I’m in Peru at the moment, and last night I went to the Barranco Beer Company‘s brewpub in Lima for the 2017 Saca Tu Machete release.
Saca Tu Machete is a 9% abv, 55 IBU, imperial stout brewed with algarrobina syrup, native limo hot peppers, and Tettnang, Chinook, and Columbus hops.
The beer is hearty without being “chewy” or cloying. There is some coffee in the nose and in the taste, as well as some chocolate and raisin notes –probably contributed by the algarrobina. While there is no discernible alcoholic “heat”, the limo peppers provide a pleasing undertone of “warmth” throughout, but particularly at the back end, but without making the beer at all spicy.
Despite the relatively high hopping rate, Saca Tu Machete is not an overtly bitter beer. In fact, it is a bit sweet. If you like dark beers and beers with a lot of flavor but without the bitterness of, say, an IPA, this is one to try.
The beer is available at Barranco Beer Company’s brewpub in Lima’s Barranco neighborhood (Av. Almirante Grau #308) on tap with nitrogen and in 24 oz. bottles.