Schell's Stag Series: It’s All Relative
August Schell Brewing Company

Pours a hazed iced tea color. Smell is fruity with date and fig. Taste has some dark fruits with some toffee and bready malts a small amount of smoke. A thin mouth feel still enjoyed this one at a year old.

Bottle. Off white head. Clear bronze color.

Malty. Caramel, toffee, bready malts. Tastes like a bock. Dark dried fruits, molasses, and some light sweetness. Light smokey notes with hints of bacon. Smooth feel. Very enjoyable.

 

 

 

I don't think this is a dopplebock or a maibock. Too me it's a common bock with a bit more alcohol than normal. I don't pick up fruit or the graininess of a maibock, just a nice rich maltiness with a slightly toasted quality. It also looks like a bock with a very clear brown color and nice off white creamy head with ample lacing. The smoky hints advertised are very subtle. Nice moderately full lager feel with carbonation rounding out the feel very nicely. Even with the richness there is no sweetness even some slight dryness on the finish.
This is a really enjoyable full lager.

 

Pours a brilliant golden-amber in color, topped with a pale tan head. Good head retention, and nice lacing.

Clean, sweet-malty nose, with just a hint of smoke.

Sweet on the first sip, with some bright and buttering notes from the hops, but mostly just a cloying sweetness. Warming... the smoke character on the nose is just as present in the palate - it’s barely there, but worthy of note, and actually the refined nature of this one is worthy* of mention.

A very low, mild bitterness is present throughout, and is expected for the style.

Drinkabilitynis excellent, and this is a very good to excellent doppelbock altogether.

Stag Series Batch #13; BBD 041419

*Not sure whether it’s worthy of the $18.99/ six pack price tag, but maybe it is? Near as I can reckon there was very little of this beer brewed / packaged, and distributed to retail. Maybe it was a Total Wine exclusive, after all?

Pours a clear copper amber with a thick cream colored head that recedes and leaves decent lacing. Aroma is faint dark roasted malt. Flavor follows the nose with just a wisp of smoke. Feel is medium bodied with good carbonation. Overall a nice lager but nothing special.

The smoke is very subtle so haters of smoke in their beers need not worry. Tastes a little thin and I agree with the previous reviewer it tastes like a maibock. A bit disappointed in this edition to the Stag Series.