Munich Dunkel
Wood Buffalo Brewing Co.

16oz glass at Beer Revolution Oliver in Edmonton - hey, the genial bartender here is from Fort Mac, so, so nothing, just thought that I'd mention the mild apophenia.

This beer appears a clear, dark red-brick amber colour, with one fat finger of puffy, wispy, and mildly foamy off-white head, which leaves some spooky tree branch lace around the glass as things quickly move along.

It smells faintly of semi-sweet, grainy caramel malt, a soft red berry fruitiness, and plain leafy, earthy, and floral noble hops. The taste is bready and mildly doughy caramel malt, a hint of dead yeast, muddled pale orchard fruity notes, and more simple earthy, leafy, and dead floral hoppiness.

The bubbles are pretty low-key in their generic frothiness, the body a so-so middleweight, and mostly smooth, with a wee airy creaminess arising as things warm up a tad. It finishes off-dry, the fruit-tinged malt still not seeing much in the way of competitive balance.

For the style, this is definitely all right, but perhaps just a bit too sweet overall, for repeat engagements. A few more hoppy offsets, and they may have a German-inspired gateway brew of sorts to offer all those drowning their sorrows in suds types out there right now.