Smoked Dark Lager
Artisan's Brewery & Italian Grill

A smoked dunkel lager, served on-tap at Basil T's in Toms River.

A: The dunkel lager is appropriately dark, a full chocolate brown color that is opaque. A finger of thick head insulated the beer on arrival but neither laced nor lingered.

S: The nose is dark and bready, sweetened by chocolate. Smoke lingers subtly in the back of the beer. The smoke is not full-on Bamberger style, just pleasantly there.

T: The lager is dominated by the dark malts, resulting in a bready brew, grainy with an evident sweetness imparted by the caramel (and chocolate malts). Hops are for balancing, rarely raising a fuss. As with the nose, the smoke isn't intrusive, rather it is a dry compliment to the full malt body. The malt sweetness is a lingering taste.

M: The mouthfeel isn't rauch-like, just touched with a kiss of smoke. The Munich lager base is robust enough to handle the smoke and still shine through.

D: My preference out of the two beers that I tried. An engaging lager.