Pale Smoke
2SP Brewing Company

 

2SP Brewing Co. "Pale Smoke"
$6/pint on tap at the brewery on 13 April 2024

It’s been several years since I’ve been to Bamberg but this has just as much smoke, or even more, than almost everything that I found, and I don't recall a helles that comes even close to it. It's got the appearance, although the head retention and lacing could be better, but that might just be because of the bar glass. The aroma offers enough smoke, and in the flavor you can't miss it. It's well balanced in that regard as there's not so much that it becomes distracting. The base beer itself is also really well balanced. In the mouth it's medium bodied and crisp as expected. Overall it's a really nicely done rauchbier.
Review #8,960

Even for a Helles Lager, there's a great amount of carbonation and subsequent stark white form. It's the result of emptying the contents of a pint can into a clear glass liter mug. The liquid shows a very bright and pale amber color that's rather translucent. The foam receded unevenly and some sustains as a head. It smells much like an ordinary Lager, sweetly and lightly malty, with a whiff of hops and yeast. It's pleasant, but the smokiness is a little hard to find. Yet, it's there in a very noticeable way in the taste. Behind the smoke, this drinks like an ordinary Lager, except it's remarkably smooth and well-bodied. This works well, relieving doubts about this style being able to carry a smoky character, like a marzen. This would probably be a very good Helles without being a Rauchbier. So this gets extra points for adding that extra taste layer. The smoky character is bold enough to enjoy, but it doesn't overwhelm the malt, hops and yeast. It probably contributes to no alcohol being detected by the taste buds. There's even some stratified glass lacing to compensate for all that initial foam. It's a very pleasant beer and a very pleasant surprise.

 

16oz can purchased from the fridge as a 4-pack for $13.59. Canned on 3/29/22, so this is a bit over 5 months old.

Look: Pours a light gold color with a very faint haze. A rocky white head gradually reduced to a very thin layer. Nice head retention.

Smell: Has this lovely smoked malt aroma; reminds me of a peaty scotch like Ardbeg or Laphroaig. Underneath the smoke, there's a bit of sweetness from the doughy, crackery malt that is really nice, a bit fruity too (reminds me of apple juice). Some underlying notes of esters and cloves. Overall, the aromas are smokey, spicy, clean, and crisp.

Taste: This is really crushable. Up front, you definitely get the smoke flavor and it is pleasant and welcome. The beer is very light on the palate, nicely carbonated, and mildly spicy and fruity. The finish is crisp and clean; it's dry with just a subtle malty sweetness and a very faint memory of the smoky flavor. There's a mild, grassy bitterness from the Noble type hops that are used. This is not as smoky on the palate as the nose suggests. This beer is kind of like a smoky saltine cracker in beer form.

Feel: Lighter side of medium bodied, appropriately carbonated.

Overall: This is the first Helles Lager that I have reviewed, but certainly not the first one that I have consumed. I have been into smoked beers recently, so this one piqued my interest and I was excited to see it available. I also really enjoy 2SP's offerings. This is really interesting to me because the smoked malt gives this Helles a totally different flavor profile and it makes it really novel. Packs tons of flavor for 5% ABV. Overall, it's delicious!

From the website:
Our Helles lager base recipe with a small portion of Bamberg smoked Rauch Malt added. The result is a beer which has a moderately smoky aroma and a very light smoky flavor. Extended cold aging lends a clean and snappy body with lively carbonation and a fluffy white foam head.

Availability: Fall Release

 

 

 

 

A: The beer is clear golden yellow in color and has a moderate amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a half finger high white head that left a patch of bubbles on the surface and some lacing down the sides of the glass.
S: Moderate aromas of lightly smoked malts are present in the nose.
T: The taste follows the smell, having flavors of smoked malt along with underlying notes of breads malts. There is a slight amount of bitterness.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: The smokiness isn't too prominent in this beer and there aren't really much in the way of associated iodine flavors, which makes this rather easy to drink. It was like a hybrid between a Helles Lager and a Rauchbier.

Serving type: can