San Antonio

Brewed by Sleeman Brewing & Malting Co. (Sapporo)
Style: Smoked
Guelph, Canada

Dull fizzy white head dissipates automatically like that of a soda pop. The pour is of an orangey-amber, deploying abundant carbonation. Rather grainy, peaty nose comes out surprisingly vegetal, almost corny and doing all it can to stay out of anything close to rich meatiness to rather remain accessible and grainy. Limited flavour range, hinting at salty peaches, weak smoke and not much besides. Faintest yeast influence betrays the heavy filtration (clear enough to read through). Develops a mineral dryness toward the end that cuts abruptly, leaving a most forgettable aftertaste. Thin, rather fizzy in mouth and short flavoured. Shockingly bland. More Sleemanish than Unibroueish and the fact that they conceal who brews this on the label is a bit scary. Maybe an attempt without engagement at a future replacement for the Raftman (pure speculation)?

Bottle... Crystal clear, amber ale with a large, whispy, off-white head. Decent retention. Looks a lot like a glass of an old Scotch or Irish malt. Fruity, spicy aroma. Maybe a hint of smoke; maybe not. Banana, apple and pear. Good balance in the flavor. More spice and fruit, but thin. Medium-bodied and fizzy. Finishes fruity and lightly bitter. Weird. Who entered this as a rauchbier?

Scared veggies mar the feeble caramel maltiness, as well as any kind of possible malt flavors...The Belgian-style carbonation projects the earthy, dirty yeast onto whatever fruit esters were intended...Smoked? C’mon...This isn’t even fun to drink...

Golden ake with a thick white head. Slightly spiced malt aroma, herbal notes. In mouth, light peaty malt with some orange peels, lighter bodied. Bought at Joanette, 1.79$,

341 ml bottle shared with MartinT, tiggmtl, Rastacouere, beerbuzzmontreal and Yowie. Vague smoky-bitter character emanates slowly and stealthily from the light amber, white-capped body....you have to strain for the smoke but it’s there...in the body, bitterness and dry deadness, chalky and almost hard to swallow at the end...little moderating sweetness or malt like you’d expect in a smoked...glad the sample size was small for this one.

Sweet candy sugar, pastry dough and a mild spiciness in the nose. Clear, pale, copper coloured beer is topped off by a low, off white head that recedes to ring. Sugary and vegetal flavours are both doughy and chalky with only mild bitterness and some pear or pineapple fruitiness. Medium light body with moderate, soft carbonation and a somewhat watery texture. Bottle (Grand Duc, Dec-05) sampled at Barry’s housewarming tasting.

Bottle (341ml). Magic bottle appeared out of the mist, drank it alone, yessir officer sir. Gold, still, frothy white head. Sharp spicy yeast aroma, maybe some coriander, fruity faintly vegetal malt - smoked? Taste - sweet, lemony, lightly spiced - smoked? Nah ... a generic Unibroue, not one of their better efforts, going for that spicy belgian thang, getting a sticky, sugary, weak white beer - yeah, it’s spicy, but it’s also BORING - but I do see a little sweet generic whisky in the finish.

Botlle.Clear pale amber with visible carbonation, medium fine creamy head. Sweet aroma of caramel, yeasty-rye and aromatic hops. Medium bodied with dry carbonation up front, bitter medium and light smoky end. Clean ale with good bitter sweet character. Quiet drinkable. Would have again if given.