Review – Alaskan Smoked Porter – 2008

From Alaskan Brewing: Each fall, when the first dusting of snow hits the mountains, the brewers at Alaskan Brewing set aside time to brew the year’s vintage Alaskan Smoked Porter. Like the smoking of salmon after the harvest, the malt for Alaskan Smoked Porter is smoked over alder wood at Juneau’s Taku Smokeries.

Alaskan Brewing Co. – Alaskan Smoked Porter. 22oz bottle poured into New Belgium beer glass. 6.5% abv.

Appearance: Jet brown with a modest, tight knit 1/4 inch head.

Aroma: Wood smoke and taking a big whiff of bagged beef jerky.

Taste: Bitter wood, earth and smoke. Finishes dry and moderately hoppy. After finishing your sip, waiting only a brief moment, you will get sour twang

Mouthfeel: Heavy and smooth.

Overall: A perfectly balanced smoked beer. Complex and satisfying. The smoke does not overpower, like some smoked/Rauchbier’s.  I would serve this with dinner and not dessert.