Smoked Beer Appreciation Thread (2024)

Since it's a well known Bamberg brewery, I'd think so -- but I don't know.

I looked at the importer, but it wasn't familiar. I'll check another can later and look it up.

 

@shkin
International Distillers & Vintners... whose website is "being worked on" this morning.

 

Vintners or Vinters? The under-construction website is International Distillers and Vinters. The former seems to be gone. Either way, it doesn't look very promising.

 

Hah. Says Vintners on the can and if you Google search it as such it comes to the odd spelling (vintner ≠ vinter) title (which isn't actually in the URL).

I'm betting someone made a typo. Maybe why the site is "being worked on."

I'll double check the can in a while -- maybe there's a different web site listed.

 

It might be a typo on the dead website, but it is repeatedly called that way. Google Preview shows:

Contact Us
Nov 5, 2013 — International Distillers and Vinters are the sole importer and distributor for a number of specialty beers and spirits that are distributed ...

and

About Us
Nov 4, 2013 — Located in Everett Washington, International Distillers and Vinters were established in 2002 by group of spirit and beer enthusiasts.

 

I purchased mine at a HyVee grocery store's liquor department.

 

@shkin -- it does have "vinters" printed on the can (I'll try to post a pic later) -- what a foul up. But maybe that's how they have to trademark themselves to separate them from the original company?

Still, Vinter is only a word in the Germanic languages -- and has nothing to do with fermented grape sales.

Searching from another angle, this might help to find the beer:
https://www.beermenus.com/beers/150195-alpirsbacher-urhell

 

As promised...

 

Nah, beermenus.com is mostly useless. I guess I need to visit Illinois to get this beer.

 

With more apologies to @shkin :



And a review added.

 

I decided for incorrect yet "proper glassware" for a Port City smoked beer. Colossal Two is an imperial smoked porter they originally produced for their second anniversary (then again for their twelfth), they now produce it on a semi-regular schedule.


The smoke adds an ashy bitter finish that actually reminds me a little of some of the RIS I had for that tasting. The relatively and vaguely fruity undertones stop me from turning this into saying this is "stout-like" (based on my interpretation of the blurry lines betwixt the styles).

Overall, it is a mix of campfire and smoked meat, but roasted malts and an almost plum-like dark fruit note play the main characters here, with the smoke floating along until that finish.

 

Nice. I'm not very familiar with Live Oak. Only had one of their beers. The collab seem clean and bright to me. Not unlike Schlenkerla Helles. Most of American smoked beers are too heavy for my taste.

 

Ibushi from Godspeed Brewery
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/49615/353595/

Poured a 355ml can into a glass. A two finger off white head on a hazy dark amber. Good head retention. The head diminishes to a layer. Some patchy lacing.

Slightly smokey malts in the nose.

The taste follows the nose. The smoke diminishes towards the end of the glass. A very slight hop finish.

Moderate body and good carbonation.

Very smooth and well melded. A lightly smoked lager beer.

look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

I will have to look into Godspeed's offerings more closely. They seem to like experimenting with smoke.

 

Left My Wallet In El Segundo
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/55802/496482/

Received in a trade from @Teethoflions

Billed as a pineapple infused Lichtenhainer. Poured a 473ml can into a pilsner glass. A two finger fine white head on a hazy lemon. Good head retention. The head diminishes to a ring. Some patchy lacing. Canned on May 12 so moderately fresh.

A very slight pineapple in the nose.

Mild beech smoke up front. Subtly fruity, although the promised pineapple is not really apparent in the taste. Slight Gose like salt elements. An almost imperceptible sourness. No noticeable hopping. A mildly fruity finish.

Light body and moderate carbonation.

A light and refreshing smoked lager.

look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

 

My newest beer I've brewed.

Smoked 50% of the grist with hickory, the balance being pale, Munich and Caramunich malt. W-34/70 lager yeast. Finished beer is 5.7% and 20 IBU. Hopped with Halltertau Magnum.

Tastes amazing... Rich smokey malt, but not acrid or medicinal at all. Doughy finish. Clean. Could easily crush a liter of it at a time.

 

That's a very attractive beer too! I wish you were my neighbor.