Smoked Beers

“Maybe I had an unrepresentative keg or something, who know?” Very possible?

My motivation for replying to your post(s) was that you described Stone Smoked Porter as being “unbalanced” and that was different from my perceptions of that particular beer.

Cheers!

P.S. It has been quite some time since I have had Alaskan Smoked Porter; I am glad that you were able to get a bottle.

 

I like to always make a distinction between Rauchbier (one of my all time favorites) and just the hodge podge smorgasborg mix of smoked beers which could be well... just about anything hypothetically.

 

Stone made an unbalanced beer?!? For me their Smoked Porter beer was a near immediate drain-pour (waited until I had a full-on stress headache from trying my best to consume a decent quantity).

 

Below is BA's ratings of Stone Smoked Porter; take note of the word "OUTSTANDING".

BA SCORE 90
outstanding
-
3,128 Ratings
THE BROS 90
outstanding
-
read more »
Ratings: 3128
Reviews: 1712
rAvg: 4.03
pDev: 11.17%

Ratings Help
Top of Form
Bottom of Form
Top of Form
Bottom of Form

 

They use peated malt, which for some of us is something that should not be used in beer.

 

“They use peated malt, which for some of us is something that should not be used in beer.”

And there are some people who would state about a beer from Schlenkerla: They use smoked malt, which for some of us is something that should not be used in beer.

Stone Smoked Porter has a rating of 90 (with 3,129 reviews).

Cheers!

 

Jack, it comes down to the fact that I like smoke, but don't like strong phenolics such as that in the peat smoked malts much these days. Scott may have the same feeling, as he could not finish it. Alaskan Smoked Porter is a treat for me, as the Alder smoked works with the rest of the beer - and pairs well with smoked salmon too.

Yeah, no accounting for individual tastes. I know some that don't even like beer!

 

I guess I haven't sufficiently ruined/wrecked my palate enough to handle the Stone-style strong phenolics. But that has always been their MO, so why not own it in every style? That BAs love extreme takes on styles is nothing new.

 

The Stone Smoked Porter could be suffering from either inconsistency or recipe drift. When I first came across it 8-9 years ago there was nothing remotely extreme about it, and everything was well-integrated (including the hops and smoke). Very drinkable, actually. But I have gotten the Vanilla Bean versions recently and something does seem off, much more harsh and abrasive than I remember the base beer being. This, plus some comments above, would lead me to believe that something is going on with the base Smoked Porter.

 

“When I first came across it 8-9 years ago there was nothing remotely extreme about it, and everything was well-integrated (including the hops and smoke).”

Michael, what you posted (and what I highlighted in bold) is exactly how Stone Smoked Porter tasted to me in 2013.

I really do not believe it is a case of “inconsistency or recipe drift.”

What I believe is that is simply a case of personal taste.

Cheers!

Jack

 

Actually Stone reported somewhere that they changed things up over the years. (My first attempt at the beer was in 2012.)

 

I would suggest Grimm Bothers Sooty Gratzer Ale.

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/23076/74529/

 

I don't know, Jack. I can't see the vanilla bean throwing the balance that far out of whack. I've actually been hesitant to pick up the straight version lately because of it. Then again, if you are reporting no issues then it just might point to inconsistency. It's not something that I get regularly any more (Captain Lawrence and Lavery have my attention on that front the past few years), so my latest tries were the special releases. I'll have to try it again at some point, I suppose. I certainly hope it is the way I remember it.

 

Michael. you made mention of "vanilla bean". I have only had 'regular' Stone Smoked Porter. Is there "vanilla bean" in 'regular' Stone Smoked Porter?

Cheers!

 

No- that is definitely something different. In 2012 there was a vanilla bean version and chipotle pepper version in 12 oz. bottles, and in 2013 just the vanilla bean in bombers. Neither year with the vanilla bean was as 'drinkable' as I remember the straight smoked porter being (definitely pre-2012 for me). At this point I only have my recent experience with the vanilla, but since 77black_ships and herrburgess are describing something similar going on with the regular version, I am inclined to think that something may be going on with that as well. Like I said in the previous post, I hope it's just some off batches rather than a change of the base recipe like herrburgess reported.

 

Thanks for your input. I have only had the 'regular' Stone Smoked Porter (over the past 2-3 years). Every Stone Smoked Porter that I have drunk have been 100% consistent with your description of "everything was well-integrated (including the hops and smoke)". What other folks have reported on this thread is inconsistent with my drinking experiences.

Cheers!

 

Does anyone know anything about Mendocino's Double Smoked Porter? I picked up a bottle of it today but can't seem to find any info about it other than that it was released.

 

coming in Feb.

http://foundersbrewing.com/backstage-series/smoked-porter-2014/