Masala

The portrait

Masala is a Chai Milk Stout that boldly marries two seemingly disparate worlds: the velvety richness of a Milk Stout and the aromatic complexity of chai tea. It's a dark beer with a remarkably complex spicy profile, with tasters detecting anise, cardamom, clove, and nutmeg, all enveloped in the characteristic milky sweetness of the style.

What's striking about Masala is its precise balance. The spices, though present in abundance, are subtly measured: they express themselves fully without ever overpowering or assaulting the palate. The milky character plays a crucial role, acting as a silky shell that rounds out and softens this oriental bouquet. One taster on Untappd describes it as "incredibly elegant ," noting that it was "one of the best of its kind" he's ever had. Other enthusiasts consider it a beer that "has nothing to envy in Belgian Christmas beers . "

At 6.3% ABV and 20 IBUs, Masala doesn't aim to intimidate. Rather, it invites contemplation and a slower pace, like a cup of spiced tea in the evening, but in a much more festive way.

The story

Masala embodies the creative philosophy of La Nébuleuse, a brewery founded in 2014 in Renens by three childhood friends, Arthur, Kouros, and Jeremy, who have always refused to brew boring beers. Inspired by the North American brewing scene, with its penchant for experimentation and brews with unexpected ingredients, they envisioned a beer that would translate the aromas of chai tea into a milky stout.

The name itself, "Masala," is a Hindi word for a blend of spices, perfectly summarizing the beer's ambition: not a single spice highlighted, but an alchemy, a bouquet. The first check-ins on Untappd date back to autumn 2019, placing the birth of this brew around that time (to be confirmed).

Food and beer pairings

Masala, with its milky sweetness, naturally lends itself to indulgent desserts. The combination of stout and dark chocolate is a classic and well-documented pairing for the style: a chocolate fondant, brownies, or a cocoa mousse reveal the beer's spicy depth. A blue cheese, whose sharp saltiness is softened by the beer's lactose, is also a benchmark pairing for Milk Stouts.

The chai spices detected in the Masala also suggest a good match with pastries made with cinnamon, cardamom, or anise, such as speculoos, Alsatian bredele, or lightly spiced shortbread cookies. These pairings rely on aromatic resonance rather than contrast.

Finally, as a nod to its thematic origins, it can simply accompany a moment of relaxation, where a cup of spiced tea would otherwise have found its place quite naturally.

The final word

Masala is no longer listed in La Nébuleuse's active catalog, and the last Untappd check-ins date back to the summer of 2021. Yet, it leaves a lasting impression on those fortunate enough to have encountered it: that of a beer that dared to bring together two cultures, two tasting rituals. A Milk Stout that evoked spicy markets, a beer of character that warmed the soul as much as the imagined Orient it conjured.

Cheers to her. 🍻

The recipe