La Cumbre is at it again. Just when beer lovers thought the hops were in full command of the brewery, Jeff Erway and company flipped the script and concocted an Irish red ale and an oatmeal stout, perfect for March. With Shilling and the Professor Emeritus of Beer in tow, I dropped on by LC on Thursday afternoon after the weekly UNM baseball press conference. It sure felt like spring outside at Isotopes Park, where the grass is greener, the players are more upbeat (winning six of seven will do that), and the winds are (temporarily) at bay.

Over at the brewery, we tried the Irish Red Ale first. It is a smooth, crisp beer, offering up only a slight hint of its East Kent Golding hops. The red offers up tremendous drinkability, similar to many of the styles I tried in Arizona, but with more flavor. As far as reds go, it is very different than Marble’s red, much closer to the Irish red over at Il Vicino, just a bit less sweet. The caramel and roasted malt flavors blend together nicely, finishing with a little dry kick. Unlike many La Cumbre beers, it is also very light from an ABV standpoint, checking in at just 4.6 percent. This is definitely a kick-back-and-relax beer, not the kind that would start an old-fashioned Irish bar brawl, despite the fact it is made entirely with British ingredients. Grab a few pints and catch up on the Premier League action this weekend. (Go Newcastle!)

For our second helping, we picked up the uniquely named Chew and Swallow, an oatmeal stout. This is a smooth, thick, delicious beer that would likewise feel at home in a pub with football (soccer) on the telly. It does not have the bite or bitterness commonly associated with stouts, including La Cumbre’s Malpais Stout. This is not a chocolate stout, but instead an obsidian elixir that just redefines the term “smooth” for beers. For those who usually do not drink stouts, this one will give you the illusion of filling you up. It is certainly thicker than, say, Guinness, but it is just an illusion. You can drink two of these (at 6.5 percent ABV, I would not recommend three unless you pass off your car keys to a friend/significant other) and still avoid having to go run five miles the next day to work it off.

Other seasonal beers on tap right now are the VMO #2, a German-style lager, plus the Dubbel Entendre, the hyper-flavored Belgian that is nearing the end of its run, and Barley’s Wine, the 10.8-percent ABV powerhouse of the brewery. When the Dubbel runs out, prepare for the arrival of Acclimated IPA, a new double IPA that is sure to unleash a furious hop onslaught of joy upon the many fans of the style.

It is a set to be a gorgeous weekend outside, but still take the time to head over to La Cumbre to indulge in these tasty seasonal beers, or go over, fill your growler, and enjoy from the comfort of you backyard.

Cheers!

— Stoutmeister