El Bait Shop gets the nod on this day. Note to brewers: Try not to let your beer get upstaged by the bar. Actually, El Bait Shop isn’t all that unusual considering how many beer halls there are out there nowadays, but their staff seems pretty good. I happened to walk into the bar during an obnoxious wedding after party and an even more obnoxious softball league, but still managed to land two seats at the bar with knowledgeable and attentive staff. They managed to ward off the ‘overwhelmed bartender tunnel vision’ and methodically addressed every request expeditiously, including tasters. And what about the beer? Thirst quenching ( = watery). Smoky campfire = good. The sausage flavors may just be in my mind. Middle of the road smokebeer. I would drink another. Final score 4 out of 7 smokestacks.
| Brewer | Backpocket Brewing |
| Beer Name | Iowa’s Swabain Hall Smoked Brown Ale |
| Brewer’s Description | A Smoked Brown Ale perfect for pairing with hog roasts. Iowa’s Swabain Hall sourced pork from local Iowa pigs, which can be best described as “Craft Pork”. A smoky ale that plays extremely nice with most things you’d put on your grill. Slight sweet, roasty flavor that blends with a distinct campfire smoke aroma. Some have said they taste a little bacon flavor, but that could be because their eyes see the picture of one of Carl Blake’s award winning hogs on the label. |
| Food Pairings | Craft pork roasts |
| Brewer Location | Coralville, Iowa |
| Alcohol content by volume | 4.8% |
| Beer opacity rate 1 – 7 (light – dark) | 4 |
| Smell smoke? 1 – 7 (No – George Burns) | 4 |
| Sausage detection? Y or N | Yes, watery sausage |
| Smokepower taste: 1 – 7 Smokestacks | 5 |
| Overall Happiness: 1 – 7 (sad – happy) | 4 |
For more info:
SmokeBeerMinistry 