Sif's Locks
HammerHeart Brewing Company

this is their well done take on a gratzer, a style i love but can rarely find, but makes great sense for hammerheart given their penchant for smoked beers. oak smoked wheat i believe is whats traditional in one of these, and that sure seems like what they have gone with here. hazy and sort of faded looking, but with a nice head from the tap and a curious earthy nose, smokey yeah, but not as overtly so as many of their others, and with a strange other mash character to it, oats maybe, its kind of starchy and big for being so light in color and abv, and there is a real woodiness in the nose as well. the flavor is great, i get faint breadiness like a hotdog bun or something, which i have notices in these before, and then the smoke which has a cool sweetness to it. something slightly astringent here, light lemon and even an herbal freshness i dont normally associate with the style. smooth down, carbonated vibrantly, and packed with earthy peaty smoke in the finish, a little hop bitterness too. fin stuff, a good smoked beer for all year round and another high quality and unique brew from these guys!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

750 ml mini growler from the brewery. Poured into a Hammerheart tulip glass.

Appearance: Pours a hazy golden orange with a moderate amount of bubbles. Solid finger of white head that settles into a thin patch.

Smell: A smokey and bready wheat driven aroma with a scent of smoke, oak, and grains. Upfront presence of smoked malt along with some oak and wood. Wheat with some hints of grains, straw, corn, and cracker with yeast. A pretty nice aroma.

Taste: Like it smells, a smokey and bready wheat driven taste with notes of smoke, oak, and grains. Big taste of smoked malt and oak with some wood. Wheat with some notes of grains, straw, cracker, and corn along with yeast. A very good taste.

Mouthfeel: Light bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation. Crisp, creamy, and smooth.

Overall: A very good take on a Gratzer. Good smoke and oak flavor with the wheat.

Appearance: Hazy yellow, good head.

Smell: Smoked ham.

Taste: Tingly feel, mild sweetness which transitions into ham smoke, and a lasting smoky finish. Light and easy drinking.

Overall: This beer uses 100% oak-smoked wheat and is called a Gratzer by the brewery. It's by far the best session beer I've had this year. Nice and smoky with a bit of sweetness and very refreshing! Great stuff!