So, I’m not doing the thing with the religious terminology anymore, it was stupid.
Last night I had a Vampire Slayer from Clown Shoes. It was $8 for a snifter at Petrol Station in Houston, TX. Vampire Slayer is the beer that uses vampire killing stakes and holy water to smoke the malt, along with hickory and ash. It came out black like a good smokebeer often does, with a quarter inch thick dark tan head (George Hamilton tan). The smoky smell fell into the mild category along with the smoky taste, only bringing in a 3 out of 7 on the smokestack rating. The overall taste was flavorful, solid, and robust, but the smoke was just one voice in a noisy crowd. And after about 5 big boy sips, my taste buds checked out. It doesn’t bother me, but I often find that I can’t pick out too many flavors after I get halfway through some of these beers, even with a palate cleansing glass of water next to me. Anyway, it’s a middle of the road smokebeer, final score 4 out of 7.
| Brewer | Clown Shoes |
| Beer Name | Vampire Slayer Imperial American Stout |
| Brewer’s Description | In a world full of uncertainty, hardships, and people trying to hold us back, do we need vampires? Clown Shoes says, “No! Die, monsters, die!” Incorporating dark malts, holy water, and malt smoked locally with hickory, ash, and vampire killing stakes. |
| Food Pairings | Blood sausage (unconfirmed) |
| Brewer Location | Ipswich, MA |
| Alcohol content by volume | 10.0% |
| IBU (International Bitterness Units) | 89 |
| Beer opacity rate 1 – 7 (light – dark) | 7 |
| Smell smoke? 1 – 7 (No – George Burns) | 3 |
| Sausage detection? Y or N | No |
| Smokepower taste: 1 – 7 Smokestacks | 3 |
| Overall Happiness Rating: 1-7 (low – high) | 4 |
Lots to choose from here:
SmokeBeerMinistry 