Alaskan Smoked Porter

Brewed by Alaskan Brewing Co
Style: Smoked
Juneau, Alaska USA

22 oz bomber. Poured a deep dark black with a small to average size light tan head. Big smokey aroma with hints of peat that made me long for some barbeque. Nicely balanced flavor of smoke and a chocolatey sweetness. This is one very very nicely done beer.

2006 label. Having really liked a certain smoked Porter recently, I wanted to see how this compares. It didn’t so well, but maybe it’s because this was bottled and that wasn’t. Maybe the most smoky I’ve had a Porter yet, but there wasn’t a lot in the way of sweetness to balance it out. And it had that rather filling sensation when putting it down that I don’t so care for. I’ve actually another bottle here for a re-try to see if impressions change. (The other smoked in question was the Issaquah Smoked Frog.)

rerate: tried a fresh 2008 bottle and it was the smoke monster i was hoping for. incredible smokiness almost as much as the schlenkerla urbock. chocolate malt backing gives incredible balance, the carbonation is perfect. i wish every beer was this good, and the alaskan brewing co. can brew whatever the hell they want year round as long as they do this one once a year and i’ll be a happy guy.

This is the 2004, so it should be old, but it held up really well. Not much foam, pours solid black. Smells of bacon, smoke, and molasses. Very smooth, light carbonation, some smokiness on the flavor, but not much, not quite as much as say Schlenkerla, for example. No bacon on the flavor. Palate is medium body, with light bitterness. A very good beer.

2005 version. Good aroma & appearance. Sort of fruity. Hmmm, don’t know what to say about this one except I didn’t get much roastiness or smoke flavor. Little thin on the palate too. Had high hopes for this one too. Well, I got another bomber so maybe the other one will be better.

old rating: 8/4/7/3/14 - 3.6, 2007 vintage. 7/4/7/4/15 - 3.7, 2007 vintage. 2008 vintage. pours jet black with a red tint when held up to the light, a small brown foamy head, very good lacing. smell is dark cocoa, some coffee, beef jerkey, smoke, touch of vanilla, roasted almonds. taste is thick and smooth, campfire smores just not as sweet, dark and milk chocolate, some coffee, creamy vanilla, sour malts, nice and not overpowering smokiness, ends slightly dry and a little bitter with a deffinate smoke aftertaste.

Notes for the 2006 version. 22oz bomber. I don’t rightly remember when I had this. Deep deep brown with a 1/2 finger tan head fading to a ring. A 1/2 finger head does rouse for a minute or so. I smell campfire, wood, and some caramel. There is also some light dry roasted malts. Flavor adds some light molasses. There is still amount of campfire and ash, moderate to high roasted malts. The finish is dry and has zero sweetness. Bitterness peaks at a 2-3 on a -10 scale. Light to moderate slightly prickly carbonation with a medium body.

22oz bomber. Pours a deep dark brown with small tan head. Smells very smokey and almost has a mesquite flavor to it with a dry finish. Pretty good beer and probably the best beer i have had from Alaskan Brewing Co.