Cracked open this can and it smelled good. Not too smoky though. And it didn’t foam up and gush out of the can, which I was afraid of for some reason. Scotch ales are usually pretty high on the fizzy factor, and this one isn’t, thankfully. By the way, scotch ale is synonymous with wee heavy, and this can has both terms on the label. Both brewers are on the label too, but you can really only read one, Oliphant Brewing of Somerset, WI, who has been in the tabernacle before, and this is the first coming of Nine Mile Brewing of Bloomington, MN. Together the two collaborated to make this beer. It poured fine at first, but towards the bottom of the can out poured a couple of globs of congealed gelatin and yeast I guess, kinda gross, I’ve seen these before, and I drank them anyway, didn’t actually notice them when I drank it, so no big deal really, but unsightly if you ask me. The tastes that come through include dried fruits, cherries, figs, and I’m reminded of that weird sticky tobacco that you put in a hookah, but not too much smoke. And I can’t taste the 9% abv which is a good thing. And down at the bottom of the glass arose a slight beery bitterness. This beer is fine, but I’m still going to give it a slightly below average smokestack rating, because integrity damnit. Final overall smokestack rating = 3.75 smokestacks out of a total 7 points possible.
| Brewer | Oliphant Brewing and Nine Mile Brewing |
| Beer Name | Swamp Thang Smoked Wee Heavy |
| Brewer’s Description | Made with our buddies over at Oliphant Brewing, this lovely ale is a Smoked Wee Heavy. Rich in malt character with ribbons of caramel swirling throughout… as well as a touch of nuttiness, a dab of toast, & a decent smack o’ smoke. A light warming note from the high ABV blends seamlessly with everything else. This beast is a perfect companion for these frigid Upper Midwest days/nights. If y’all get a chance, make a trip to Oliphant soon to try all their stellar offerings too! |
| Food Pairings | Cheese Curds and Hamburgers |
| Brewer Location | Somerset, WI and Bloomington MN |
| ABV | 9% |
| IBU (International Bitterness Units) | na |
| Beer opacity rate 1 – 7 (light – dark) | 6 |
| Smell smoke? 1 – 7 (No – George Burns) | 3 |
| Smokepower taste: 1 – 7 Smokestacks | 4.5 |
| Sausage detection? Y or N | N |
| Beer thickness 1-7 (water – used motor oil) | 3.5 |
| Foaminess | 3 |
| Overall Happiness Rating: 1-7 (low – high) | 3.75 |
Decent websites:
SmokeBeerMinistry 