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Smoked & Oaked
Epic Brewing Company
- From:
- Epic Brewing Company
- Utah, United States
- Style:
- Belgian Dark Strong Ale
Ranked #100 - ABV:
- 11.9%
- Score:
- 87
Ranked #16,436 - Avg:
- 3.88 | pDev: 12.63%
- Reviews:
- 91
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Dec 09, 2023
- Added:
- Jul 11, 2010
- Wants:
- 20
- Gots:
- 71
Smoked cherry wood malt brings a smoky sweetness to the caramel malts and a bit of peat flavor with a Belgian-style yeast. The entire batch aging in the whiskey barrels nicely dries out the perceived sweetness of the caramel malt leaving an almost scotch like taste.
ABV varies by batch.
ABV varies by batch.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by SimcoeKid:
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by dd53grif from Michigan
3.93/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.93/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours a copper color with a minimal head that is very bubbly. Aroma of dark fruits and a tiny bit of smoke. Taste accents the smoking along with a good alcohol warmth.
Dec 09, 2023Reviewed by brettsdailybeer from Utah
3.09/5 rDev -20.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
3.09/5 rDev -20.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Pros: This ale delivers a robust and complex flavor profile that perfectly embodies what one anticipates from a Belgian-style offering. The interplay of molasses, wheat, and smoky undertones is genuinely noteworthy, even going the extra mile with its pronounced smokiness.
Cons: Despite its rich flavors, the beer disappointingly falls flat in carbonation. Additionally, its overpowering sweetness can eclipse the other nuanced tastes, making the experience less balanced than it could be. I understand the 11.9% will be somewhat flat, but this is even more than I expected. This was the last one on the shelf and I see it's discontinued so ... that might be why.
Oct 01, 2023Cons: Despite its rich flavors, the beer disappointingly falls flat in carbonation. Additionally, its overpowering sweetness can eclipse the other nuanced tastes, making the experience less balanced than it could be. I understand the 11.9% will be somewhat flat, but this is even more than I expected. This was the last one on the shelf and I see it's discontinued so ... that might be why.
Reviewed by MadMadMike from France
3.71/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.71/5 rDev -4.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
22 oz bomber, 2021 version, bought from Epic’s brewery in Salt Lake City.
Pours orangey and hazy, cream colored foam rises and lingers.
Smell is woodsy, mildly sweet, whiskey, smoky.
Taste doesn’t wow me. The mosh of flavors don’t coalesce uniformly and feels disperate. The character of the barrel treatment gets overwhelmed by what reminds me of artificial smoke flavoring. And that leads to an almost unpleasant aftertaste that hangs until rinsed with water., there’s a sweet malt note in there, whiskey, peat, cigar ash,., the ABV is there, it’s hard to discern the relationship to a Belgian ale, and it’s kinda off-putting as a whole.
Feel is medium heavy, medium carbonation.
Overall, seems like this is a different brew than when I first tried it 6 years ago. Used to be a top notch grand experience to be savored. Whatever the brewer changed makes this version harsh and hard to finish.
Jan 28, 2023Pours orangey and hazy, cream colored foam rises and lingers.
Smell is woodsy, mildly sweet, whiskey, smoky.
Taste doesn’t wow me. The mosh of flavors don’t coalesce uniformly and feels disperate. The character of the barrel treatment gets overwhelmed by what reminds me of artificial smoke flavoring. And that leads to an almost unpleasant aftertaste that hangs until rinsed with water., there’s a sweet malt note in there, whiskey, peat, cigar ash,., the ABV is there, it’s hard to discern the relationship to a Belgian ale, and it’s kinda off-putting as a whole.
Feel is medium heavy, medium carbonation.
Overall, seems like this is a different brew than when I first tried it 6 years ago. Used to be a top notch grand experience to be savored. Whatever the brewer changed makes this version harsh and hard to finish.
Reviewed by J-legend-K from Colorado
4.57/5 rDev +17.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.57/5 rDev +17.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Release #47 ~ 2017
Look - bright orange/amber with a tan head. Good head retention considering the 4 years of age w/o wax top.
Smell - Subtle smoke and spice covered in oaky caramel.
Taste - a wonderful play of oak and caramel on top with just the right amount of complexity underneath. Awesome
Feel - Just a slightly syrupy feel reminds you of this beer’s strength and age.
Overall - This beer shines with a few years of age. Top notch showcase of subtle complexity
Feb 10, 2021Look - bright orange/amber with a tan head. Good head retention considering the 4 years of age w/o wax top.
Smell - Subtle smoke and spice covered in oaky caramel.
Taste - a wonderful play of oak and caramel on top with just the right amount of complexity underneath. Awesome
Feel - Just a slightly syrupy feel reminds you of this beer’s strength and age.
Overall - This beer shines with a few years of age. Top notch showcase of subtle complexity
Reviewed by iguanodon from Utah
3.68/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.68/5 rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
[Original rating 2012-10-13] Pours clear reddish brown with almost no head. Aroma is sweet caramel, alcohol, peat, smoky wood, dark fruit. Taste is smoky wood, sweet, boozy, but in a good way, I can taste the bourbon.
Oct 03, 2018Reviewed by TravisSmith12 from Virginia
5/5 rDev +28.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +28.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I had this beer a few years ago at the Epic Brewery in Denver and have been thinking about it ever since. A nice, not overpowering smokey backbone leads into a caramel malt body with more than a hint of bourbon from the barrel aging.
Sep 16, 2018Reviewed by Kelsey91 from Colorado
5/5 rDev +28.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +28.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
My boyfriend ordered this beer at Hops Culture in Aspen, CO. I had one sip and he knew to switch me beers. We both shared it and have been looking for it since. We love this beer in its entirety.
Dec 19, 2017Reviewed by hoptheology from California
4.23/5 rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
4.23/5 rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25
Has a nice caramel butterscotch look to it with very little head.
Not much on the nose from the glass, but the bottle yields caramelized pecans, wood, dates, raisins, and trail mix.
Flavor is more concentrated than the aroma and is focused on raisins, caramel, plum, booze, peppery Belgo yeast, with a finish of caramelized pecans, bright fruit, and boozy hotness. There is an undertone of smoke but it's very faint.
Feel is not obtrusive, offensive, or too hot. It's right where it needs to be with a creamy mouthfeel and good carbonation with a proper heat profile.
Overall, highly enjoyable - nothing I've had recently comes close as far as pure Belgian enjoyment is concerned.
Oct 24, 2017Not much on the nose from the glass, but the bottle yields caramelized pecans, wood, dates, raisins, and trail mix.
Flavor is more concentrated than the aroma and is focused on raisins, caramel, plum, booze, peppery Belgo yeast, with a finish of caramelized pecans, bright fruit, and boozy hotness. There is an undertone of smoke but it's very faint.
Feel is not obtrusive, offensive, or too hot. It's right where it needs to be with a creamy mouthfeel and good carbonation with a proper heat profile.
Overall, highly enjoyable - nothing I've had recently comes close as far as pure Belgian enjoyment is concerned.
Smoked & Oaked from Epic Brewing Company
Beer rating:
87 out of
100 with
316 ratings
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