Church-Key Holy Smoke Scotch Ale - Church-Key Brewing Company

thehyperduck

Ontario (Canada)

4.08/5  rDev +15.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

650 mL bottle from the LCBO listed at 6.2%; best before Mar. 6 2013. I've generally heard good things about Church Key, but since I live outside of their distribution range, finding any of their offerings has been a tad troublesome. Grabbing this one while shopping in London was thus a bit of a no-brainer, but the fact that I haven't tried a new smoked beer in the better part of a year also factored into the decision. Poured into a mug.

Pours a brownish cola colour - seemingly opaque at first, but holding it up under the light reveals the liquid's inherent clarity (and some ruby red tinges). Topped with one finger of light beige-coloured head that recedes relatively rapidly, leaving behind a dense collar around the edge, and a thin, wispy film at the surface. The aroma is rich and enticing, with plenty of roasted malts and molasses underlying notes of bacon, glazed ham, peat and hickory smoke, with a faint hint of coffee grinds that is difficult to separate from the rest of the bouquet.

This is tasty stuff, with a wide range of different flavours mingling and (more importantly) complementing each other nicely. Roasted malts, caramel and molasses come through first, followed by some ambiguous hints of dark fruit. A few peaty notes. The smoke is only an ephemeral presence at first, but surges forth in the finish, imparting hints of smoked wood and bacon/pork that linger into the aftertaste. The flavour definitely improves a little as it warms. On the lighter side of medium-bodied, with mild carbonation that gives this brew a smooth, slick mouthfeel. Very drinkable, but more suited to washing down your dinner than sessioning.

Final Grade: 4.08, a solid A-. Church Key's Holy Smoke Scotch Ale is one of the more interesting brews I've had in the last month or so. The smokiness is not as intense or meaty as in genuine rauchbiers, but it's still a constant, distracting presence throughout the flavour profile, which I feel makes this particular brew a perfect introduction to smoked beers for any interested newbies. I enjoyed this bottle on its own, but this is the sort of beer that is really begging to be paired up with some sort of hearty pork/beef dish. All in all, this was a fabulous OCB offering that I wish was available locally! I'll definitely keep an eye out for more stuff from this brewer, and would eagerly encourage others to sample this.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 20:44:37 | More by thehyperduck

Long813

Nova Scotia (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -1.1%

05-17-2013 01:47:14 | More by Long813

FondueVoodoo

British Columbia (Canada)

3.56/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

thanks to Cattersley for this trade.

A: First to note - sharp white graphic on the bottle is striking and sophisticated. the ale poured a deep black brown and glows a deep garnet when held to the light. Capped off with a finger of velvety head - it settles to a solid ring around the glass.

S: Solid smoky peat, wet wood and wet hay, deeply earthy and reminiscent of a old animal barn.

T: Reflects the smell to a T - Peaty smoke with plenty of wet wood and that barnyard funkiness. Very powerful smokiness that somewhat overshadows some of the other scotch ale notes, but as the palette adjusts to the smokiness notes caramel and dark toffee notes shine through.

M: Very subtle buzz of carbonation that supports the peaky smoke. A medium mouth feel that holds in the mouth.

O: A powerful smoky offering that pulls no punches - it's unabashedly forward in the smoky smell and taste and offers a deeply earthy and barnyard profile. It may be somewhat one sided, but does so boldly without attempting to be something it isn't.
Would be terrific with jerk chicken or bar-b-que steak, as a side dish.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 02:44:40 | More by FondueVoodoo

timiskin

Ontario (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev -8.2%

04-11-2013 16:55:08 | More by timiskin

BigGruntyThirst

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +5.9%

04-06-2013 00:36:35 | More by BigGruntyThirst

DarkForest

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -1.1%

04-04-2013 02:08:20 | More by DarkForest

Molson2000

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +20.1%

02-28-2013 23:12:38 | More by Molson2000

decimator

Ontario (Canada)

3.56/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

650ml bottle poured into a pint glass. ABV 6.2%.

A - Pours a dark cola brown but if exposed to light the colour is dark red. 1cm cream head reduced to a bubbly ring. Minimal lacing.

S - Smoke, roasted grains, earth. Not as smoky as a typical Rauchbier though.

T - Roasted grains, some caramel, some smoke, hint of bacon, mild tea notes in the finish. The smokiness isn't as present as in the aroma.

M - Medium-heavy carbonation, medium-heavy body, some creaminess, thinning finish.

O - A bit one dimensional but it is certainly drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

02-23-2013 02:45:02 | More by decimator

Kremlock

Ontario (Canada)

3.45/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3

A: Pours a deep brown with hues or red in it. Pours a 1/4 inch head that then settles to a thin film around the glass.

S: Peaty, smokey with hints of dates.

T: Peaty with a slight meaty taste to it. Some dates present, light maltyness present through the peat smoke.

M: Thin, watery. A bit of puckering on the tongue.

O. Lack of maltiness and thin watery body does not make it appealing.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2013 21:29:44 | More by Kremlock

polloenfuego

Ontario (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev +5.9%

02-16-2013 17:06:12 | More by polloenfuego

DaPan

Ontario (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev -8.2%

02-13-2013 03:52:22 | More by DaPan

ThinkAgain

Ontario (Canada)

1.75/5  rDev -50.6%

02-07-2013 02:21:53 | More by ThinkAgain

funkengruven

Ontario (Canada)

3.88/5  rDev +9.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

This is an interesting beer. It poured a dark brown with a bit of tan head that subsided quickly. Smell is sweet and smoky, rather nice. Flavor is very rich and full, sweet, malty and smoky, reminiscent of a peat smoked scotch whisky. Mouthfeel is smooth but a bit boozy.

This is unique but definitely pretty good. Worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2013 01:00:06 | More by funkengruven

mick303

Ontario (Canada)

3.95/5  rDev +11.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

650 mL bottle, 6.2% couldn't find a freshness date. Poured into a wine glass, colour is pretty much black dark brown, head recedes really quickly, leaving a slight film and a trace of lacing.

Smell is strongly suggestive of smoky and ash notes. Charred barley malt. Bonfires, maybe a trace of smoky dark fruit underneath. Burnt chestnuts. So earthy hoppiness but it is pretty buried. Together its pretty unique, a bit dominated.

Taste as expected has a bit smoky impact but it is far from being one-dimensional. A bit coastal and briny, with seashore fires, fishnets and a bit of lightness to it. Some of the char aspect but some really unique other flavours going on, with a slight sweetness also. Bitterness is pretty mild, lots of (heavy) roast malt profile. Finish is pleasantly smoky

Mouthfeel is moderate, heavily toasty, slick and smoky, a bit thin with a light carbonation. It does drink pretty well and could be considered refreshing despite its somewhat intense flavour. Really nice. Alcohol doesn't really come through.

I had heard this was a love-or-hate-it beer. I was pleasantly surprised. Smoked a nice amount to give it definite character, and would make a nice food paring, but not so much as to ruin the beer for my palate. Quite a cool flavour interplay, could use a bit more body, and maybe a bit dominated by the peat and char, but otherwise worth checking out.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 02:37:55 | More by mick303

FirstBrewsoon

Ohio

3/5  rDev -15.3%

01-05-2013 02:46:29 | More by FirstBrewsoon

Mama-Kail

1/5  rDev -71.8%

12-24-2012 02:36:06 | More by Mama-Kail

WeissBoy

Ontario (Canada)

3/5  rDev -15.3%

12-11-2012 05:14:12 | More by WeissBoy

EgadBananas

Louisiana

3.83/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to cattersley! He was wounded, but not dead!

Pours a dark brown with ruby edges. Given the circumstances, the slight ring of head and bubbles are beautiful! The aroma is meaty, smoky, and rich with caramel. Taste is sweet, somewhat nutty, smoky and with a mild bacon not. Not as robust as the aroma. Good feel overall.

Enjoyed this...love me a meaty, bacon smoked beer!

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 02:50:01 | More by EgadBananas

beerhunter13

Ontario (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev -8.2%

11-24-2012 15:07:47 | More by beerhunter13

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer looks smoked alright, but not charred. Despite the blackish colour a surprising amount of clarity is afforded; I'd liken it more to a shadow than a piece of onyx. It is underlined by sleek, polished brown highlighting. Its head is tinted the shade of dirty snow and, accordingly, melts all away.

The aroma smells less of actual smoke than it does smoldering pellets of hickory and mesquite wood; it's less the smell of a smoke-house than that of a kitchen with a wood-burning stove. Despite the first impressions of hickory and mesquite, the beer is far from 'Southwest' in style - it uses peat smoked malt after all and if the bouquet is to be placed anywhere in the world it's undoubtedly Scotland.

Besides that, roasted chocolate malt and hints of kettle caramelization lie just beneath the surface. The flavour, similar to the bouquet, is grounded in a tarry, roasted and rather heavy maltiness that is somewhat coffee-ish in character and has bold notes of carob. There is also a prominent amount of cured meat flavour (probably owing to the impression of hickory); it might deceive you into thinking it was brewed in a deli.

The smoky character is best described as 'smoldering' (a slow burning smoke with no flame - ironic, since peat burns quite fast). It doesn't seem like the result of a forest fire nor does it reek extensively of bacon. If anything, it's closest to a single malt scotch like Talisker or Laphroaig. It compromises not a single ounce of smoke and yet comes across a bit more approachable (and a bit less intimidating) than a bona fide rauchbier.

It's about damn time Church Key bottled Holy Smoke! I've enjoyed the beer for years on-tap but it'll be far more convenient now to keep my own stash at home (especially as this pairs so well, as one might imagine, with barbecued meats). The beer's peat-y scotch qualities make it an excellent candidate for slow sipping, although it is quenching enough to gulp right down. Either way, it's always greatly enjoyed.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 20:50:08 | More by biegaman

cfalovo97

Ontario (Canada)

2/5  rDev -43.5%

11-06-2012 16:36:58 | More by cfalovo97

KrisDLSmith

Ontario (Canada)

3.5/5  rDev -1.1%

10-12-2012 04:48:52 | More by KrisDLSmith

MattPS

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +13%

08-26-2012 20:41:50 | More by MattPS

Wordslinger

Ontario (Canada)

3/5  rDev -15.3%

05-05-2012 08:09:52 | More by Wordslinger

JohnnyBarman

Ontario (Canada)

3.45/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Volo.

Poured into a nonic. Dark brown-ruby, left a fairly sturdy head with a thin ring surviving the first few minutes.

Nose is dark malt, bread, smoke, a bit of meat and dark fruit.

Nice little smoked beer, good character to it. Smokey, but not oppressively so, as the brew has some decent malt character, caramel, chocolate and fruit to it as well. Very tasty.

Thinner bodied, slightly harsh carbonation.

Decent smoked brew, nice find on tap. Would be fun to BBQ with.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2012 22:53:14 | More by JohnnyBarman