Smoke Out
Draught House Pub & Brewery

The first of my tipples at this find establishment, which will be on my list for anytime I make it back to Austin.

Poured dark brown, barely see through. Creamy, off-white head displayed middling retention, nice thick ring. Spotty lacing, splotchy drapes. After a bit i noticed some ruby highlights - i think there had been a bit of chill haze.

A malty sweet nose, caramel. Smoke tingles the nose after that initial burst of sweetness. I got the impression of charred maple syrup, or heavily glazed ham that had also been thoroughly smoked.

Malty taste, but not without hops. Caramel, nuts and a smoked grain taste that also brings in savoriness. Very slight citrusy tang accompanies the smoke, as well. Finishes with a hint of apple, and more maple sweetness. Smoke intermingles with the sweetness, and the aftertaste of smoke builds with each sip, until the sweetness is left far in the background, though not out of sight.

This beer changes substantially with warming. Whether it changes for the better is no doubt up to personal tastes. The presence of smoke in all aspects of the taste increases. This was a plus for me, especially as I had initially found the beer to be a bit cloyingly sweet. It can become a bit syrupy, something to which I was more or less indifferent, because it isn't necessarily unbecoming of what is a fairly thick, substantial brew. A fittingly moderate level of carbonation keeps things crisp but creamy.