Wooden Nickel Scottish Peated Lager
Backpocket Brewing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Look - Carmel color with slight skin and very clear
Smell - toasted sweet caramel malts
Taste - very similar to the scent but much more
Feel - light body not much carbonation
Overall - ok

 

 

Pours a nice, soft, tanish head. Sweet, acidic smokiness in the aroma. Typical bock color, albeit a touch on the golden side. Starts with the acidic bite of smoked malt, some floral hoppiness. Moves into a citrus rind bitterness right as the smokiness peaks. Finish is lingering, acidic bitterness.

This isn't really for me. I typically love rauchbier and bocks, but hate peated things, and that ruins this for me. This is a very harsh, acidic smokiness, and either the smoke or the hops are adding a pronounced bitterness that overshadows the sweet malt. There are MOMENTS where this is really good, but then the flavors transition into something that I disprefer. So, it possesses neither the good qualities of a rauchbier or a bock.

 

 

 

 

Poured from 12oz bottle into a dimpled mug.

Appearance: rich brown hue with a moderate haze and a thin layer of tan-ivory foam. Color is wonderful but head retention could be better.

Smell: toasty and biscuity right up front, followed by a smokiness that develops slowly. I like the smoke, but it's awfully biscuity for my taste.

Taste: bready with a very nice smokiness, along the lines of like a lapsang souchong tea. There is a fair bit of sweetness as well; it's very autumnal, which I like, but again there's a fair dose of biscuity malt flavor here that I don't love.

Mouthfeel: medium body with a good carbonation and a good creaminess. I like it.

Overall: this beer is just a little to sweet, biscuity and bready for me -- even for a Scottish-style beer. That said, I do like the smokiness on display here.

 

 

Pours a clear, dark copper color. 1/3 inch head of an off-white color. Good retention and decent lacing. Smells of strong smoke, sweet malt, slight caramel malt, and slight yeast. Fits the style of a Scottish Ale or would also fit a Smoked Beer. Mouth feel is sharp and clean, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of strong smoke, sweet malt, hint of yeast, hint of caramel malt, and a hint of alcohol. Overall, I really enjoyed it, but the smoke is probably too strong for a traditional Scottish Ale.