Alaskan Smoked Porter

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

Serve in Dimpled mug, Lager glass, Stein

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A Mes rate: 475ml 2003 bottle at Chris O’s extravaganza. Stunning beer. Glorious black tinged red colour with a well behaved tan head. Barley sugar, black cherries, tarry roasted malt and a simply beautiful underlying smokeyness sums up the aroma. Flavour is similar but with a little more fruit and some chocolate makes an appearance. The smoke all but dissapears then jumps out for the finish. It’s quite superb. Wonderfully soft in the mouth. Top class beer.

Smoked beers tend to divide opinion, but I like ’em. Very dark colour, with insignificant head. The smoke dominates any other elements in the aroma, but, somehow, it’s not too overwhelming. Coffee and chocolate put in an appearance in the flavour, with smoky bacon again to the fore. The mouthfeel is rich, but not too heavy. Unfortunately, I neglected to note down which year it was. Overall, I thought it was pretty good if not exactly subtle. Bottle at the DC gathering aftermath, courtesy of eyedrinkale.

UPDATED: JAN 15, 2005 2003 vintage tasted on 5/2/04. Dark black in color with a large tan head. Aroma dominated by smokey smells but also hints of roasted malts, coffee and chocolate. Smokey coffee tasting.

Tasted 2001 & 2004 vintages on 1/14/05. The ’01 is my favorite out of the 3 vintages I’ve tasted. Based on the ’01, I rased the overall score for this beer (ages real well).

Deutlich rauchiger Malzantrunk, der wenige Hefenoten bietet. Die von Anfang an hohe Rauchgikeit bleibt bestehen, wird aber durch süße Noten ergänzt. Sie schwächelt zum Ende, in dem sie nur noch ausgleitet. Weich, wenig herb, die Rauchgiekit ist auch zum Ende angenehm. Vollmundig, dezent röstig. Wirklich gut. 11/12/13/13/13/12

2010 Edition: A deep dark porter with a thick frothy and lacing mocha head. In aroma, loads of smoked ham, grassy notes, herbal hops, very nice. In mouth, smooth smoked chocolate, peaty bacon, silky and smooth, alcohol warmth, very nice. Shared with Mike and friends, April 1, 2012.

UPDATED: SEP 30, 2004 2002 version from a 660 ml bottle. Prominant smokey aroma. Dark beer with a fast disappearing head. Molasses, sweet caramel malt and brown sugar. The flavour was much more subtle than the aroma, the smokiness accentuates a well balanced brew with piney hops, grassy flavour and just enough bitterness to finish and round it off. 2003 version Very dark brown with a thin dissipating tan-coloured head, leaving a ring of foam around the rim of the glass. Smoky, beeckwood aroma layered over the top of a fairly prominent coffee character. Flavour however, shows coffee on the front, light acidity which then explodes into a load of smoke on the finish with a lingering bitterness on the finish. Quite different from the 2002 however, but almost as good. Ar 8, Ap 3, Fl 7, Pa 4, Ov 15

UPDATED: FEB 27, 2004 2/27/2004, 2002 bottle: Aroma still has a great smokey presence, even after aging a year. Body is semi-sweet with some heavily roasted bitter notes. Crisp, dry warming finish. Still a nice smoked porter, but could use some finesse in the body. 2/2/2003, 2002 bottle: Heavily smoked aroma more so than Stone Smoked Porter. This has a sweet malty flavor which is well balanced with a light bitterness. The mouthfeel is silky and very smooth. This finishes dry and woody and leaves me wanting more.

(Vertical tasting with 1998 - 2000 samples. Points given above are 2002. 1998 between brackets below.) Colour: Deep brown - nearly black. Brown yellow head ['98 identical but more pearling inside the glass, and more stable head- 4] Nose yields rich chocolate, mocca, grapes, ripe plums whilst pouring; settled the smoked and cured hamodour raises up - also a nose of glycerine soap.[Chocolate, plums, spicey -cardemom peel- whilst pouring. The smokiness here is really smoked baconrind, sharper. No soapy smell - 8] Rich smoked flavour. definitely wood, also pipe tobacco. Mmm, this IS good. ['98: all the above, but more subdued. There is surprisingly more sweetness apparent. strange, in taste I prefer the younger version - 7] Both obviously very rich mouthfeel. ['98 seems lighter at first, but equals out after a while - 4] Long bitter finish; bitter chocolate, hops, coffee. the younger beer seems somewhat less bitter. I can understand why M.J. bombarded this brew into a world classic. It gives the best from both Porter and Rauchbier styles. Holy smoke! [17]

Bottled. Smoked ham aroma, jet black colour with no head. The taste improves throughout the sample. At first the smokiness and the oily roastiness seem disjointed and there is little balance, but with time the smokiness takes over, and that is a good thing! A very good beer in its class although I have no doubt that this would not be everybody's thing.

UPDATED: FEB 1, 2012 2007 Bottle. Pours with a small, light brown head that reverts to a ring around the glass quickly. Aroma is of dry, rich coffee, vanilla and a touch of smoke. Taste is coffee with a nice, but strong smokey finish. Nice, creamy mouthfeel with light carbonation. A bit too much smoke for me to drink by itself in large quantities, but just fine to pair with the ribs I made tonight.

2002 bottle thanks to tyleranderso. 473ml. Huge, massive smoke flavor. Lots of alderwood. Mild oxidation that seems top marry quite well with the flavors of the smoke. Still good carbonation. Impressive and better than fresher examples.