‘FREIGEIST ABRAxXxAS’ – BRAUSTELLE – Berliner Weisse – 6.00% ABV (Eye Choir’s Choice)

Appearance: Poured a moderately light, golden-orange with a one finger, eggshell head. There is a mild haziness as well as ample carbonation. 4.5/5

Smell: Light grainy wheat malt coupled with a subtle smokiness which is far too subdued to be cloying. There is also a slight earthy, sourdough yeast funk and grassy lemon aroma which contrast the malt. Very complex without sacrificing balance. 4.5/5

Taste: Starts with a strong but clean lactic acidity which turns the balance towards the yeast, hay, and citric flavors. This complements the lightly smoked, spicy wheat flavors quite well, as the finish quenches the sour character with a traditional dry, mildly bitter grain profile. Odd coupling, but very tasty. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium to light body with a creamy mouthfeel, though a mild to moderate amount of carbonation coupled with the strong acidity gives a mild sharp character which breaks through the smoothness. No alcoholic heat to speak of. 4/5

Overall: The use of smoked malt in a Berliner weisse is highly non-traditional, but the earthiness of the yeast ties these two aspects together surprisingly well. 4.5/5

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‘THE PERFECT CRIME’ – STONE (feat. EVIL TWIN and STILLWATER) – Farmhouse Porter – 6.80% ABV

Appearance: Poured a very dark amber red with a two finger, light tan head. Though dark, the body is very clear with no sediment or carbonation visible. 3.5/5

Smell: Predominantly tart funky yeast aroma over a smooth, lightly smoked earthy dark malt character. Slight notes of tropical esters and spicy phenols also make an appearance. The saison and smoky porter profiles seem to be a little at odds with each other. 3/5

Taste: An unexpectedly strong bitterness kicks the smokey chocolate up a notch, though the background peppery yeast notes and a little floral, slightly citric hops are palpable. There is a lot going on, but a semi-dry tartness helps clarify the fruits and yeast somewhat. 4/5

Mouthfeel: Medium body, with low carbonation and a smooth mouthfeel, which aptly don’t distract from the complexity of this beer’s flavor. Only a hint of alcoholic heat. 3.5/5

Overall: Very strange and intriguing, but the myriad flavors have trouble coalescing. The saison flavors go surprisingly well with the darker roasted malts, but the smoke notes are somewhat out of place. Just too much going on, but still fairly tasty. 3.5/5

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‘AECHT SCHLENKERLA HELLES LAGERBIER’ – SCHLENKERLA – Munich Helles – 4.30% ABV

Appearance: Poured a pale, light gold with a two finger, white head. There is a fair amount of particulate sediment which mostly obscures some mild carbonation. 3.5/5

Smell: Greasy smoke smell whose faint wood aroma matches some pale honey malt and some coriander and clove yeast flavors. There is a surprisingly strong presence of musty citric lemongrass, as well a slight note of fresh hops. 3.5/5

Taste: Mild to moderate sweetness which highlights the malt enough to display a sourdough bread flavor whose funky yeast aroma forms a unique pairing with the smoky flavors. Slightly tart with only a faint touch of clean bitterness. As with the smell, balanced though the lager and smoke flavors may be a tad mismatched. 3/5

Mouthfeel: Light body, though the mouthfeel is creamy and thick in part due to some reasonable carbonation. No alcohol heat is palpable. 3.5/5

Overall: Really unique profile, where the typical rauchbier smoke is paired with some unusual yeast flavors. Very drinkable, but at times the pieces don’t quite seem to fit perfectly. 3.5/5

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‘SMOKED PORTER WITH VANILLA BEAN’ – STONE – Robust Porter brewed with vanilla bean – 5.90% ABV

Appearance: Poured a nearly opaque black with highlights of red and even purple, with a light brown, two finger head. No carbonation visible due to dark body. 4.5/5

Smell: Strong roasted and even burnt chocolate and coffee flavors from the malt, which also has aromas of oats and even nuts, especially hazelnut. There is also the expected herbal vanilla note, which is balanced quite well and pairs great with the roasted malt flavors. 4/5

Taste: Very similar to the smell, with lots of smokey toasted malt which toes the line between bitter and sweet (a good nod to bittersweet chocolate). Virtually no hop flavor. The balance is excellent, but the practically malt-only flavor could stand to be more complex. 3.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium to heavy body, with medium carbonation and a nice smooth creamy texture which pairs well with the rich chocolate flavor. No perceptible alcohol heat. 4/5

Overall: Very balanced and well-rounded with good use of vanilla bean, but could be more complex, as it has little flavor from the hops or yeast. 4/5