Bean Flicker - S'mores
Odd Side Ales

 

 

12 oz can from Horrocks ($2.49) in Battlecreek MI.

While the aroma is messy and not entirely appealing this Smores with coffee blonde ale succeeds in bringing these together. Less sweet than the initial impression, the flavor has a particularly strong chocolate component, with less vanilla/marshmallow and even less coffee. Nonetheless, the balance of flavors seems fine.

 

 

Never backing down from the demands of the tastebuds, Odd Side Ales once again shows that you don't have to choose between robust taste and crisp texture, the brewers take their Bean Flicker coffee Blond Ale and roll it in a blend of marshmallow, cocoa and graham cracker for that quintessential S'mores character.

Deep gold and with a fine silted haze, Bean Flicker S'mores never shows its dark secrets inside. But one drift of the nose wakens the senses with the intense aromas of fresh brewed coffee and withhints of vanilla, cream, graham cracker and light milk chocolate. Grain sweetness greets the tongue with a modest taste of honey, vanilla wafer and white chocolate.

Cereal sweetness fades on the middle palate and the soft suggestions of vanilla and cream linger deeper in support of the fresh coffee flavors that seem of the more gentle Kona and breakfast blend varieties. Nutty, toasty and with a pep of cocoa, hints of honey accompany the coffee while the lighter ale underneath fades into a lightly hopped, herbal woodsiness.

Medium light on the palate, the mind wants to read the textures a fuller because of the beer's insinuation with of bigness with flavor. But the beer's textures remain crisp and refreshing and also with a linger of coffee deep in the after palate. A most pleasant and easy drinking beer.