The Bellowsman
Societe Brewing Co.

 

 

On draft at Select Beer in Redondo Beach

Pitch black, very thin head

Super smoky on nose and taste, almost to the point of being bitter. Charcoal. Not a lot of depth.

Interesting beer but not something I'll have again

 

 

Pitch black and opaque without any trace of lighter color when held to a light source. One finger dark mocha head that slowly settles into a thin, lasting ring. Very good retention with the ring lasting for the duration of the pour. Sporadic splotchy lacing left behind.

Robust and smokey dark malt aroma with strong smoke/Rauchbier character. Lots of butane, campfire, ash, charcoal and smoked meat but it isn't overpowering letting the roast and sweeter dark malt notes come through. Kind of like a chocolate shake with liquid smoke thrown in there. Roasted dark malt presence with dark chocolate, oatmeal, burnt toast and coffee bean countered by silky dessert like sweetness. Really complex with a really nice balance.

Lighter body and not as complex as expected. The smoke is still there but is way toned down from what was in the aroma. There's still some charcoal and ashtray but it lacks complexity and depth of flavor. Also, the roast is somewhat faint with spent coffee bean and oatmeal. Not as sweet as expected either with hints of chocolate, some lactose and tootsie roll. Kind of disappointing after how impressive the aroma was.

 

Had a taster at the brewery in San Diego. Nice smoky flavor good taste.

 

 

 

 

 

As black a beer as I've seen, with brown foam in the pint shaker. It tastes like a malty Porter with a sweet, fruity taste that turns out to be smoke. Quite sharply carbonated with a malty body.

Deeply aromatic but the smoke is just part of it. Wintergreen in the nose. Slightly sweet at first, then close to sourish with the charred grain. Very bitter and burnt for the aftertaste.

After a promising start, and the smoke not being overdone, the finish gets a little too close to the ash tray. On tap at Toronado on 30th Street.

 

 

On-tap, snifter, at HG.

A: Served a near black with a short lived light brown head.
S: Smoke is soft and roasted smelling with a touch of campfire. No harshness or char. Hints of caramel and raisin poke through as well.
T: Mild chocolate, campfire smoke, savory bbq meat smoke, and hints of roasted coconuts. Finish is full of dark chocolate, aftertaste is lingering bitter chocolate and tobacco smoke. Just a hint of lingering char. I get some hints of dark fruit as the beer warms.
M: Soft and fluffy carbonation froths up on my palate, ample, but airy and smooth. Mild bitterness, clean, and drinkable.
O: A pleasant smoked beer, very solid overall. Something I could actually repeatedly order.

 

A Stout dark as night with a slightly smokie twang on the center of the tounge. Complimentary bitterness to the coffee notes.