Church-Key Holy Smoke

Brewed by Church-Key Brewing
Style: Smoked
Pethericks Corners, Canada

Smokey as all hell. It pours a beautiful dark brown with no head... there’s earth and a definite smoke in this. Definitely more than raftman. Smoked Salmon abounds in this joint. Wow!

341ml brown bottle. Dark brown, thin tan head. Smoke aroma, some peat and iron. Flavour matched aroma. restained smokiness, mineral notes. The beer hides the alcohol well.

Overall, a nice beer. Tasted at Smokeless Joes on tap. Have to admit that the palate was numbed a little, but this made an impression after drinking a couple of tasteless beers. The smokiness was perceptible but not overwhelming. A little acrid, to be expected in a smoked beer but maybe a little distractingly so. A nice beginning smoked beer.

Deep brown in color, thinner tan head. Malty, with hints of smoke. There are regular Scotch ales out there with as much of a smoke prescence in an unintentional way. However, the smoke is a nice element and the lack of a big smoky slab of bacon in this beer does not detract. Somewhat light. Not bad though.

Roasty, toasty, but lacking the mealy character I was hoping for. Decent head but the body was flat. Light caramel notes and a bit of soy sauce, cola, charcoal -- anything black. A bit of a nasty finish.

Draught. Subtle smoked-style aroma, not so much as say the Schlenkerla. Brown-mocha colour with a brownish head. I thought it was quite pleasant: the big malt flavours, and a satisfying bitter finish. Smokiness was subtle just as in the aroma. But all-in-all it’s a great refreshing beer.

More roast than smoke, like a stout, Thats good. Much carbonation, however. New formulation? Some fruitiness and malt made it balanced.. Surprisingly enjoyable directly form them at the 2004 St. Lawrence fest.

Thin, smoky caramel aroma. Opaque black with very retiscent tan head that diminishes completely. Lightly smoky. Slight licorice flavour. Roasted malts floating in the background. Thin, still body. Bottle (sampled at Mondial 2004).