Parallel 49 / Steel & Oak Brewing Co. Brews Brothers Tiger in Your Tank Kellerbier at 5.0% ABV (C$2.63 at Andrew Hilton Wine & Spirits, 341 ml, bottle date 19-Feb-2015)
Pours clear pale amber with one finger of dense off-white head, good retention and no lacing. (3/5) Nose is grainy caramel malt, earthy hops, smoke. (5/10) Taste is moderate sweet, mild bitter, mild smoke. (5/10) Light to medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering mildly bitter and smoky finish. (3/5)
Well, I don’t hate it – and believe me, after the first sniff and sip, that was the direction things were heading. I really wasn’t expecting smoke. And, apparently, neither do the BJCP (2014 draft guide) or the German Beer Institute – I checked: even the amber Franconion Kellerbiers are expected to have bready/toasty and spicy peppery hop aromas, and caramel or biscuity malt are acceptable. “Smoke” isn’t mentioned at all. This would be better classified as a light Rauchbier. As a Kellerbier, it’s a massive failure, but as a Rauchbier, it’s not terrible. (10/20)
5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com
