 willblake (1942), Long Branch, New Jersey, USA
Oct 12, 2005
10.12.05 Bomber, must be a 2005 because the label mentions the 2004 GABF medal. Deep purplish mahogany brown. Small, fading light brown head. Aroma is lush and smoky, woodsmoke, campfire with sugary marshmallow melted over the stones. There’s also a more unusual note of caramelized red bell pepper and brine. Huh. Very dry mouthfeel actually begins its astringency while the beer is still on the palate; nevertheless, the stuff is soft and coating. Smoke and roast are both mild, or maybe I should say not overbearing. Clean notes of coffee and the smoked malt is impressive. There’s a lingering chocolate flavor that is magical with the smokiness, it’s like an unspicy mole sauce. Finally a smoked porter that’s not so afraid of its smoke it has to hide behind bitterness. Really well done and balanced.
17thfloor (728), Chicago, Illinois, USA
Oct 6, 2008 Pours a near black garnet with a large foamy tan head. Big smoked beechwood aroma with a hint of creamy chocolate. First taste is tangy, green, metallic, followed by light creamy chocolate with the slightest hint of smoke. This isn’t really a great porter and its not much of a smoked either. Flat watery body.
beerbill (1318), Laurel, New York, USA
Oct 5, 2008 12 oz. bottle courtesy of my Summer Secret Santa. Pours very dark brown with a large light brown head that lasted until mid-glass and left a partial layer of foam with each sip. Pleasant aroma of fireplace smoke and some roasted malt. The smokey flavor is more reminiscent of a barbeque than a fireplace, with some roasted malt. Mildly sweet. Fairly smooth but maybe just a tad thin towards the finish. Good brew.
michael-pollack (1488), King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, USA
Sep 7, 2008 12oz. Bottle: Aroma of smoke, malts, and brown sugar. Poured dark brown in color with a medium-sized, light brown head that disappeared. Opaque. Lightly sweet flavor. Tastes of smoke, burning fire-wood, malts, and roasting. Medium body. Chalky texture. Soft to average carbonation. Smokey, dry finish.
JB175 (1364), Holland, Pennsylvania, USA
Aug 24, 2008 Just began arriving in PA, so lets give it a go. Nice darker brown color with a big smoky bbq-ey aroma that has some chocolate and roast detectable. Flavor is quite smoky with lots of thick maltiness, some bbq, and a tad bit of chocolate. Mouthfeel was a bit watery, which I felt distracted me from fully enjoying what was otherwise a really good brew.
mabel (1673), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Aug 21, 2008 [1612-20080816] 355mL bottle. Super smoky wood aroma has hints of bandaid. Dark brown black body with a long-lasting creamy mocha head. Lightly smoked bandaid flavour. Medium-full body. Possibly the smokiest beer I’ve ever tried.
(c/o swoopjones, w/ him, frylock, jerc, rudolf)
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