Against the Grain’s Mac Fanny Baw (bottle) ain’t so bad. A nice campfire smoke taste greets you at the first sip although the smoke smells are more hidden. Bitter flavors are in there too. Then, as I sat there watching TV, drinking this beer, and jotting down fleeting thoughts so I could right this review, I noticed that my hand was reaching for the beer less and less often. Barrel power in this beer is super low (a complete 180 from this beer back when I had it on tap) garnering only 2 barrel power points. This beer is dry. Good overall smell, which makes this a bit of an anomaly, why am I not more into you? There just isn’t enough going on in this one. And, now the booze is catching up. One more thing, the team at Against the Grain isn’t funny, they should just focus on beer. Overall, just below average at 3.8 smokestacks (out of 7).
Here’s the review for the one on draft: https://smokebeerministry.wordpress.com/2013/01/08/against-the-grain-louisville-ky-smoke-2-out-of-7/
They probably need to figure out why this beer tastes so different over the years.
| Brewer | Against The Grain |
| Beer Name | Mac Fanny Baw |
| Brewer’s Description | Truly a ground breaking beer, this Barrel aged Rauchbier was an attempt to replicate the flavors present in Islay Scotch Whiskey. We used Munich malt as a base and added copious amounts of Beechwood and Peat smoked malt, which provides the intense smoky and earthy peat flavors found in Scotch. Then the addition of Alderwood smoked salt lends a crisp brininess that is reminiscent of the sea air in the Islay region of Scotland. Aged in used Angel’s Envy Bourbon Barrels to give an intense caramel, vanilla and whiskey flavor. |
| Food Pairings | Kentucky Fried Chicken, Hot Browns, Derby pie |
| Brewery Location | Louisville, KY (USA) |
| Alcohol content by volume | 8.5% |
| IBU (International Bitterness Units) | 25 |
| Beer opacity rate 1 – 7 (light – dark) | 2.75 |
| Smell smoke? 1 – 7 (No – George Burns) | 3 |
| Sausage detection? Y or N | Y |
| Smokepower taste: 1 – 7 Smokestacks | 4.9 |
| Beer thickness 1-7 (water – used motor oil) | 3 |
| Barrel Power 1-7 (in name only – burns nose) | 2 |
| Overall Happiness: 1 – 7 (sad – happy) | 3.8 |
Their website is ok:
http://www.atgbrewery.com/Menu/Beer/2/Smoke/2/Mac-FannyBaw/315
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