Smokin' Mountie
Bacchus Brewing Co.

 

Tried on-tap at Dejavu in Melbourne during Good Beer Week 2013. This is something like a Canadian Rauchbier, done with maple syrup and plenty of smokiness.

Pours a reddish-brown colour, quite hazed in the body, and quite light with the suggestion of stickiness. Head is a solid crest of ecru. Big, sweeping streaks and sheets down the glass. Carbonation is very fine. Looks good.

Smoky sweet on the nose, but not as much smoke as there may have been. Instead, it has quite a chocolatey tone, along with some maple syrup character giving the memory of fake waffle batter. Still smells pretty good.

The syrup is front and centre on the palate, giving maple sweetness and light crispy waffle notes on the entry. Beyond this is a meaty, smoky bacon flavour that permeates through the the back. Dry lingering syrup, pancakes with a suggestion of char to wrap it up. Nice stuff.

Feel is smooth but fairly airy and light. It works with the smoke well.

Really freaking interesting beer. It's smoky and sweet with body and richness. It's hard not to compare it to the Rogue/Voodoo Maple Bacon Doughnut Ale, but this is significantly better: it feels real, and as though it was done with purpose and strength. Really good stuff.