Some High Grade Smoke
Oskar Blues Grill & Brew

 

 

Oskar Blue's Some High Grade Smoke was a collaboration between NM homebrewer Gabe Toth & OB. It was entered into the 2010 GABF Pro-am and was served from cans on Saturday, September 18th at the festival or on draught at OBHML&S. It pours up with a modest carbonation that creates a fairly tight sustainable tan-mocha colored head that manages to ring the opaque dark brown-black body. The aroma is highly roasted, borderlining on burnt with a dark chocolate character supported by a touch of caramel sweetness with notes of charred meat, dark baker's chocolate & espresso beans that seem to somehow compliment the low-moderate smokiness. There's just a touch of fruitiness (black cherry, Rotab date, Mission fig) with virtually no perceived warmth. The flavor starts off quite roasty with some underlying caramel & chocolate that's subdued by a rather unbalanced bitterness which further dries out the slightly acrid, burnt, charcoal finish. This medium-thin bodied smoked porter has some intangible complexity, but needs to be a bit bigger in regards to the alcohol, smoke & maltiness. This is a solid smoked beer that I was more than happy to have gotten the opportunity to have enjoyed. I was lucky enough to have "requisitioned" a can from the festival for this review. IMHO... I think the GABF Pro-am booth providing some of the most unique beers at the festival. This would be great naturally paired with some saucy OB BBQ or smoked sausages. Here's to Some High Grade Smoke for sure!

CHEERS! Beertracker

*Retro review from 9/10

On tap up at Oskar Blues in Longmont. Split this one with my wife, and it was nowhere near as drinkable as other smoked beers we've enjoyed together. Poured a clear black color, with a bit of a light brown head. This one smelled like smoked fish, very phenolic. On the palate, medium-bodied, nicely carbonated, but not an easy drinker. Tons of smoke, lack of balance and kind of a disappointment.