Cocktail Confessions

My buddy gave me a sweet present a few weeks back: The Sam Adams Harvest Collection Variety pack.  It really surprised me as he’s not much of a drinker, at least not anymore, and he offered up this 12 pack gem unsolicited, so my hat’s off to him.

In addition to their Boston Lager, seasonal Harvest Pumpkin & Octoberfest, and Black Lager, they’ve included a new brew introduced this year (2011): Bonfire Rauchbier.

It really has a surprising ‘smokey’ taste to it that totally caught me offgaurd.  However, that being said, I guess I could have figured that out or at the very least got a hint by looking at the label emblazened with a roaring fire.  You know how certain tastes remind you of certain smells or vice-versa?  Memories are triggered by flavors or scents?  That’s exactly what happened to me.  Upon my first taste on my pallete, I was instantly transported to a night time beach party with an actual ‘bonfire’ in tow.  You can actually taste a mild smoke flavor that reminds me of a campfire.

According to the Sam Adam website, the history of brewing this type of beer that imparts these characteristics is as such: Prior to the practice of kiln drying, barley was dried either by sunlight or over a flame.  When fire dried, the grains were suspended high enough for the heat and smoke to pass through without burning the malt.  As a result, this imparted smoky characteristics to the malt.

Also from the website are a few more particulars:

Flavor: Rich malt flavors of toffee and caramel, balanced with a smokiness that is ever present but not over powering.

Color: Dark amber, 39 SRM

Original Gravity: 15.57

Alcohol by Vol/Wt: 5.7%ABV – 4.5% ABW

Calories/12 oz.: 213

IBUs: 19

Malt Varieties: Two-row Harrington, Special B, Caramel 60, and Weyermann Smoked Malt 

Hop Variety: Spalt Spalter Noble Hops

Yeast Strain: Samuel Adams lager yeast

Availability: Seasonal (Aug. – Oct.) in the Harvest Collection Variety Pack

First Brewed: 2011

213 Calories! Yikes!  A good thing this is seasonal.  There’s just enough to whet your interest and make it a treat, especially delicious on the cooling fall evenings.  This will be one I look forward to again in another year.  Too bad it only comes in the variety pack, ’cause I’d for sure pick a sixer up for a winter BBQ.  I’d pair this up with a good lake trout dish, or grilled pork.