Beer of the Weekend #1,096: Smokey the Bier
I turned 42 this week. Shortly after midnight on my birthday, I woke up to go to the bathroom. After seeing the clock, I remembered how I stayed up late and bought beer shortly after midnight on my 21st birthday. Then it hit me: It has been 21 years since my 21st birthday. Whoa. The beer this weekend is Smokey the Bier, brewed by the Confluence Brewing Company of Des Moines, Iowa. Serving type: 16-ounce can. “CANNED AUG/06/24” is printed on the bottom. Appearance: Poured a slightly hazy gold into a nonic pint glass. A finger of off-white, bubbly, buttery head leaves a collar and a broken lacing. Smell: Smoky but light, which is throwing me for a loop (I expect smoky beers to be dark). It reminds me of a camp fire but not as intense and without the lingering smell on all my clothes. The smoke dominates but grass, light malt, and some earthy hops sneak through. Taste: It mostly mirrors the aroma: smoky but light. The smokiness fades as the glass empties, becoming more of an aftertast
