From the Beer Writer: Over the past two years or so, with the rising popularity of goses, salt-infused sour ales originating in the Goslar region of Germany, beers with added salinity have become more common and given way to multiple breweries’ attempts at ales brewed to taste like Margaritas. Most of these beers fall far short of the promise of a brightly citrusy, salty quaff that comes anywhere close to resembling Mexico’s tequila-laced flagship cocktail. But when San Marcos’ The Lost Abbey announced it had tried its hand at a Margarita beer, I felt pangs of hope. Their attempt, The Lost Abbey Madonna and Son, was more involved than others’ attempts, a blend of beers aged in tequila barrels with lime and salt added. It certainly sounds like a logical go at a Margarita beer, but like most, if not all, it’s a fail at mimicking that tipple. But that doesn’t mean this beer isn’t interesting as all get out. Dark brown and muddy in appearance, it’s rich with oak and spirit notes, but uplifted by intense lime tartness. The salt is all in the finish and, even then, its very faint. Unlike any beer anywhere, it’s an anomaly that tests the limits of one’s palate. It’s not a Margarita, but it is a step toward a brewery’s growing understanding of the most rangy and unpredictable type of barrels around.
From the Brewer: “Madonna and Child is a beer we have been wanting to create for some time now. A base agave-ale spiked with lime and salt, and aged in resposado Tequila barrels, it’s our take on the flavors of a Margarita, which is a staple in our world. While it did take close to 30 different blends to get to the finished product, thanks to the patience exhibited by [our director of brewery production and quality assurance] Gwen Conley and her crew of blenders, we’re extremely happy with how Madonna and Child turned out. This is the second Tequila barrel-aged beer The Lost Abbey has released, Agave Maria being the first, and with how well we think it came out, it has us excited to create another!”—Tomme Arthur, Director of Brewery Operations, The Lost Abbey/Port Brewing Co./The Hop Concept