Smoked Bitter (Test Batch Series)
Blue Stallion Brewing Co.

Not just testing out recipes on pilot proportions, the brewers at Blue Stallion are testing the palates of their patrons each Tuesday with innovation and brewing heritage in mind. Borrowing the "rauch" character from Bamberg and injecting it into the crisp and refreshing London bitter gives this beer a unique European twist.

The schizophrenic ale kicks of with a bronze hue and with a thin veil of hopped-up haze. While an aura of campfire hovers over the session, the floral hop character and its supporting biscuit malt profile vie for balance just underneath. Caramel, soft cashew, faint graham cracker lead with sweetness on the early palate.

But once its delicate perfume settles down, the hops turn broadly bitter to balance the sweet mesquite character and gives the middle a drying and drinkable tone. Turning woodish in taste, its smoked character is given a boost across the middle palate.

Finishing crisp, clean and with a snappy ironside mineral character, the ale is remarkably refreshing given that there's such savory and meaty flavors to latch onto the palate at every turn. Sure, the combination is odd, but smoke and hops seem to make a pretty good pair!