Smoked & Oaked Belgian-Style Ale - Epic Brewing Co.

alysmith4

District of Columbia

3.43/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I got this beer as a birthday gift, and was finally brave enough to try it the other night. I had a bad experience with scotch once, and just can't get past that taste and smell. Unfortunately, this beer was very scotch-like (which for most people is probably a good thing!), so I can't say I enjoyed it. I do think it's a well-crafted beer however, despite my aversion to it.

Serving type: bottle

08-17-2012 17:53:13 | More by alysmith4

Jmamay22

New York

3.83/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

Beer pours a hazy caramel brown with a thin khaki head. It smells of candied sugar, caramel and peaty smoke with a very slight yeasty and fruity background. A very unique scent.

The beer mixes the flavor of scotch and the qualities of a Belgian ale well. The beer begins with a flavor of caramel and candied apple. The smoke comes into play midway through and plays well with the candied sugar flavor. Even if only imagined there is a peat like finish leaving me to believe there was use of scotch barrels. Unfortunately the mouthfeel is a little thin and I would have preferred emphasis on the Belgian style with a greater level of carbonation. Would be niceif it was bottle conditioned with cor and cage, but that would likely increase the price and may not currently be possible at this brewery.

A unique and enjoyable brew. Along with the sage saison, I am beginning to enjoy this breweries unique style.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2013 22:10:56 | More by Jmamay22

aztraz

Sweden

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%

06-02-2013 08:12:14 | More by aztraz

InspectorBob

New Jersey

4/5  rDev +3.4%

05-29-2013 17:32:43 | More by InspectorBob

jsmith6051

California

4.5/5  rDev +16.3%

05-24-2013 01:17:10 | More by jsmith6051

nick_asian

Nevada

4.5/5  rDev +16.3%

05-19-2013 07:07:00 | More by nick_asian

MoistPope

California

3.25/5  rDev -16%

05-17-2013 15:48:38 | More by MoistPope

rhhjr

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +9.8%

05-15-2013 12:07:48 | More by rhhjr

Laklimell

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +9.8%

05-07-2013 01:08:37 | More by Laklimell

ejimhof

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -22.5%

05-05-2013 23:00:32 | More by ejimhof

JohnnieNepal

Michigan

4/5  rDev +3.4%

04-29-2013 02:20:43 | More by JohnnieNepal

kmahe

Washington

4.25/5  rDev +9.8%

04-22-2013 06:33:21 | More by kmahe

ralphw56

Nevada

4.5/5  rDev +16.3%

04-19-2013 21:54:35 | More by ralphw56

bulldogg915

Wyoming

4.5/5  rDev +16.3%

04-14-2013 03:58:22 | More by bulldogg915

bcostner1

Tennessee

4.19/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

A: Burnt orange with reddish hues. Khaki head that sticks around for a while.

S: Smoke, booze, vanilla, mild yeast.

T: Sweet caramel, vanilla, mild bourbon, candi sugar, molasses, a little oak, bacon and smoke on the back end. Nice combo.

M: Sticky, viscous, full, and satisfying. Booze mildly detectable but not abrasively so.

Overall, this is another solid offering from Epic. I would definitely have it again.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 23:30:56 | More by bcostner1

Devinph

California

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%

04-05-2013 05:26:40 | More by Devinph

Gobzilla

California

3.5/5  rDev -9.6%

03-28-2013 07:40:03 | More by Gobzilla

gunpwdr

Virginia

2/5  rDev -48.3%

03-20-2013 20:55:24 | More by gunpwdr

mrshoes

Georgia

4.25/5  rDev +9.8%

03-15-2013 20:12:02 | More by mrshoes

StonedTrippin

Colorado

3.8/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

a smoked Belgian? I wasn't sure what to make of this one, a seemingly strange fusion between the german rauch style and the Belgian yeast was sure to be strange, and this indeed is a stranger. pours a light brown shade, cloudy, with only a thin film of tan suds. the nose is Belgian yeasty, some bright plantain fruity flavors, but also that classic biscuit dry crumbly spicy teacake sort of vibe. plenty of smoke, sweeter smoke, some toffee and caramel, nutty too like a good brittle. the oak isn't as strong in the nose as it is in the taste, the whole back end of this is whiskey soaked and really vanilla heavy, especially as it warms. the smoke flavor is rather mild and despite my hesitance, actually matches up very well with the Belgian yeast. the alcohol is nowhere to be found, which is nice, it allows the complex flavors to not be disturbed. the finish is long and yeasty, with a campfire feel. low carbonation is still just enough, and the texture is soft. overall a very interesting combination of flavors, im not sure its balanced perfectly, but I really like the idea behind this one. went well with some cheese steal pizza, and I can think of a range of other food pairings. for the adventurous palate.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 16:40:28 | More by StonedTrippin

SocalKicks

California

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%

03-08-2013 04:03:55 | More by SocalKicks

roostor07

Minnesota

2.75/5  rDev -28.9%

03-07-2013 15:41:42 | More by roostor07

jdhugeloser

California

4/5  rDev +3.4%

02-09-2013 18:34:12 | More by jdhugeloser

Lugenbeast

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -9.6%

02-06-2013 15:18:59 | More by Lugenbeast

avisong

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%

01-13-2013 03:06:18 | More by avisong