Rauchbier
Pilothouse Brewing Company

a true to style and well made beer, nicely balanced and relatively drinkable for something on the darker side and smoked, usually that means a slow sipper at best, but one could conceivably have a few pints of this. looks like a brown ale from the tap, no darker, and very well refined with nice clarity and shine, and a tall tan head. it smells like hotdog buns from the bag, like all smoked beer does to me for a second, but it settles into a somewhat mild smoked profile in aroma and flavor, not acrid it bitter or harsh or forced at all, and with some nice chocolate malt notes, bready doughy yeast, and more sweetness than i have known in one of these before, malty and extending and appealing somehow. the smoke is nice in the flavor, defines this without closing it in, cool malt depth like toasted almonds and chestnuts to me, with a slow brown sugar finish and some nice carbonation, soft and enriching, almost like a nitro feel. cool beer overall, i think the beer is rad in here, and i love the concept. this was among my favorite that i had on my visit. i never knew this place was here, but dont miss it!