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Cubano-Style Espresso

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Malted milk, chocolate and fresh-ground coffee beans lead the aroma, while toffee, semi-sweet chocolate and a touch of roast on the palate meet espresso and a hint of milk sugar. Cubano-Style Espresso is a 5.5% Brown Ale brewed with cacao nibs, vanilla and a proprietary bean blend developed with Buddy Brew in Tampa, a seasonal release from Cigar City.

ABV
5.5%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
deep amber20
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
coffeechocolatevanilla
coffee
chocolate
vanilla
roasted
caramel
malty
Aroma
The nose leads with fresh-ground espresso and roasted coffee beans, layered with sweet malted milk and cocoa.
also:nutty
not found:hoppy,bready,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Cubano-Style Espresso

◎ Appearance

Deep chestnut brown with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent tan head. The beer presents a warm, inviting hue characteristic of the Brown Ale style, with good foam retention and delicate lacing that clings steadily to the glass.

chestnut brownclearpersistent headfine lacing

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with fresh-ground espresso and roasted coffee beans, layered with sweet malted milk and cocoa. Beneath these prominent coffee and chocolate notes lies a subtle vanilla undertone, creating an aromatic profile that is both comforting and sophisticated.

espresso-forwardroasted cocoamalted sweetnessvanilla accent

◐ Taste

The palate unfolds with toffee and semi-sweet chocolate, followed by a clean roast character that complements the espresso notes. Cacao nibs and milk sugar contribute a creamy, slightly sweet mid-palate, while residual bitterness remains restrained and well-balanced, allowing the adjunct flavors to dominate.

toffee, chocolateespresso finishcreamy mouthfeellow bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is smooth and lingering, with espresso and subtle cocoa notes persisting on the palate. A gentle sweetness fades slowly, leaving behind a mild roasted coffee aftertaste.

smoothespresso persistencecoffee-driven aftertaste
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
79
Appearance
78
Finish
75
Serve at 10–13°C

Serve at 10–13°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Cubano-Style Espresso

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About Brown Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Brown Ale?

Brown Ale is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Brown Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same coffee, chocolate, vanilla character as Cubano-Style Espresso will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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