Alaskan Smoked Porter

Brewed by Alaskan Brewing Co
Style: Smoked
Juneau, Alaska USA

2008 vintage. Pours opaque black with a dark thick brown head. The aroma is very strong of smoke, dried fruits, roasted matls, and a hint of chocolate! Tastes of rich roasted malts beginning with hints of dried fruit and chocolate. Then seems to explode with a powerful smokey flavor. Has a medium body and the finish is delicately bitter with the smokey flavor lingering. This is one of the finest porters I’ve had. I’ve been looking for this beer for over a year and it was well worth the wait.

2007 vintage- pours a dark cola with quickly dissipating beige head. Nose- sweet smokiness and some dark fruits. Taste- initial wave of smoke, then blends into a fairly light bodied dry porter. Not much heft to it. Carbonation is on the high side. Finish is quite bitter. The smoke really makes the beer, otherwise would be a pretty boring porter. Drinkability is good.

If miller high-life is the champagne of beers, this is most certainly the scotch of ales. A bold and forthright smoky aroma smolders out of the glass as you pour this beer. A patient nose will also reveal hints of coffee, chocolate and vanilla. But make no mistake, the other smells are singing back up. The flavor isn’t much different, a medium bodied, malty porter with big Smokey overtones. This beer would go great with a cigar.

22oz bottle from Joe - Pours a nice rich dark color. Hint of coffee flavor and a bit of smoke. Great balance. Great beer.

2006 vintage. Pours dark color with tan head. Aroma is smokiness mixed with some nice roasted malts and a little bit of caramel. Flavor has that "eating a smoked ham" character to it, but it isn’t overbearing in any way. A little coffee, roastiness, and overall tastiness going on. Palate is pretty full-bodied with a nice balance to the carbonation. Pretty good beer.

Aroma: The smokiness mixes very well with caramel and roasted malt. Some coffee in there too. The smokiness is balanced, not overpowering. The finish is excellent with lots of roasted malts, coffee, a some rather quenching smokiness. Good thick mouthfeel with moderate carbonation. Great balance between porter and smoked.

Drinking this one for the Biden/Palin debate. Dark brown pour, thin wispy tan head. Meaty smoked aroma. Also malt and coffee. Same notes come through in the flavor. Flavor goes from roasted malt, to smoke, to a chocolatey finish. Very tasty. Mouthfeel might be a little bit on the thin side, but is still quite nice. Tasty beer overall.

From bottle. Part of April Dayton Beertasting event. Pours black with a off white head. Sweet smoke smell. Taste is filled with malt, chocolate, coffee and vanilla. Strong effort as usual.