Woodland Smoked Lager
Tonewood Brewing - Barrington

Hazy golden color. White head that dissipated quickly. Smells are floral like flowers and oak and vanilla with some cracker. Flavor follows the nose and the mouthfeel is somewhat dry but crispy.

 

(16 oz can, 'SMOKED WOODLAND FIRESIDE CHAT, 3/4/21'; purchased cold 4-pack... poured into a 14 oz mug)

L: polished-clear, pale, yellow hay colored liquid; tall, 3-finger high foam build on the pour, which hastily collapses into spongy cap... remaining 2-3 oz when poured brings a faint dusting of fine sediment

S: smoked wood bold at the fore with a mellow background floral note, as well as a faint bready grain at the back... smoke-dominant throughout

T: the base lager leaps out upon first sip, clean and light but also with a brief doughy flare, while the smoke swells in the finish, its sort of ash-tray like cinder-y quality lingering long through the liquid's near bone-dry aftertaste; a small burp brings back a taste of that pils malt... about halfway through, and the smoke has slowly lost some bite, now giving way to the delicate, woody funk of the foeder, quite similar in flavor to their un-smoked previous version of this

F: aside from the hop bitterness and more so the smoke phenols delivering a lasting sting to the taste buds, the liquid itself is extra-light, clean and quick, leaving little residual texture... brief swell of gentle body roundness up front, but again a bone dry, near sharp post-finish

O: similar to the original Woodland canning, but the alcohol has been (correctly) adjusted up to 4.8% from 4%, helping to round out and enhance the flavors... curious about the decision to smoke this (to pair with BBQ?)... the original had very mild nuances only detectable once the liquid was around 55-60 F; cold, that beer had little flavor... interested to see how they continue to develop this brand (1745)