Smoke & Dagger | Jack's Abby Brewing
Brewed by:
Jack's Abby Brewing
Massachusetts, United States
jacksabbybrewing.com
Style: Rauchbier
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 5.80%
Availability: Year-round
Notes / Commercial Description:
Cloaked in mystery, this dark black beer skirts the line between a schwarzbier and smoked porter. The use of a small percentage of traditional Beechwood smoked malt adds complexity and balances the liberal use of chocolate malt. Notes of roasted grains, beechwood smoke,and coffee accompany a full bodied-and sweet chocolately malt character. Smoke & Dagger uses locally grown unmalted barley from MA.
25 IBU
Added by mduncan on 07-29-2011
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Ratings: 1,033 | Reviews: 182
4.04/5 rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.25/5 rDev +6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
3.86/5 rDev -3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
3.6/5 rDev -10.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
This was poured into a pilsener glass. The appearance was a dark brown color with hues of hazy burnt brown coloring around the sides. A one finger white foamy head started and strolled down the sides of the glass. The smell started off with the "meaty" portion and light smoke. As it warmed, a light chocolate aligned to balance. The taste was a balance between the smoke, meaty, and a slight roasty quality to let in a tad of chocolate to balance nicely. There’s no aftertaste nor finish. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a pretty good sessionability about it. Carbonated finely, a nice smooth roasty quality strolls nicely over my tongue. Overall, pretty good as a well done beer but didn't necessarily see it as a true "rauchbier."
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
This was poured into a pilsener glass. The appearance was a dark brown color with hues of hazy burnt brown coloring around the sides. A one finger white foamy head started and strolled down the sides of the glass. The smell started off with the "meaty" portion and light smoke. As it warmed, a light chocolate aligned to balance. The taste was a balance between the smoke, meaty, and a slight roasty quality to let in a tad of chocolate to balance nicely. There’s no aftertaste nor finish. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a pretty good sessionability about it. Carbonated finely, a nice smooth roasty quality strolls nicely over my tongue. Overall, pretty good as a well done beer but didn't necessarily see it as a true "rauchbier."
772 characters
3.62/5 rDev -9.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.65/5 rDev -9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.09/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
P- Poured from a 12 oz can,into a Cigar City pint glass.Fourth beer sampled from a Jack's Abby mixed 12 pack.Date on the package is MAR 24 2017.
L- Thick creamy light khaki colored head that stands just under a finger width tall.Moderate retention on the head,with a light sticky lacing.Black colored body with a ruby red hue,and very little light showing through the glass.High amount of carbonation.
S- On the nose I get smoked beech wood,roasted malt,dark roasted coffee,and sweet chocolate notes.
T- The palate follows the nose with roasted malt and coffee up front.Smoke beech wood and roasted malt are in the middle.The back end is sweet chocolate and smoked beech wood.
F- The mouth feel is thick heavy and sticky.Light amount of oxidation on the tongue,with a smooth,yet slightly dry finish.
O- This is a very nice beer.I do not believe I have tried any other offerings of this style before.That makes it hard to compare,but I know I like it.I will drink this again,and recommend at least giving it a one time try.
1,027 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
P- Poured from a 12 oz can,into a Cigar City pint glass.Fourth beer sampled from a Jack's Abby mixed 12 pack.Date on the package is MAR 24 2017.
L- Thick creamy light khaki colored head that stands just under a finger width tall.Moderate retention on the head,with a light sticky lacing.Black colored body with a ruby red hue,and very little light showing through the glass.High amount of carbonation.
S- On the nose I get smoked beech wood,roasted malt,dark roasted coffee,and sweet chocolate notes.
T- The palate follows the nose with roasted malt and coffee up front.Smoke beech wood and roasted malt are in the middle.The back end is sweet chocolate and smoked beech wood.
F- The mouth feel is thick heavy and sticky.Light amount of oxidation on the tongue,with a smooth,yet slightly dry finish.
O- This is a very nice beer.I do not believe I have tried any other offerings of this style before.That makes it hard to compare,but I know I like it.I will drink this again,and recommend at least giving it a one time try.
1,027 characters
4/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Journeyman, Boston ma April 2017
32 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Journeyman, Boston ma April 2017
32 characters
3.75/5 rDev -6.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
4.12/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L: Dark black, head disappears quickly. Can see a lot of carbonation.
S: Smokey, like smoked meat, roasted grainy, nice cereal character, slightly sweet. Nutty, chocolately.
T: Notes of cacao, almonds/nuts. Smokiness is less prominent here but is present on the back end of things. Less sweet than the nose.
F: Despite a robust, appearance, this is a light, refreshing, easy drinking beer.
O: I enjoyed this beer a lot. Not as robust as something like scherlenka (or however you spell it) but has a nice amount of flavor while maintaining drinkability. Good winter beer for sure.
591 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
L: Dark black, head disappears quickly. Can see a lot of carbonation.
S: Smokey, like smoked meat, roasted grainy, nice cereal character, slightly sweet. Nutty, chocolately.
T: Notes of cacao, almonds/nuts. Smokiness is less prominent here but is present on the back end of things. Less sweet than the nose.
F: Despite a robust, appearance, this is a light, refreshing, easy drinking beer.
O: I enjoyed this beer a lot. Not as robust as something like scherlenka (or however you spell it) but has a nice amount of flavor while maintaining drinkability. Good winter beer for sure.
591 characters
3.87/5 rDev -3.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Definitely can take taste the smoke. Good overall though
56 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Definitely can take taste the smoke. Good overall though
56 characters
4.02/5 rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Undated 12 oz. bottle poured into Belgian ale glass.
L: 1F+ head with good retention, leaves spotty lacing, but nice cap and ring. Beer is just about 100% dark when held up to light except at very edges.
S: Smoky, malty, coffee, and chocolate. Quite nice. A little muted.
T: Follows nose. Lots of coffee plus chocolate malt melding into smoky maltiness. Enough hops to keep it a bit dank and bitter.
F: Light to mediumish body, light to medium carbonation. Lingers a while on the palate. Good construction and balance.
O: Very nice black/smoked lager. Not even sure what the style is exactly, when it comes down to it, but it tastes good.
643 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Undated 12 oz. bottle poured into Belgian ale glass.
L: 1F+ head with good retention, leaves spotty lacing, but nice cap and ring. Beer is just about 100% dark when held up to light except at very edges.
S: Smoky, malty, coffee, and chocolate. Quite nice. A little muted.
T: Follows nose. Lots of coffee plus chocolate malt melding into smoky maltiness. Enough hops to keep it a bit dank and bitter.
F: Light to mediumish body, light to medium carbonation. Lingers a while on the palate. Good construction and balance.
O: Very nice black/smoked lager. Not even sure what the style is exactly, when it comes down to it, but it tastes good.
643 characters
3.5/5 rDev -12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Smoke & Dagger from Jack's Abby Brewing
4.01
out of 5
based on 1,033 ratings.
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Very nice rauchbier. Smokey chocolatey, coffee aroma and taste. Pours brown not much head no lacing. Overall, my favorite selection from Jack's Abbey!
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