Don’t tell me the beer style but tell me that it is a collaboration between Wayfinder and Heater Allen, and I would point to the glass and say pour. Even me, not a rauchbier fan, would want to try it.
Smoking Hell
Review – Scotch Ale from Monday Night Brewing
I complete the troika of beers from Atlanta’s Monday Night Brewing with Drafty Kilt Scotch Ale. Personally, I am glad to see a Scotch ale and I saved this one for last because it was the one that I was most excited about. With my last review of the Eye Patch IPA, I tossed out what I was listening to and reading and I thought I would do that again just for fun. I have some new Sigur Ros playing on the iTunes and I have a lively and funny Daily Show type of depressing book by Jess Walter on the nightstand called the Financial Lives of the Poets. Read into those choices what you will.
Here is the review: Nice big pillowy head on this dark cola colored Scotch ale. Smoke on the nose as well as caramel. There is some rauch going on here. A touch of caramel as well. Good fizz to it as well to keep the beer moving and not become too cloying. I actually get a hint of cherry coke flavor as well. Nice third wave of flavor.
Defense against Dark Beer – Smoke Jumper
From time to time, I have a guest review of dark beers. Here is the summation of Left Hand’s Smokejumper.
“Dark, good head, nice lacing for a dark beer. Smoke hits you on first taste, top and back of palate, but it quickly changes to a molasses-y smoothness, before finishing with a light bitter, also akin to molasses. Sweetness grows as you drink.
I think for the second half of the beer, i’m going to barbecue some salmon in meyer lemon/molasses(just a little)/lemon basil marinade and see how that flies.”
Rauchbier from the BJCP Style Guidelines
Classic Rauchbier
Aroma: Blend of smoke and malt, with a varying balance and intensity. The beechwood smoke character can range from subtle to fairly strong, and can seem smoky, bacon-like, woody, or rarely almost greasy. The malt character can be low to moderate, and be somewhat sweet, toasty, or malty. The malt and smoke components are often inversely proportional (i.e., when smoke increases, malt decreases, and vice versa). Hop aroma may be very low to none. Clean, lager character .
Appearance: This should be a very clear beer, with a large, creamy, rich, tan- to cream-colored head. Medium amber/light copper to dark brown color.
Flavor: Generally follows the aroma profile, with a blend of smoke and malt in varying balance and intensity, yet always complementary. Märzen-like qualities should be noticeable, particularly a malty, toasty richness, but the beechwood smoke flavor can be low to high. The palate can be somewhat malty and sweet, yet the finish can reflect both malt and smoke. Moderate, balanced, hop bitterness, with a medium-dry to dry finish (the smoke character enhances the dryness of the finish).
Mouthfeel: Medium body. Medium to medium-high carbonation. Smooth lager character. Significant astringent, phenolic harshness is inappropriate.
Comments: The intensity of smoke character can vary widely; not all examples are highly smoked. Allow for variation in the style when judging.
History: A historical specialty of the city of Bamberg, in the Franconian region of Bavaria in Germany. Beechwood-smoked malt is used to make a Märzen-style amber lager. The smoke character of the malt varies by maltster; some breweries produce their own smoked malt (rauchmalz).