The subtlely of the smoke works with the beer’s overall lightness.  I’ve been a bit obsessed with smoked beers lately, and while I’m not a big fan of Schlenkerla in general (I find the smoke in their beers to be too simplistically single-noted) the light touch on this beer works.  I wouldn’t pair this with food that is too flavorful – subtly flavored fish or cheese like halibut or chevre perhaps?

The nose is warm, orangey and spicy.  It’s got a nice full body and plenty of complexity. It’s a solid 8% AVB, enough malt character to balance it’s solid background hop bitterness. Oakiness is subtle.  This is another winner in their lineup, but I might stick to their Nut Brown or Old Brewery Pale Ale.

Apparently ‘stingo’ is slang for old ale.  I can see this aging well, I’ll have to pick up a few more to set aside. As it warms the head disappears and it heads toward treacliness and raisins and less citrus. This would make a great after-dinner beer, something to sip with a good book or good company.

As for the beer itself, the nose is abundant with the smell of fresh hops – green and resinous. The flavor is hoppy and bitter, and not to my taste.  It’s well done for the style but just not balanced.  At least it’s not a palate scorcher, for all of it’s hoppiness it’s very drinkable and I’d like to match this with some spicy Thai food or something similar.  I guess that means I might even buy it again.

It’s straw to honey in color.  The nose is clean, big, round, mellow, and very inviting.  It glides very smoothly on the palate, it tastes like it was made to be a crowd pleaser.  Slight medicinal aftertaste.  Not bad, but rather boring.

Pretty pink-copper color.  Nice complex nose, sweet and sour and woody with a little vanilla.  The honey, syrup sweetness is restrained on the palate, giving way to subtle wood, earth, and floral notes before quickly fading to a very subtle but satisfying finish. This is some of the best port I’ve ever had.