Tweet

 

Old review
22 oz bomber purchased at Green's off Ponce in ATL. Poured into a mug.

A: Poured a nice dark brown with a finger of tan head. Head has decent retention as it diminishes slowly to a thick ring. Lacing is a bit weak, but still shows up. Looks tasty enough.

S: Smoke wisps through the nose in the first bit you inhale. There is a really thick amount of nice, roasted malt that follows. Good spicy character is there also. This just smells like a nice, hearty brew.

T: Taste is of some really, nice, rich, roasted malt. This is sweet and nice. Smokiness comes through very subtly. Rye is noticable but not in your face. There is a peppery quality here. This beer actually tastes like a nice meal.

M: This thing is a nice solid, medium bodied brew. It is on the heavy side of medium. Coats the mouth. Carbonation is subtle, but it is what this beer needs. Aftertaste is slightly smoky and earthy. No hint of ABV anywhere. Very smooth.

D: This is a solid beer. It is a bit strange, but in a good way. Tasty and smells good. Had two bombers tonight and feel good. Gonna have to see if I can get more.

Serving type: bottle

Reviewed on: 09-10-2008 06:18:16

Served In: Mug

A healthy pour produces a three finger thick, amber tinged, tan colored head. The beer is a deep amber-red color that shows a brilliantly clear, brassy, bright ruby / amber hue when held up to the light. The aroma has a sweet smokiness to it up front. The sweetness accentuates a soft berry character and the smoke mixes in with the spicy grain notes. This is not an overly smoky beer, but it is the most noticeable part of the aroma.

Sweet tasting up front, but this has a richness to it from both the smoke and the grain character that tempers the sweetness quite well. This has a full on Beech wood smoke flavor to it that is a bit more pronounced than the aroma might have suggested. Conversely though there are a lot of other flavors going on in the flavor profile of this beer such that the smokiness is not as dominant as it was in the aroma. This has a chewy, viscous heft to it that tends to stick to the palate and actually has the smoke stick to the palate as it lingers on after each sip; this is definitely on the thick side for a beer of this strength, it makes me wonder how much of the viciousness comes from the rye malt. There is a peppery spiciness to the finish of this beer that helps to dry out the up front sweetness along with the smoke. The up front sweetness is more clean, though not cloying, it does linger through to the finish, but actual becomes richer and more caramelized in the end.

A second pour of this 22oz bottle injects a bit more carbonation and helps to lighten the body by cutting through the viciousness. The spiciness in the finish also seems to be contributed a bit from the hop character, which also provides a nice low level, but definitely biting bitterness to the finish of this beer. This is definitely a nice beer to sit down and enjoy a 22oz bottle of. It really drinks like a meal and at only 5.7% it won't get you schnokkered.

Served In: Tulip