Divine Apparition
Ogden River Brewing

the first bottled offering i have seen from these guys, unbelievable sexy packaging for something that isnt even barrel aged, gold wax, black and gold regal label, looks fantastic, which sets up a pretty high expectation that the liquid doesnt quite meet, but i love this style, am stoked these guys are pursuing this sort of thing, and it was great to share it with my brother in law, great score! its brown not black in the glass with some chestnut edges where the light penetrates, and a very lively almost bottle conditioned looking head on it, khaki tinted and lasting. the nose is quite interesting, some bready tones from the lager yeast behind an almost brown ale male profile, dry chocolate malt, some english crystal it seems too, less of the dark roast, less bitterness and low end depth, but lots of nuance too, maple, root beer and cola, and even mulling spice for a flash once its warmed up in the glass. the flavor isnt quite as complex as the nose, and maybe it feels a little thin too for the style, but i dont immediately miss a barrel or any adjuncts here. a cool fruit layer exists, raisin and fig, a hint of rum and vanilla and brown sugar, and finally a little sweetness to mellow out the finish. its never all that roasty, its more chocolate forward, and that it is a lager isnt overwhelmingly obvious, despite some contribution from the yeast. smooth to drink, lighter bodied for the style for sure, and of a solid overall quality. nice to have a beer like this that isnt super strong or packed with coffee and vanilla and whatever else, sometimes less is more. a great sipper after a day on the slopes!