Weyerbacher Fireside Ale
Review Date 4/25/2009
Try?
Re-buy?
I
must admit that I approached Weyerbacher Fireside Ale with a bit of
trepidation-not because I have had a negative history with Weyerbacher beers
of course-far from it. It's just that I read the words "An intriguing dark
ale with a touch of smokiness" on the bottle, and feared the worst. Would
that touch be enough to make this brew worthwhile? At $7.99 a four-pack, it
was a tad pricey after all. Undaunted, I brought some home.
You see, I like smoke in my smoked beer. There should be enough of it to really make an impression or really, what's the point? So say I, anyway. My concern stemmed not only from the fact that Weyerbacher qualified the smokiness at the "touch" level, but also because this is a slightly strong smoked dark ale at 7.5% by volume. More opportunity for the smoke to get drowned out, literally speaking.
Fireside Ale's first incarnation was as a beer called "Charlie", part of their Brewer's Select Series. Currently, its regular seasonal ale released in January and sold until it's gone. I didn't see it in Atlanta until March, however. Although an ale, Fireside (and Charlie before it) is inspired by the Rauchbiers (smoked beers) of Bavaria. Long ago, the science of mating barley was not as precise as it is today, and during the kilning, or drying, process smoke often seeped into the grain chamber.
Some think that smoke added character; it certainly adds a unique element not found in most beers today. It is quite apparent in Fireside Ale, and if you've never tried a smoked beer before, this is a delightful place to start.
Weyerbacher Fireside Ale pours to a deep mahogany color with a light but very creamy head formation and a very appealing smoky malt nose. Taking a sip, I immediately get the malt that lays the foundation for this beer: a bit chewy with a firm body and hints of caramel, chocolate, and toasted nuts. But the smoke takes over pretty quickly, and while it's not overpowering, I'd say there's certainly more than a touch of it here. It has a definite hickoryish resonance, with notes of fruity green olive and smoked meats.
There's a bit of bitterness in the finish, and along with the smoke that permeates the brew this adds a satisfying dryness. It's important to note that you shouldn't drink this beer heavily chilled, as that will drown out some of the smokiness by numbing your taste buds. And who needs numb taste buds, after all?
Try a glass on a cool evening by the fireside. Pair with a plate of smoked ham and/or smoked cheese for extra effect.
You see, I like smoke in my smoked beer. There should be enough of it to really make an impression or really, what's the point? So say I, anyway. My concern stemmed not only from the fact that Weyerbacher qualified the smokiness at the "touch" level, but also because this is a slightly strong smoked dark ale at 7.5% by volume. More opportunity for the smoke to get drowned out, literally speaking.
Fireside Ale's first incarnation was as a beer called "Charlie", part of their Brewer's Select Series. Currently, its regular seasonal ale released in January and sold until it's gone. I didn't see it in Atlanta until March, however. Although an ale, Fireside (and Charlie before it) is inspired by the Rauchbiers (smoked beers) of Bavaria. Long ago, the science of mating barley was not as precise as it is today, and during the kilning, or drying, process smoke often seeped into the grain chamber.
Some think that smoke added character; it certainly adds a unique element not found in most beers today. It is quite apparent in Fireside Ale, and if you've never tried a smoked beer before, this is a delightful place to start.
Weyerbacher Fireside Ale pours to a deep mahogany color with a light but very creamy head formation and a very appealing smoky malt nose. Taking a sip, I immediately get the malt that lays the foundation for this beer: a bit chewy with a firm body and hints of caramel, chocolate, and toasted nuts. But the smoke takes over pretty quickly, and while it's not overpowering, I'd say there's certainly more than a touch of it here. It has a definite hickoryish resonance, with notes of fruity green olive and smoked meats.
There's a bit of bitterness in the finish, and along with the smoke that permeates the brew this adds a satisfying dryness. It's important to note that you shouldn't drink this beer heavily chilled, as that will drown out some of the smokiness by numbing your taste buds. And who needs numb taste buds, after all?
Try a glass on a cool evening by the fireside. Pair with a plate of smoked ham and/or smoked cheese for extra effect.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft
(G)=Growler
