Staples Mill Brewing Company Lager of DeVine Destruction

Staples Mill Brewing Company is in Stillwater, Minnesota.  This 5.5% ABV lager is a limited edition, bottle 518 out of 1000.  The bottles were hand-filled, hand-capped and hand-labeled and numbered.  The lager is made with black currants from Natura Farms in Forest Lake, Minnesota and grappa-infused white oak.  "The Mayan Calendar suggests that this year is the end of the world, so why not drink a decadent lager as we approach the destruction of all we know?"


The beer pours a very dark golden in color, trending toward orange.  There is a very slight head of white foam.  The aroma is fruity, light currant, oaky.  There is an element of very oaky and buttery chardonnay.  The alcohol/liquor aroma from the grappa is evident, despite the sessionable alcohol of the beer.  There is an almost smokey element as well.  The taste is smokey, woody, liquor-like, sitting lightly on a bed of lager.  It is interesting that they put such strong-flavored elements in a lager as opposed to a more "substantial" beer, but it works.  This drinks like a cocktail.  If you find it, try it.