Dogfish Head and Epic Porto Marillo (Collaboration)

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery

Milton, Delaware
and
Epic Brewing Company
Auckland, New Zealand

APPEARANCE: 2.25/3
Rocky, foamy almond head. Dark brown color.

AROMA: 3/4
Sweet/sour nose—sour dominant. Subtle pepper, smoke.

TASTE: 7/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 2.75/4: Roasted sourness to it—woody, smoky, malty.
Aftertaste: 2/3: Woody hop bitterness, sour that lingers. Bitter finish. Slight vegetable aftertaste, like roasted squash.*
Mouth-Feel: 2.25/3: Very full, appropriately carbonated.

OVERALL: 2/3: Todd likes it, Ben and I think it's okay. A nice smoked beer, if somewhat difficult to define.

TOTAL: 14.25/20–I'll Try A Pint

NOTES:
Matt: Interesting, smoky, organic. Tasty, but kind of weird. Glad I tried it, but I wouldn't chase it.
Ben: A really unique flavor—roasty, but sour. A lot of vegetable character. Starts high, finishes low. Interesting.

* Todd was convinced that because we read the label and it said some kind of weird roasted New Zealand tomatoes were used in this, Ben and I were just imagining the vegetable notes. Todd is something of a know-it-all.

Alaskan Smoked Porter (2010)

Alaskan Brewing Company
Juneau, Alaska

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Dark red-brown, opaque, very fine bubbles. Tan head that lasts forever.

AROMA: 3.5/4
Sweet, malty, smoky nose. Smells like Fall.

TASTE: 9.5/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.5/4: Like liquid smoked salmon—smoke flavor coats the tongue. Sweet maltiness, roast notes. Chocolate smoke.
Aftertaste: 3/3: Bitter finish, smoke lasts. Very smooth.
Mouth-Feel: 3/3: Silky smooth, smoky. Sweet awesomeness.

OVERALL: 2.75/3: Lives up to the hype, smoked flavor is very nice. Ideal for the style—gold standard and it shows.

TOTAL: 18.25/20–Keep 'Em Comin'

NOTES:
Matt: All-around good. Smooth, smoky, chocolatey. Appropriately bitter. If you can find it, buy one (hell, buy two)!
Ben: Reminds me of Fall in Alaska—NEVER pass this up! And if possible, pair it with Alaskan salmon!

Great Divide Smoked Baltic Porter

Great Divide Brewing Company
Denver, Colorado

APPEARANCE: 2.5/3
Dark, reddish brown. Nice thin, creamy head.

AROMA: 3.25/4
Smoky, like bacon on the griddle.

TASTE: 7.5/10
Hop/Malt Balance: 3.5/4: Smoke dominant. Malty, minimal hop. Nicely balanced.
Aftertaste: 2.75/3: Bacony, meaty. Woody aftertaste. Starts out sweet, fades to smoky finish.
Mouth-Feel: 2.75/3: Smooth. Smoke flavor is dominant. Very little bittering hop.

OVERALL: 2.5/3: A great smoked beer–unique, rugged yet smooth.

TOTAL: 17.25/20–Pour Me Another

NOTES:
Matt: Delightful–makes you think of being on the open range. Really a treat.
Ben: Lots of smoked aroma and flavor, a great fall beer. Reminds me of sitting around a campfire.