Hollister The J

Brown with a nice off white head. Aroma is light smoke, caramel, light roastiness. Taste is a nice smokiness, balanced by a caramel sweetness.

Wow - this was one of the most creative beers I’ve had in a while. Smoky and salty aroma - like the description says, almost like wood smoke. The appearance was like an amber or red ale, and the flavor was like a scotch beer, but a fair bit sweeter.

Wow. I love this beer. This is, without a doubt, one of the most interesting beers I’ve ever tried. It’s made with a generous helping of smoked hemp seeds (hence the name and the smoke flavor other reviewers have referred to). The body and color is typical of a brown ale. The mouth feel is solid if unspectacular. The head is about a finger thick, and the lacing is good. However, what makes this beer stand out is smoky aroma and flavor. The best way I can describe this beer is that it tastes like somebody rolled a joint using bacon instead of paper, then smoked it around a campfire. Yes, that’s right - it has definite bacon flavors, and although this sounds awful, the actual taste is delicious. You will not find something similar anywhere else.

On tap at the brewery. Quite a good smoked from someone who is not the biggest fan of the style. Pours with a clear amber body and an off-white head with great lacing. Slightly smokey aroma. Taste is a nice, light smokeyness, covering a quite hoppy ale. Syrupy mouthfeel and slightly lively bubbles.

Sampled at the Toronado in San Diego. Slightly smoked aromas and flavors. Interesting how subtle it was. Pretty good.

Draft at Toronado San Diego. Amber orange color with decent head. Smoky aromas were nice. Flavors were still smoky with some sweetness and hints of grain. Pretty good stuff. First Hollister Beer.

Draft @ Toronado Shared with my girlfriend. Poured orange with an off white ring. Nose is smoky and nice. Taste is Sweet, malty and certainly meaty smoky. I won’t go as far as John, about it being the bets though it was good and stood up to my Girlfriend’s high smoked standards.

Draft at Toronado San Diego grand opening. Kind of a pety smokey aroma. Amber color. Smooth texture. A hint of sweetness. Very, very good. The best smoked beer I’ve every tried.