Church-Key Holy Smoke

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

Draught @ Volo. Rich opaque black with thick, creamy tan head. Lovely aroma of chicory, potato skin. Very earthy with dark cereal grains. Very soft mouthfeel is creamy and velvety. Peaty flavors are subtle and integrated. Most of the smoke emerges in the beginning and then yield to mild, whiskey or sherry barrel high notes. Relatively short-lived but well-structured palate. Highly drinkable and smooth, a peaty yum yum beer.

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.

Rich ruby-brown colour with an off-white head. Aroma of wood, malt and (of course) smoke. The body is a bit on the light side, but once the peaty smoked flavour kicks in, that's the least of your worries. It's not the most perfectly balanced beer I've ever had, but that whisky-like smoke flavour just warms my tummy every time.

Bottled sample from radiomgb. Medium brown in colour with hints of red. Aromas of vanilla chocolates, malt, and a hint of smoke. More malt in the mouth with a much more pronounced sour-smoke twang. A bit of burnt malt flavor as well. Somewhat oily texture, but in a very nice way. Even though I was expecting to enjoy this one, it exceeded my expectations. Great stuff.

On tap @ Volo. This was dark brown with very little head when it arrvied at the table. Smelled like being at a campfire adn the taste was similar. Hints of sweet malt, but mostly that smoky taste that I really enjoy.

On tap at the brewery. Appearance: Nice dark brown almost black and a light brown head. Aroma: Nice and smoky, lots of malt and whiskey, delicious! Flavour: Again malty with smoke and peat, lots of chocolate, nice medium body and a lovely warming smoke finish.

Draught @ West 50, Mississauga: Had this one a few years ago before I was "in to" beer and had hated it, but I’d been assuming my improved palate might now enjoy it. Truth! Poured copper in colour, very little head on mine but the lacing was incredible. Aroma is earthy and smoky, albeit more muted than the Aecht I had a while ago. I found this one far superior to the Aecht in flavour as well, offering a more subtle flavour than the "punched in the face with corned beef" from the former. This one is well balanced with flourishes of smoke and significant hopping, and just enough whiskey-style maltiness to balance. I’m a convert, I really enjoyed this one!

A dark reddish brown colour with a modest fizzy head. A slight smoky, peaty aroma with a hint of bbq. Smokey flavour with notes of cooked bacon, biscuits and sweet caramel. A very accessible and enjoyable smoke beer.