Coney Island Sword Swallower Steel Hop Lager

Shmaltz Brewing Company
Brewed at Olde Saratoga Brewing (Mendocino Brewing Co.)
Style: European Strong Lager
San Francisco, California USA

In short: An unusual dry fruity of some kind. A bit “off” but certainly not boring
How: Tap at Beer Island. Beer Island? yes Beer Island. I’m so gonna add this place in ratebeer
The look: Cloudy dark golden body topped by a medium orangey head (yes orangey)
In long: Unusual fruit flavours blending McIntosh apples skin, marmalade, some dried fruits and pink grapefruit without the tartness that usually comes with it. Fluffy yeasty feeling with a sawdust-like dryness. Finish is dry and has a bitterness of medium intensity. I’m surprised to see this is a lager, I would not have guessed it. Not a very good beer but interesting in a strange weird way. I had this beer on a hot summer day sitting by the beach with my girlfriend at Coney Island. That was a nice day. I have fond memories of the time I had with the Swallower, and this beer.

Pours deep gold with a soft white head. Bready malts and citrus hops build up the nose. The hops seem to be the focus, although they taste a bit on the green side, sort of sharp and a bit metallic. Malts had a kinda funky aftertaste, sort of dry sourdough bread taste, not sure how to describe it, but not my favorite flavor.

Bottle. Clear amber with a thick, slightly yellowish head. Nice complex, but mostly grassy and piney hop aroma. Some toffee soothening the bitter hop impact. Certainly bitter, but maybe somewhat unbalanced.

Bouteille de 22 oz achetée chez Knighlty Spirits (Orlando, FL). Arôme: Légère odeur d’houblons. Apparence: La couleur est blonde pâle avec une moyenne densité de bulle. Présence d’un moyen col mousseux et d’une fine dentelle sur le verre. Saveur: Léger goût de céréales et d’houblons. Durée moyenne de l’arrière goût. Palette: Le corps est moyen avec une texture légèrement huileuse. Moyenne effervescence en bouche. Légère présence d’agrumes en arrière goût. (Rating #2305)

Clear and golden with a white head. Sticky-sweet malts were filled with caramel, honey and graham cracker. Happily, the carbonation was strong enough to cleave off some of that sweetness. Unfortunately, hop bitterness wasn’t bold enough to finish the job. Still, flowery hops were noticeable and pleasant. And a faint rock candy-like sweetness added depth to the overall profile. Aftertaste was a bit stark and plant-like, but otherwise, it’s a pretty decent beer.

Bottle. Pours a brassy gold with an average white chapeau. Cereal malt and grassy hop aroma. Sweet grainy malt palate, hints of cooked peaches, and a kiss of slightly resinous hops. Not bad, but not one I would pay premium prices for again.

Bomber courtesy of Tony at the Oldsmar Tap House. Pours crystal clear deep gold with white head. Nice fresh noble hoppy aroma with some sweet maltiness in the background. The taste is spice hops, a bit of lemon tartness and then some sweet malts come in to even things out a bit. Midway the malts and flavor hops peak to a pleasing level. It ends with a bit of sweetness and spicy bitter hops.

Glistens golden in the afternoon sunlight, crowned by a slim but sturdy white head. Uber-fresh grain aroma signals a sturdy malt backbone. Cereal is brightened by lively, leafy hop. Very nice crisp dry finish. Alcohol is noticeable--a punchy brew. Long-lasting hoppiness at end. We really need more hopped up lagers like this!