Fastenbier
Bierkeller

 

Draft taste at the brewery's gastropub in Columbia, SC.

Appearance. Excellent! An attractive, clear reddish-brown body topped by a tall beige head.

I'm not a fan of smokey beers and this one is lightly, but unmistakably smokey, especially in the aftertaste. True to style and readily recommended if this style is too your taste.

From a 32 oz. crowler during the days of curbside Corona virus pickup.

Mahogany with lighter segments, clear. One finger cream head with large bubbled carbonation quickly subsided to a full ring and spotty lacing. Still appearance after a few minutes.
Nutty, shading towards smoky, light fig and plum, tobacco aromas.
A lot of flavor to unpack: stone fruit, nuts, faint smoke, less than in the nose, caramel, light floral hops.
Light hop bitterness to start, fruit notes across the tongue, not sweet, carbonation was quickly dispelled.
I had this previously on tap last year but found this crowler to have more flavor. Enjoyable.

A barter pay-off treat from my friend Scott at Bierkeller. Been wanting to try his beer for a long time now -- very excited.

Poured from a 32 ounce Crowler into my tall Becher.

L -- Clear, deep chestnut color with ruby highlights and a persistent dark tan head.

S -- Rich, bready to earthy malt nose. Slightly sweet caramel and chocolate notes back.

T -- Lightly roasty malts that fold into the earthy and sweet flavors without becoming Porter-like in its roastiness. Finish leans to the lightly sweet molasses bread crust character and a touch of spicy noble hop. There's even a light touch of smoked malt in the aftertaste -- purposeful, or a carry-over from Rauchbier batches?

F -- Mouthfeel is soft to crisp with a medium body.

O -- I'd have given more points to appearance, but for the fast settling head -- probably due to the less-than perfect crowler seal. That said, this beer is deliciously typical to Northern Bavarian dark beer without becoming a roasty bitter Schwarzbier. Herr Burgess is doing a great job brewing a style few can conquer.