Black Forest Campfire Ale

Deep red with a cream like head. Flavor and aroma were both pretty smoky and earthy. Are we sure this is a Spice/Herb/Vegetable and not a Smoked? Very little pine in the flavor, but there is a myriad of other spices in it.

Tap at the Brewpub: Deep brown pour with a ruby hue. The head faded to a beige ring. The nose is pretty smoky. Not meaty, but earthy with some mild caramelized malt character. Also has a mild herbal character. The body is nice and creamy, with an herbal flavor. Tons of lavender and violet. The malt base gives it a chewy body and a balancing sweetness. Light smoke notes come through when it warms, but the violet seems to dominate the brew; especially in the finish. A very interesting and distinct Ale, and I like to see Brewpubs brewing original offerings, such as this.

Poured a very dark chestnut with an off-white head. The aroma smooth smoke and sweet caramel malt. The flavor matches with sweet caramel and nice smoke. A little on the sweet side but not too bad. Clean light body.

Tap at the brewpub - first of all, I’m pretty sure that this beer is a lager - hair-splitting aside, let’s get to the brew - dark brown with a reddish tint and a small but lasting head - the aroma is full of pine/spruce, tree sap, some gentle smoky character - I give them props for being crazy enough to actually steep their old Christmas tree in the beer, but the result is a brew dominated by spruce flavor - some mild sweet/tart fruity interpay is there, and the smoky component augments the wood, and makes it work somewhat - however, the overwhelming pine keeps this from being more enjoyable.

After watching a dozen or so cars slide off the road on a snowy Long Island day, there’s nothing like curling up next to a campfire, to make you feel better... okay, cheesy jokes aside, this is a dark brown beer with a thin tan head. The aroma is quite smokey with a fairly prominent rauchmalt component over some light spiciness as well. Flavour is initially softly smokey and is quickly followed by a very woody/resiny pine needle flavour. A bit of fruitiness but there is mostly a lightly charred/burned malt character over a load of pine character. Retronasally, it’s all pine needles. A soft dark malt sweetness helps this beer work out. Lingering fruity/piny flavour on the back. Pretty nice brew.