Smoke & Dagger
Jack's Abby Brewing

Peach63 from New York

4.09/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Pours copper with a 1 1/2 inch tan head, which lasts. Heavy lacing to the end.

Aroma of roast malt, coffee, smoke.

Taste is roast malt, caramel malt, smoke malt, mild coffee.

Thin bodied, light carbonation. Dry, astringent finish.

One of the best black lagers.

Apr 24, 2021

jgido759 from New Jersey

3.54/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a Sam Adams perfect pint glass. Color is deep red, almost black with a 1 finger head that dissipates quickly. Aroma is light smoke, with a hint of chocolate. Taste is that of a smoked porter, unusual but in no way offensive. A clean finish makes for a very enjoyable lager. This was my 3rd Jack's Abby beer, would definitely purchase again.

Mar 11, 2021

Manta200 from Kentucky

4.03/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

16oz can shipped from IMN0P. Can date 9/9/20 (7+ weeks old)
Very little head, amber brown color.
Just a hint of smoke in smell and taste. Could be a little more for me.

Nov 01, 2020

beeragent from Texas

4.49/5  rDev +13.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a deep mahogany, appearing black in the glass. 1/2 inch off-white head, with medium lace on the glass.

Strong aroma of smoked malts dominate the nose.

Smoked malts coat the palate, releasing flavors of smoke, a hint of coffee, and dark bread. The hop bitterness is low, but keeps the malts from being too sweet.

Medium bodied, good carbonation, and a clean finish.

This is what I imagine drinking a fresh Schlenkerla Rauchbier would be like.

Oct 13, 2020

DaveMaciolek21 from New Jersey

3.68/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

A deep-flavored rauchbier. Smoky, but not excessively, balanced with chocolate flavor. The depth of flavor is really impressive--smoke, roast and sweetness in a very fine balance. A worthy schwarzbier!

Aug 23, 2020

HoppingMadMonk from New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Medium light carbonation, with a just above average body with a slight creamy thick feel.
Aroma is wood,earthy, smoke, char,roasted malt and molasses.
Taste is smoke, burnt wood roasted malt
Excellent deep rich flavorful. Heavy on the smoke without coming off like smoked meat.
This was another excellent offering from Jack's abby

Aug 13, 2020

MikeWard from Pennsylvania

3.99/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

16oz can into a pint glass. Canned 4/13/20, so 3 months old.

Nice looking beer. Looks black/brown, but shows deep burgundy when held up to the light. Small pale tan head dissipates to a thick ring and solid covering.

Smokey, malty and hammy on the nose.

On tasting it's quite sweet, with a nice smokiness. But the dominant flavor that comes to mind is of a liquid smoked Virginia ham. Me like. Roasted malt and a little gritty.

Mouth just about medium. Finish smoky ham and roasted malt right at the end. Oddly watery at the finish too.

Overall, another of those readily available beers that has eluded me for years. It's a good and tasty beer for once in a while consumption. But not a steady diet.

Jul 18, 2020

mikeg67 from New Jersey

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16 oz can. Pours dark brown with tall, long-lasting, fluffy beige head and nice lacing. Aroma is of smoke, toasted malt, and noble hops. Body is medium and smooth. Taste is of smoked wood, grassy hops and toasted malt. Finish is medium and smoky. Nice brew.

May 18, 2020

FBarber from Illinois

3.99/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark brownish black color. Completely opaque and pretty shiny. Thin off-white head dissipates pretty quickly leaving no residual head.

Aroma has notes of smoked malts, smoked bacon, hints of cocoa and malts. The smoke is really dominant on the nose here.

Taste follows the nose with a strong presence of smoked malts, smoked ham and grainy malts. Some light chocolate malts come through towards the middle through the back end of the flavor. Light earthy, spicy hops are present on the back end.

Feel is medium bodied with mild carbonation. Pretty dry finish.

Overall a lovely beer and definitely a must try.

Apr 24, 2020

Bluecrow from New York

4.14/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

-ebony can pour with a tall tan foam cap. The aroma is of toasted malt with some char.
The flavor is primarily of toasted malts an some wood smoke (not too much) with a hint of caramel or dark maple syrup in the finish. This is somewhat slick and light-bodied, not a normative combination. This will be enjoyed by anyone who welcomes the style.

Mar 21, 2020

KRug from Massachusetts

4.16/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Canned 3/6/19

Very deep brown in the glass with a finger and a half of tan head that leaves nice lacing

The nose is sweet malt with subtle smoke. I'm picking up breadniess, maple, and fresh burning wood

Damn is this stuff smooth, a nice light, lager-y taste with sweet malt and the subtle smokiness leading way to mild bitterness

The feel is lighter than I expected, only a little sticky at the end of the sip

Overall this brew is very unique and well worth the $1.99 single. I'd have to imagine this would be great on tap, I might have to make a trip up to Framingham soon. All flavors and aromas mingle very well to create an easier drinking beer than I expected, I can't wait to have this again

Nov 20, 2019

Act25 from New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Like Jack's and smoke beers - so had me at first whiff.
s) And what a whiff! Wood fire, charcoal, malt, chocolate, cocoa, grass, fall earth.
a) Over a brown-black body, that keeps a tan cap and laces dots.
t) "smoky chocolate" as a BA-er wrote Layers of wood fire, peat, coffee, chocolate, cocoa, irish whiskey - much more going on in a 5.8% ABV makes for taste heaven. Finishes clean with grass and wood hops and peppercorn at the camp fire.
f) creamy but drying in finale
o) 4.25 across the board. Winner.

Jul 07, 2019

NeroFiddled from Pennsylvania

4.34/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Jack's Abby Brewing "Smoke & Dagger"
16 fl. oz. can, "CANNED ON 02/04/19" and sampled on 04/30/19

Notes via stream of consciousness: Seeing as how the name is "Smoke & Dagger" I'm expecting this to be at least a little smoky, but what's the rest of the beer like? All it says on the label is "black lager". I guess we'll find out. It's poured a very, very dark mahogany brown with ruby highlights beneath a full head of tan foam. It does appear black in the full glass, and holding the glass to the light I can see that it's a bit hazy. The aroma certainly suggests smoke. It seems to be Beechwood to me and reminds me of the stronger smoked beers from Schlenkerla in Bamberg. There are some dark malts beyond the smoke suggesting light chocolate but it's really the smokiness that dominates. The flavor is much fuller than the aroma suggests, and less smoky. It's sweetish upfront, and then you find bacon and golden caramel, followed by darker caramel, light chocolate, and a bit of roastiness. It's got a median bitterness to it (25 IBUs as per the label), and it finishes with a touch of sweet caramelish malt, smokiness, milk chocolate, drying roastiness, and a very light touch of earthiness and bitterness lingering. At this point I would definitely label this as a rauchbier although I've never tasted one that had a chocolate component before. It's quite smoky and flavorful, and very smooth. In the mouth it's medium bodied and gently crisp-then-smooth. Nicely done!
Review #6,567

Apr 30, 2019

BBThunderbolt from Kiribati

3.73/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to CanConPhilly for this one. 16oz can poured into 12oz tulip. Poured a solid black color with about 2 inches of tan head that had great retention and good lacing.

A nice, rich smoke scent greets the nose first, with solid grans underneath. The same profile on the tongue, with some gentle floral hops in the background.

The body was light, crisp, and smooth, with a semi-dry finish. Drinkability was very good, i could knock back a few of these, with ease. Overall, a very nice brew. A must try if you see it.

Apr 07, 2019

keithmurray from Connecticut

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance - dark chestnut body with tan head

Smell - smoked malts, dark chocolate, molasses

Taste - molasses, dark chocolate, smoked malts, whole grain bread, hint of black licorice

Mouthfeel - medium bodied, medium carbonation, smoky upfront and on the back end, middle has hints of molasses, dark chocolate and black licorice

Overall - this was an enjoyable beer that I will be sure to re-visit from time to time. Worth a try

price Point - $2.29/16 oz can

Dec 18, 2018

Gajo74 from New York

4.52/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Pours a black color with a rich creamy foamy head that shows great retention and yields lacing.
I’m hooked on this smoky aroma. It evokes smoked wood, bacon and smoked cheese. The presence of chocolate malts compliments it beautifully. Modest amount of grassy hops aroma.
Clean tasting at first, the smoked malt flavors soon open up, meaty, woody and rich. The development of chocolate malt flavors is lovely and sublime, hinting at chocolate covered bacon. Very low bitterness but a nice hint of noble grassy hops spice.
Finishes clean. Medium bodied and crisp.
A delightful smoked beer with elements of porter. I’m loving the chocolate and smoky flavors. Pairs well with BBQ. Gotta get some more!

Nov 04, 2018

StanleysCup from Maryland

4.26/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Have always loved rauchbiers and especially this offering. Scored a nitro version at Valhalla Beer Bar In Hell’s Kitchen, NYC.

A: jet black with thin (1/4”) lacing around the edge of the glass;
S: somewhat lacking but still with sweet malts and a hint of dry smokiness. Was hoping for a stronger hue;
T: off the charts delicious with dark, toffee malts and a hint of smoke;
F: everything you’d expect from a nitro and that makes this already good beer eminently sessionable
O: perfect beer to welcome in fall.

Oct 17, 2018

HorseheadsHophead from New York

4.25/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Looks like Coca-Cola. Black with dark brown edges. The head is small, fizzy, and tan, dying away after a few minutes to leave a thin ring and spotty lacing.
The aroma is massive pumpernickel bread and sweet black tea. Hints of dark chocolate, a whole lot of molasses, and some hints of dried cherry, prune, and raisin.
The taste follows the smell. Very rich pumpernickel bread with black tea and subtle savory smoke. The molasses and dried dark fruits sneak in, offering dried sweet cherry, plum and raisin in abundance. It finishes with a slight bite of black licorice/star anise spice, but the ends very abruptly, cleanly, crisply, and balanced.
The beer feels relatively light but is smooth and fizzy with a good level of carbonation. It drinks very easily, yet rolls around the palate to keep the flavors residual.
Overall, this is a complex and delicious beer, incredibly well made.

Oct 15, 2018

Amendm from Rhode Island

4.04/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16-oz. can needed a strong pour into a 20-oz. mug to get a ½ finger sized rocky tan head made up of large and fine bubbles. Head was short lived with minimal lacing.
Vintage rosewood dark brown, semi translucent shows amber-brown in front of light.
Smell features roasted malt with a hint of banana, semi-sweet malt and a touch of smoke.
Taste has added chocolate and roasted coffee with a very malty middle. The smoke flavor is light with a slight hop bitterness at the finish. Alcohol is well disguised.
Although it is very malty the body is on the lighter side with low carbonation. The drink starts out semi-sweet and finishes semi-dry with a short lived bitter and smoky after taste.
Octoberfest-like due to the roasted malt taste minus the smoke, Porter like in body and smokiness.
Big taste profile, not to smoky with a nice balance between semi-sweet and bitter flavors.

Oct 12, 2018

hoptheology from South Dakota

3.98/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Canned 12/27/17. Received from connecticutpoet. Poured into New Belgium snifter.

Dark black pour as expected with a nice firm finger of beige head. Hilly lace skirts the glass.

Lovely smokey aromas - meat locker, campfire, slight plum and apple. Yum.

Comes across a little thin on the flavor, although that could be due to the age. I get definite puffs of smoke, with hints of roast beef, apple, and plum. slight chewing tobacco, prune, slight metallic, faint herbal. Teetering between a 3.75 and 4 on this.

Feel is nice and creamy yet lends a smokey feel with a good carbonation, Nice dryness on the finish. Lingering dryness and parch.

Overall an enjoyable smoked beer with nice hints of apple, pear, and plum. Recommended if you're not sensitive to smoked beers (most are).

Sep 25, 2018

beerthulhu from New Jersey

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

-Black Lager.

A: Beautiful burnt auburn pour sits an almost dark plum in the vessel accompanied by a slight saddle brown capping that was whispy and quick to dissipate.

S: Aroma of dark fruit, black cherries, dark malts, with an underlying smokiness factor. Soft eloquent roastiness, lightly oily, freshly grounded, medium roast, is earthy and very silky smooth with light charred hints of toasts. A faint background of fruitiness, perhaps from the yeast, has some smoky apples, and lightly charred pine that was very smooth with a nice awareness.

T: The flavor was very smooth and roasty, oily with some bitterness and smoked malt. Charred toast with some notes of fruit, apples. Some lightly smoked pine hops, silty smooth ash, earthy with some deep chocolate notes.

M: Tight and tingly carbonation bubbles, slick oily texture, with a malty feel. Silty smooth roasted warmth.

O: Overall in terms of craftsmanship its hard to bet against Jack's Abbey. Lagers refinement is their specialty. Eloquently brewed, silky roast, makes for a slow methodical drinker that impress with its nuances.

Jul 07, 2018

twosheds from Massachusetts

4.21/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Dark brown with a light tan head.

Smells like fire and burnt wood with some malty sweetness.

Very malt forward with chocolate and dried fruit flavors coming through. The smoke is less present in the taste but more noticeable in the nose and the aftertaste.

This is a great go to beer for me. Dark and malty, but not heavy, and just enough smoke to give it some edge.

Jun 24, 2018

BeerAndGasMasks from Virginia

3.4/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

From the can, it pours a nice black with a modest light tan head. The head eventually dissipates to a nice ring. I get licorice in the nose and mouth. Hmm.

Jun 21, 2018

JohnnyHopps from Indiana

4/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance - The beer poured a shiny black color with aggressive tan foam crowning the glass.

Smell - A light hickory smoke nose crowns glass.

Taste - The hickory smoke comes at the front with a hint of sweetness. The dark coffee malts come with a light sweetness. The bitterness lingers with the smoke being oddly sweet in the finish.

Mouthfeel - The feel, which is already thin, seems even more thoroughly with the carbonation.

Overall - This is a nice version of the style.

Apr 28, 2018

CanConPhilly from Pennsylvania

3.96/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Smoke & Dagger - Jack’s Abby
Black Lager - 5.6% abv
Purchased for $2.49 at Monde Market

L - 1-finger tan head atop a translucent black body.

S - campfire smoke, roast, sweet malt, molasses, caramel, chocolate.

T - Mildly smoky, but with balancing sweetness.

F - medium-light body with medium carb.

O -I’ll take this smoky lager over a normal everyday brew without hesitation.

Mar 20, 2018