Colón Negra on draft. Pub culture is growing in Bogotá, and both Colombia and Argentina have seen a growth in home brewing and an interest in craft beers. Once I make it down to Argentina, I will write more extensively on this topic.

At first glance and taste, it seemed incredibly close to a porter. The brewery has branded it as an English Brown Ale, which is appropriate, as a porter would require a tad more substance. That said, in a land of bland, tasteless lagers, this was an exceptional find, and I quickly became a regular.

Colón produces Colón Light, Colón Roja, Colón Rubia, and Colón Negra. These artisanal beers all have a similar themed, boring label, with the background color changing for each individual style. 

The color is a deep and pretty mahogany, but is translucent. The tan cap dissipates after awhile, but leaves behind light lacing.

The crisp snout was strong on licorice, with sweet and roasty undertones. The taste differed significantly from the scent, the beer ended up being considerably more bitter than expected, and lingers into a roasty, caramelized aftertaste. The texture is smooth, but ultimately a bit too thin and watery for my taste (and the clearest indication that this is not a porter).

This brew seemed to taste better every time I went back. A major part of the enjoyment of food and drink is the company you happen to share the moment with. This beer's best feature was not found in the pint glass, but usually in the stool beside me.