Smoke & Dagger - Jack's Abby Brewing

dbrauneis

New Jersey

4.01/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Served in a bottle at The Whiskey Priest in Boston, MA

A: Pours a clear dark brown in color with some moderate amounts of visible carbonation and some ruby red highlights. The beer has a finger tall sudsy light tan head that quickly redues to a medium patch of very thin film and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Light to moderate amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate aromas of smoked malts (you can definitely pick out the fact that it was smoked with beechwood) with lighter notes of chocolate malts and coffee. Very light notes of earthy hops.

T: Upfront there are moderate flavors of chocolate malts and smoked malts, with just the most subtle hints of a BBQ pit. There is a light hint of nuttiness and some light caramel sweetness as well. Next come the flavors of roasted coffee and the touch of dark chocolate. There are light amounts of earthy hops in the finish which give the beer a light amount of bitterness which fades pretty quickly.

M: Medium bodied with a moderate amount of gentle carbonation. Smooth with a light amount of dryness in the finish.

O: I enjoyed this beer - the smoke flavors are quite pleasant and really add to the beer without being overwhelming or having too much of an iodine flavor. The beer was easy to drink and I had no problem putting down a 22 oz bottle on my own - in fact, I wish there was a little more of it to drink. Would pair very nicely with meats.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 17:53:50 | More by dbrauneis

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

4.43/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle from Boston Wine Exchange, 500ml into a tulip. Bottled March 7, 2013.

Dark brown, tan head. Light roast and chocolate on the nose, along with some lightly bready and doughy notes. Taste is chocolatey, roasty, lightly sweet, smoke is peripheral. Lager yeast qualities come through. Medium light body, perfectly medium light carbonation. More of a schwarzbier, and perhaps the best I've ever had.

Serving type: bottle

05-02-2013 20:47:39 | More by liamt07

sommersb

Tennessee

3.89/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 4

Tasted On: 04-22-2013
Freshness: Bottled 02-18-2013
Packaging: 500ml brown bottle, pry-cap
Glassware: Willi Becher
Purchased: Received in a trade

Thanks to DrewShal9 for this trade!

Appearance is a clear and dark brown beer, nearly black, with red edges on the glass when held to light. The huge off-white head is frothy and has a great deal of retention, plus an excellent ring of lace.

Smells have a big dose of toasted grains, as well as smoked malts. The campfire smokiness is not as heavy as most rauchbiers - this one is more tame in the smoke, with some sweetness in the aroma. Also has some wood and vanilla notes.

Taste starts with smoked malts; meaty like most smoked beers. Also has earthy/woody characteristics, and bittersweet chocolate.

The mouthfeel is creamy with a moderate carbonation. The finish is dry and tastes of coffee-like bitterness and some unpleasant chalky textures.

Overall a curious melding of several styles; schwarzbier, porter and rauchbier. I think they all worked together very well, but this is kind of one-time beer that I wouldn't probably seek out again.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 03:13:35 | More by sommersb

angrybabboon

Rhode Island

4.05/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Consumed 4/16/13

Appearance: Dark, dark brown with some clarity around the edges - creamy, light tan head - keeps a solid cap and leaves some nice streaks and spots of lacing

Smell: Moderately smoky, with a nice malt base - nicely malty, with a great level of chocolate malts and caramel - some nice chocolate and roasty coffee - some hints of hops in the background

Taste: Nicely balanced with chocolate and smoke - smoky wood, roasty coffee, dark chocolate, cocoa, nuts, caramelized malts, and caramel - smoky and roasty without going overboard, very nice - some grassy hops - medium level of bitterness - clean, especially considering the smoke

Mouthfeel: Medium body, remarkably smooth, nicely carbonated, oddly clean finish

Overall: You can really taste the dagger!

I split a bottle of this with Goblinmunkey7 roughly a year ago, and this bottle is even better than I remember. There are some nice smoke and chocolate notes here, in an impressive amount of balance. Another winner from Jack's Abby.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 05:11:00 | More by angrybabboon

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Who says that traditional lager makers lack imagination or are passe in taste. Jack's Abby puts on a full-out display of charisma and quality in this smoky dark ale that borrows influences from German Black Beers, Rauchbiers, Dunkels and Baltic Porters for a refined taste that's highly complex for its drinkability.

The stealth-like "Smoke & Dagger" pours with the mystery-shrouded dark brown hue that's only pierced with crystal clear highlights of mahogany and chestnut. Ats it quietly releases a light khaki foam, the beer captures the eye with a frothy whipped topping that retains firmly and laces the glass with intermittent and artistic patterns.

A ton of malt and phenol complexes converge in aromas for blend that keeps speaking, "smoky chocolate". With the air of lightly scorched barley, the scent hinges on toffee, caramel and brown sugar. Grounded notes of toast, coffee, heavy whipping cream form the underpinnings of a classic dark lager.

It's smooth taste relaxes the taste buds with medium malt sweetness of the same caramel and toffee that the nose promises. More earthy and rustic notes of coffee, woodish hops, and a light alcohol & peppercorn spice ushers in a balancing bitterness to close. All this flavor is wrapped in a cocoon of heavy whipping cream and beechwood campfire.

It's creamy. It's dry, It slices; it dices- it Juliennes! The beer is a Swiss Army knife in that it starts creamy and rich, but turns roasty and powdery midway through before diving into a drinkable sensibility to close. Creamy like milkshake and bitter like coffee- the beer spans the gamut of mouthfeel descriptor en route to a grainy-sweet alcohol warmth to finish.

With a touch of confusion, I can see why the beer doesn't settle on a set style when a blend of well-tested recipes will obviously work better. Jack's Abby proves that there's a ton of imagination that if not bound by the "rules" of beer making.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 05:26:51 | More by BEERchitect

nataku00

California

3.8/5  rDev -5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Bottle poured into a tulip glass. Beer pours a dark cola brown, bordering on black, with a finger and a half of tan loose foam head. Head dissipates after a few minutes to a slick of bubbles and a collar of foam, leaving some light lacing. Decent carbonation visible at the edges of the glass.

Nose is smoked malt, roasted malt, coffee.

Taking a sip, typical rauchbier flavors of smoked and roasted malt. A touch of coffee and chocolate as well. Finish is all smoke.

Light body with some decent soft carbonation. Easier to drink rauchbier, with the smoke being subtle but flavorful and not in your face.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 03:38:03 | More by nataku00

PicoPapa

Connecticut

3.93/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16.9oz bottle. Pours a dark cola color with very little head. Some lacing. The aroma is rich with some smoke, roasted malts, and earth. The taste is a nice mix of smoke, roasted malts with some earth and hints of chocolate . Has somewhat of a cola taste at the end. Nice roasty/smokey flavor. Heavy mouthfeel. This beer certainly does taste like a mix of a Schwarzbier and a Smoked Porter. Nicely done. Overall, a great autumn beer but it drinks just fine year round.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2013 17:37:59 | More by PicoPapa

BEERMILER12

Maine

4.01/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a slightly hazy dark mahogany color with 2 fingers of tan head

S: Roasted and smoked malts, some dark fruits, and a hint of earthy hops and coffee

T: Follows the nose. Starts off with a very light smoke and roasted malts, followed by dark fruits, earthy hops, and a hint of coffee and chocolate

M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation

O: A nice, easy-going smoked schwarzbier with a restrained smokiness that goes well with the roasted malts and dark fruits. At under 6%, this is an easy-to-drink dark beer

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 01:43:52 | More by BEERMILER12

tkelley

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Bottle poured into a tulip glass.

A - really dark but not quite black, red hues. Pale, lingering head with moderate lacing.

N - woody and smoky. Chocolate roast too.

T - close to the smell. Nice and chocolatey roasted character with obvious smoke features. An appropriate level of smoke.

M - goes down easy. Medium to low carbonation. Sits easily in the mouth with being an agitator.

O - really well done. Love the combo of smoke and chocolate. Would be a great camping beer.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2013 23:40:00 | More by tkelley

AnitaBrewski

Massachusetts

4.16/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I love everything about this beer. I love that Jack's Abby makes such wonderfully unique lagers, and that it's a neighborhood brewery for those of us in the Boston area. The 1/2 liter bottle and label are beautiful, and the color and aroma are great. What's exceptional for me was the mouthfeel, so very smooth and silky, and the taste is great. Drinking this beer was a treat!

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2013 23:06:13 | More by AnitaBrewski

jdhilt

New Hampshire

3.95/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours with a four-finger, khaki head that fades slowly leaving some lace. Black color, hints of mahogany highlights. Light-medium carbonation and medium bodied. Nose is light smoke and chocolate and flavor is smooth baked chocolate with hints of smoke. $3.50 for a 500ml bottle, from Giles Fine Wine Arlington, MA.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 21:21:48 | More by jdhilt

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dark brown and sporting a friendly, pale tan head. Steady retention leaves a few worm trails of foam. Neat German influenced (I'm assuming) .5 liter bottle.

Smells like woody cocoa nibs and mild smoke. Tastes like it smells: gentle smoke wraps around smooth roast malt. A very gentle beer. The smoke is present but not overpowering and the roast malt is dark and mildly chocolatey but never acidic or charred.

I just found out that there's a peanut butter of this beer which I now must have.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 14:57:39 | More by donkeyrunner

oline73

Maryland

4.13/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a goblet.

Appearance: The beer pours a dark brown color with some red light coming through at the edges. There is a half finger of off white head that fades rather quickly.

Smell: Not as roasty as I would have expected, but the roast compliments everything else nicely. I'm getting bready malt sweetness along with some dark fruit. Just a bit nutty with mild smoke.

Taste: Not quite as nice as the smell, but still quite good. Some bready malt with dark chocolate and smokey notes. I'm getting mild caramel and dark fruit. The finish is slightly bitter with a nice smoke to it.

Mouthfeel: The body is medium with very full carbonation and a slightly dry finish.

Overall: I really enjoyed this beer. I was super easy to drink and quite interesting. I would definitely have more in the future.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 01:25:01 | More by oline73

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

4.35/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

4 oz pour at Jack’s Abby in a tasting glass at cellar temperature.

L – Brown color with a 2-finger frothy tan head. Great retention and really nice lacing. Clear with a good amount of bubbles as far as I can see.

S – Chocolate malt and a good amount of smokiness as well.

T – Starts off sweet with chocolate and caramel malt and gains spicy smokiness that is almost reminiscent of rye. As the spice mellows at the finish, smooth and sweet cocoa becomes apparent.

F – Light-to-medium-bodied with great prickling carbonation, a mouth-coating but crisp feel, and a sweet finish. Sweet chocolaty malt lingers nicely.

O – This is a great smoked beer. It smells nice and tastes great with much more complexity than expected from the nose. This is really tasty and very drinkable, especially for a smoky beer like this.

Serving type: on-tap

12-30-2012 23:51:49 | More by BlackBelt5112203

LeRose

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

First, I was happy to discover that this beer is not over the top with aggressive smoke or heavy with the roasted malts. Sometimes less is more.

Poured a deep brown with two fingers of rich creamy tan head that thinned quickly, but plenty of foam clung to the glass. Aroma was a whiff of smoke, maybe a little malt underneath. Not much there, really. But the flavor really popped in a nice little surprise package. Definite smokiness, definite roasted malts, some chocolate tones in the dark sweet area, nothing dominates and very well balanced. A little bitter on the finish, but carbonated well enough to brighten things up and make it lively. Crisp and clean. A very balanced, enjoyable brew.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 01:23:03 | More by LeRose

dasenebler

Maine

4.15/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Jack's Abby Smoke & Dagger
12/17/12
.5L bottle, no date

Not really black, more of a dark mahogany with reddish highlights. Modest head dissipates quickly, average lacing. (3.5)

Aroma is clean, though very lagery. Some earthy notes and subtle hops, but that's it really. (3)

Rich chocolate malts and a moderate level of smoke on the palate. Not nearly as smoky as a Schlenkerla, however. Bready, light-roast coffee. Not sweet at all, with a dry, crisp finish. Smooth bitterness complements the malt character without overwhelming the subtleties. Carbonation is medium-low, with a soft, lilting mouthfeel. A very authentic and elegant lager. (4.5, 4.5)

This is one of the best American-made lagers I've had. I love the dryness combined with the malt complexities, all in a highly drinkable package. The other Jack's Abby brews I've had have been somewhat underwhelming, but Smoke & Dagger is excellent. (4.5)

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2012 22:53:00 | More by dasenebler

homebrew311

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Received in trade with cbeer88- thanks man! Appearance is a deep auburn with crimson highlight, layer of tan head with plenty of sticky lacing. The nose is like a campfire, heavily smoked with layers of hickory, ash, and roasted malts. The taste meets the palate with some caramel malt character which brings a little sweetness before the smoke cuts through. Roasted malts and smoke take turns as it finishes with heavy woody smoke character. This is a very flavorful and smokey rauchbier, lots of depth in the flavor. The mouthfeel is somewhat thin with moderate to high carbonation. Overall, a winner, especially if smoked beers are your thing.

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2012 04:57:27 | More by homebrew311

BigCheese

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle purchased right at the brewery.

A: Pours a dark ruby brown, near black. Medium sized tan head. Some decent lacing.

S: Toasted and roasted malts, got an english nutty bready smell.

T: Caramel, Molasses, brown bread. Roasted malts. Slightly smoky/peaty and a tad salty ham flavor. Some chocolate notes too. Its got a malt bitterness to it in a robust porter kinda way. Espresso notes/dark coco mixed with smoke.

M: High carbonation, lighter mouthfeel, still got a decent creamyness to it. Definitely sessionable and has that refreshing lager character.

O: Havent had many black lagers or rauchbiers, but I like this one. Theres a smoky aspect but its not overpowering. A solid session brew that I think would be easy to like.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2012 02:32:04 | More by BigCheese

Maxwell

Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beer is named after Jack’s Abby’s two brewery cats, Smoke and Dagger. It pours a very dark brown color, bordering on black, but sits in the glass as just plain clean black with a light white fluffy head that has the barest hints of tan in it. On the nose, the beer smells nicely smoked with rich beechwood notes and slight chocolate and black coffee. The beer smells very much of woodsy smoke, but the smell still carries the clean lager aromatics that are expect from the style. I was hoping for a little more pungency, but now that the beer is before me I think too much smell would off-put its lager qualities and ruin the beer. On the taste, the beer is richly layered with woodsy smoke. In the initial gulp there is big Beachwood notes that are slowly enveloped with rich smoke and then roasted chocolate malts, and then rich dark coffee, all the while shinning with the rich complexities of the beechwood. In the middle of the taste the chocolate malts do provide a slight burp of sweet that borders on strange, but is quickly enveloped by the other complexities of the beer, and dutifully managed. Citrus is also present in the taste as a faint ghost that haunts the latter half of the swallow. The aftertaste of this beer is light with Beechwood smoke and hints of coffee, but nothing more. This beer is meaty with flavor, and deliciously easy to sip. On the mouth, the beer feels thin, crisp, and refreshing, as all lagers should. Carbonation is effervescent but not prickly, working to nicely cleanse the palate and ready it for another sip. After each sip the mouth is left only slightly dry with woodsy smoke and with the faintest hints of sticky saliva griming the tongue and roof of the mouth with the sweet smoke taste. Overall this beer is another success from Jack’s Abby, I think I like it more than the version brewed with coffee, as this beer stands perfectly on its own, and I feel that the coffee cuts through some of the complex flavors of this beer. This beer is very drinkable and completely worthy of a try, with great locally sourced ingredients and an even better taste. It even pairs well with Gorgonzola cheese! Try this beer!

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 20:20:08 | More by Maxwell

Dools9

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Bottle dated 10/17/12 poured into a shaker pint.

A: Pours a reddish brown, with ruby hues. Khaki, two finger head. Nice, clinging lace is left on the glass.

S: Good mix of roasted barley malt, light smoke, chocalte malt, and some caramel sweetness.

T: Starts off with a good dose of smokey roasted malt and follows with a chocolate and vanilla cream sweetness. Finishes with a light espresoo like dryness, mildly bitter bite from the roasted malt, with a lingering roasted, smokey char aftertaste. The smoke is a bit subdued, but as the beer warms it becomes more pronounced.

M: Lighter bodied, could use a bit more heft, soft mouthfeel, carbonation is right down the middle. Very easy going down, good drinkability.

O: Solid brew, finds the right balance of smoke, roast, and sweetness. Drinks more like a smokey porter to me but nonetheless, another solid offering from JA.

Serving type: bottle

11-09-2012 16:37:02 | More by Dools9

jondeelee

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Smoke & Dagger opens to a rich, smoky, malty nose that bears instant resemblance to freshly-ground coffee, smoky peat, and campfire made of pitchy pine branches. Touches of ash and tobacco add more earthiness. A good layer of caramel, brown sugar, and coffee cream helps temper the dark, smoky notes, joined by light touches of chocolate, and lighter touches of cherry, fig, and berry fruit esters, these latter notes fading deep into the background the way good spices complement a meal without being immediately noticeable. Good layers of brown bread, floury baguette, yeasty wheat dough, and toast crust add further dimension and complexity. As a whole, the nose is very nice, featuring a well-balanced mix of sugars, breads, and piney resins, with a superb smoky peat overtone that plays well off of the darker notes.

On the tongue, the beer opens with a nice, immediate shot of campfire smoke, ash, tobacco, smoky peat, and coffee, quickly joined by strong caramel, cream, and brown sugar threads, and instantly recalls creamed coffee sipped in a smoke-filled bar. The piney notes from the hops blend nicely with the smoke and ash to further amplify the campfire/smoky peat notes, balanced nicely enough that they play well with the cream and sugar, and don’t overwhelm the palate. Brown breads and yeasty dough add further texture. In subsequent sips the finer nuanced of this initial flavor fade slightly, but a good coffee, cream, caramel, and tobacco flavor still remains. The latter part of the mouthful in all cases becomes more heavily ashy as the sugars die off, and the aftertaste is largely ash and tobacco, with some lingering sugars and creams. Mouthfeel is a slick medium-light to medium, and carbonation is medium.

Overall, this is very nice fare, boasting a well-rounded, nicely balanced, and flavorful body that is everything a schwarzbier should be, with a tantalizing touch of smoky peat added that pushes the flavors to wonderful heights. It’s not necessarily a beer that brings anything new to the style, but instead prefers to set itself aside by being simply a finely-crafted example, and a model of understated perfection in craft.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2012 20:45:40 | More by jondeelee

ppoitras

Massachusetts

4.4/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

16.9oz bottle purchased as a single from somewhere localish.

Poured into my 2008 Pioneer stein, formed a 1 1/2" tan head over the slightly cloudy orangey brown brew. Pillowy head lasts nicely, with chunky lacing. Aroma is sweet and smoky.

Taste begins with a shot of smoke, goes quite sweet in the middle, coupled with a shot of citrus, and then closes with a light bitterness. Mouthfeel is smooth, and drinkability is great. Seemed maybe too sweet, but it came together nicely for me in the end.

Serving type: bottle

10-14-2012 18:30:31 | More by ppoitras

cpetrone84

Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev -3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

pour is dark black with a tan head and some larger bubbles. Nose is light malt and chocolate notes with a light grain and herbal hop. Taste is a good, full flavored dark chocolate and light roast to it. Stout like favors with a lighter body and grainy hoppy finish. Dry clean finish and well carbonated.

Serving type: bottle

10-09-2012 18:35:48 | More by cpetrone84

boilermakerbrew

Indiana

4.13/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A- Pours a slightly off-black with subtle red hues when held up to the light. Medium 2 finger head that is tan. Retention and lacing are very good.

S- More stouty than smoked. Heavy smoke flavor mixed with semi-sweet malt flavors. Chocolate malt is prominent.

T- Not far from the typical porter here. Little hints of smoke flavors nibble in on the edge. Good dark malt flavors with chocolate being very prominent. Solid mix of flavors with a slight bite on the end form the dark malt flavor profile.

M- About the average lager feel. Light and carbonated, easy to drink, and not terribly filling. Great session lager here.

Overall, way above my expectations for another smoked beer. I usually hate smoked beer, but this was enjoyable with its many stout-like qualities.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2012 00:39:00 | More by boilermakerbrew

mdaschaf

Washington

4/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to wtfdic for this one!

A: Pours a deep brown color with a two finger tan head on top. Great head retention with thin lacing forming all around the glass.

S: Definitely some chocolate malt with hints of coffee, faint smoke.

T: Light smoky flavor mixed with some dark chocolate backed up by a bit of earthy hops.

M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Pretty smooth.

O: Another solid beer from JA. Though it would be smokier, but it wasn't over the top and blended nicely with the rest of the flavors.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2012 01:18:40 | More by mdaschaf