This is good. Even after 6 years of being held up in the supply chain, Otto finally made it into the tabernacle. Victory Brewing whipped this one up back in 2011, Otto Ale, and not until 2017 did this corked smoked Belgian dubbel make it into the hands of SmokeBeerMinistry, for which we are thankful. This sweet smelling, and moderately smoky beer reminds me of some Colorado renditions of smoked Belgians, which suggests that it would benefit me to read a mash bill or two, but I won’t, too busy, at least I won’t before this gets posted. In the short term, I’ll just keep typing and pretend we’re all getting the full 100% (emoji not available). I also had some wine tonight already. And regardless of my state of disrepair, I only seem to struggle with the decision of giving this beer a 5.9 or a 6… We’ll go with 5.9, I guess I’m a glass is half empty kind of drinker. Victory really hit the last two smokebeers just about right on the nose (Earth & Flame and Scarlet), and I look forward to what will find it’s way to us in the future. Overall smokestack rating on a 1 – 7 scale of smokestacks; Otto Ale = 5.9 smokestacks
| Brewer | Victory Brewing |
| Beer Name | Otto Ale |
| Brewer’s Description | Bill Covaleski and Ron Barchet, Victory co-founders, developed the recipe for the new smoked malt dubbel based on their experience with the style during a trip they took to Bamberg, Germany in 1987. In order to create a deliciously palatable smoked beer, Bill and Ron decided to combine the sometimes-overpowering qualities of the smoky rauch style with Belgian caramel malt, which yields a perfectly harmonized final flavor. “The complimentary flavors of smoked malt and Belgian yeast seemed like an obvious combination,” said Bill. “As far as we know, no one has bothered to put them together until now.” Victory Otto Ale is made up of smoked, Munich and Belgian caramel malt, German hops and Trappist yeast. Alcohol by volume is 8.1%. |
| Food Pairings | Hamburgers |
| Brewery Location | Downingtown, PA |
| Alcohol content by volume | 8.1% |
| IBU (International Bitterness Units) | na |
| Beer opacity rate 1 – 7 (light – dark) | 3.3 |
| Smell smoke? 1 – 7 (No – George Burns) | 3 |
| Smokepower taste: 1 – 7 Smokestacks | 5 |
| Sausage detection? Y or N | N |
| Beer thickness 1-7 (water – used motor oil) | 3 |
| Overall Happiness: 1 – 7 (sad – happy) | 5.9 |
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