Strange Stouts: Cerveza Potro

Pierhead Purchasing, a beverage importing/exporting giant, recently added a new brew to its arsenal: Cerveza Potro, a Mexican stout (or porter, according to brewer Cerveceria Mexicana) with 4.7% alcohol by volume.

It was reviewed by Roger Protz and Tom Cannavan on beer-pages.com. The following a brief summarization of what they noted:

Color: Burnt toffee
Smell: Roasted cracked wheat, also fruity character
Taste: Roasted grain flavor, slightly medicinal?, finishes with berry flavor
Texture: medium-to-full body, dry finish

Cerveceria Mexicana first started brewing Potro in 1991 under the name Colt. With Pierhead--best known for its handling of Belgian Duvel brands--now in control, the brew will likely reach a larger audience globally.

As if a Mexican dark beer wasn't marketable enough, the stout/porter also comes in a strange bottle reminiscent of tequila containers.

Pierhead’s Director of Imported Beer, Michael Cook, told talkingretail.com that the introduction of a dark, complex beer in the market of Mexican brews--notorious for light, easy-to-drink beers like Corona and Dos Equis--will appeal to both young and elder beer drinkers.

“The Mexican beer category is currently flourishing, and Potro adds an entirely new dimension to the sector," Cook told the Web site. "As an artisan, old world style Mexican cerveza with a modern look it will appeal to beer aficionados as well as the young style set. We predict great things for the brand in the UK.”