Smooth
Dugges Ale- & Porterbryggeri AB

This one is murky and very dark brown (SRM 33-36) when put to the light. Otherwise, the beer is essentially black and puts up one half inch of dense foam. The foam gradually settles to a thick ring and a veil. While pouring, towards the bottom of the bottle, clumps of sludge flopped into the glass. A sticky film is left on the glass after a dirty, syrupy, viscous layer is shed following each sip.

The aroma opens with dark charred malt and distantly in the background, some whiskey. Oak has a light influence, while dark chocolate, lactose, molasses, and licorice build with warmth.

The flavor opens with charred malt and fudge brownie crust. Licorice follows. Oak and whiskey show up late in each sip. The finish is long and filled with chocolate. Light bitterness is on par with lactose sweetness.

The body is extremely dense with a smooth, soft texture of syrup, which falls just short of the consistency of honey. Alcohol is about one half as present as expected from the label. Mild carbonation has an interesting, prickly sensation within the density of this beer. Residual sugar builds on the lips.

This is the second half of the pair, Smooth versus Peaty. The contrast between the two is stunning. They certainly do appear to be the same base with significantly different attributes having been imbued by the barrel aging. The sludge observed during pouring must have dissolved within, as there was no sensation of it while drinking. This one is clearly a dessert treat, and while I enjoyed it with Humboldt Fog, it was better solo. Skàl indeed!

Poured chilled from 12oz bottle into pint glass

Beautiful head. Perfectly still bubbles, a half inch thick, like they're whipped into pudding. Takes a full two minutes to fizzle down to a thin, latte-colored film covering most of the top of the beer. The beer itself is very dark, like black coffee left on the warmer too long, with a barely visible Newcastle Brown colored highlight at the very bottom of the glass only visible in full light.

Nose is molasses, clove, vanilla, and a hint of peat; this last makes sense as the brewers claim they let the beer "rest on two different types of [...] whisky barrels" some of which were more peaty and some smoother. I reviewed the peatier version not long ago, a find from the same trip to my local fun beer supplier.

Flavor is something else. Quite a lot going on, lots of nearly-burnt caramel and molasses over a roasted malt base.

Very full, heavy, chewy, oily mouthfeel. One of the most satisfying beers to just *feel* that I've had the pleasure of trying.

 

 

 

 

Pours dark brown with a thin tan head. Aroma is booze, chocolate and roasted notes. Taste is whiskey and chocolate and roasted malts. Feel is very good, rich mouthfeel. Overall it's a touch boozy but quite good.

 

L: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had a dark, mahogany brown color and a thick, opaque consistency. There was quarter inch of foamy, tan-colored head that quickly dissipated. A decent bit of lacing.

S: A pretty good aroma of chocolate, booze, malt, wood, and caramel.

T: Tasted of a decent amount of malt (present throughout, though subtle), some mild caramel notes (an underlying sweetness), a good shot of whisky (and its accompanying barrel) and a good amount of chocolate (less than expected, but still a factor. This is a big, unexpectedly bracing flavor. Quite boozy, but not obnoxiously so.

S: An average amount of carbonation with a smooth, warming finish. Medium- to full-bodied.

O: On the whole, a solidly done stout. Worth a try,

 

Released 12/17/19; drank 6/21/20 @ the Yarchives.

Black/brown appearance.

A rough pour yielded a HUGE tan head; frothy lace.

Caramel, oak, bourbon heat, mild smoke & faint milk chocolate notes in the nose.

Creamy, thick mouthfeel.

Caramel, milk chocolate & bourbon heat flavors up front; mild peat & oak notes on the finish.

Robust & enjoyable, but not going to change your life. Above average.

A: Pours an opaque yet still murky extremely dark chestnut brown approaching jet black in color with light to moderate amounts of fine active visible carbonation rising slowly along the edges of the glass and faint dark brown + dark cola brown + ruby red colored highlights. The beer has a four finger tall dense creamy foamy dark tan head that slowly reduces to a large patch of medium thick film covering the entire surface of the beer and a medium thick ring at the edges of the glass. Light amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate to strong aromas of whiskey + caramel + toasted oak as well as light aromas of smoked peat. Slightly stronger than moderate aromas of roasted + caramel + chocolate + toasted malts with a moderate amount of lactose sweetness. Moderate aromas of whiskey booziness.

T: Upfront there are slightly stronger than moderate aromas of roasted + caramel + chocolate + toasted malts with a moderate amount of lactose sweetness. That is followed by moderate to strong flavors of whiskey + caramel + toasted oak as well as light aromas of smoked peat. Light to moderate amounts of roasty bitterness and a light amount of booziness.

M: Medium to full bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Extremely creamy + smooth. Hints of alcohol warming in the finish.

O: Drinks quite easily considering the strength and there is less booziness/alcohol heat than I was expecting. Very enjoyable with wonderful smoothness/creaminess in the mouthfeel and very pleasant whiskey flavors + aromas. Excellent.