Profiled by Maria Devan for PGA
Pours a hazy honey brown with a khaki colored head that falls quickly but not entirely. Leaves some wet sheets of lace to slide down the glass as you drink a few spots too. Has a beautiful orangey/reddish hue when held to the light. Nose is rich and malty. bread crusts. Slightly sweet, toasty and a bit of smoke. really not that much smoke. A slight whiff of noble hops and a bit of caramel round out the nose.
Flavor is delicate. Mouthfeel is very thin. Crusty bread, a caramel that is deep but not heavy or excessive. The smoke adds only a faint hint of meat or even smoke and a just a bit of earthy char to the drink. A slight hop bitter finishes this one dry with the dry malt and a faint caramel sweetness. Clean, light and a bit of earth at the very end. Moderate carbonation.
Of the three beers I was able to try from this brewery I liked this one the least. The mouthfeel was so very thin. I felt like the smoke character was trying very hard to be “not disagreeable” or even smoky.
2.5
Welcome to the PGA beer rating system: one beer “Don’t bother.” Two: Eh, if someone gives it to you, drink. Three: very good, go ahead and seek it out, but be aware there is at least one problem. Four: seek it out. Five: pretty much “perfecto.”
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Maria Devan lives in Ithaca, NY and is frequent reviewer of beer and a beer lover deluxe.