Smoking Swine - The Mussel Inn

danieelol

Australia

3.75/5  rDev -1.1%

01-22-2013 11:45:39 | More by danieelol

dgilks

Australia

3.9/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Clearish amber colour with a small white head. Poor head retention.

Nicely smoked with a slightly honeyed malt aroma. A little earthy. Nice.

Slightly sweet up front with some smoked ham as well. A touch of tea comes through. Very good.

Medium light body with low carbonation. Okay.

A very nice smoked ale. The honey malt notes are good.

Serving type: on-tap

01-09-2013 08:50:06 | More by dgilks

laituegonflable

Australia

3.35/5  rDev -11.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Pours a reddish amber colour, slightly cloudy with foamy cream-coloured head. Alright look. I like the reddish tinge to it.

Massively smoky and woody on the nose. Smells quite a bit like a forest fire. Slightly meaty, but mostly wood. Not too overwhelming or muddy, just nice handle on it.

Taste is very malty, which kind of mars it a bit. Smoke is noticeable but not quite as strong or complex as on the nose. Kind of unpleasant sweetness with smoke floating on top of it. SPicy wood, with more spice than smoke coming through. Bit incoherent and a bit disappointing.

Decent body; bit of carbonation feel through but not too much.

Has a weird candy taste hanging around here. Not nearly enough smoke on the palate but there's enough there to throw it a bit off-kilter. I've had better.

Serving type: on-tap

12-22-2012 06:44:57 | More by laituegonflable

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4.18/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

On-tap at the GABS festival in Melbourne. This was called a "Smoked Manuka Beer", brewed with manuka leaves smoked over manuka sawdust.

I'll say this much: it isn't much to look at. A dirty amber gold colour, hazed with some chunky residue. Body is very light, and the head is almost non-existent, forming just some insubstantial yellowish bubbles. Pretty average looking brew.

Lovely aroma, however. It's an odd smoke/floral amalgam, giving fragrant honey notes laced with piquant bright smoke and sweet barbeque aromas. Lovely stuff.

Light floral entry on the palate, with some hints of rose petals, before the big smoky, gooey, fatty bacon and barbeque characters come in on the mid-palate. Finish is clean and lip-smacking, making a direct exit to a delicious beer. Feel is extremely light and could use more depth.

Such a weird amalgam, and one that works so well. I love what they tried here, and even better is the fact that they pulled off the attempt with such success. Great stuff.

Serving type: on-tap

08-05-2012 08:28:22 | More by lacqueredmouse