New Belgium Gratzer Ale

This 4.5% ABV beer is a collaboration between New Belgium Brewing of Fort Collins, Colorado and 3 Floyds Brewing of Munster, Indiana. It is part of New Belgium's Lips of Faith Series. Gratzer is an old fashioned style from Poland, it uses oak smoked wheat and Polish hops.

The beer pours black in appearance, even when held to the light. There is over an inch of foamy, thick, but ragged, light tan head. The aroma is smokey, but not overwhelmingly so, leftover campfire on clothes, lots of dark roasted malt with char. The taste is wonderfully dark roasted, char, light pleasant and well-balanced smokiness. There is just a touch of tang on the end, and the finish is very dry, lightly bitter, accentuated by the nice smokiness. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this, but it is excellent.