Name: Stands to Reason
Brewer: Suarez Family Brewery (United States)
Style: Rauchbier
ABV: 5.1%
Review Year: 2021
Stands to Reason is a classic German Rauchbier crafted by the Suarez Family Brewery from Hudson, New York. This smoked lager was inspired by the family’s trip to Bamberg, Germany.
STYLE GUIDELINES
This beer is being evaluated as a Rauchbier (6B) in the context of the 2015 Beer Style Guidelines of the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP). The most current version of the guidelines can be found on the BJCP website.
TASTING NOTES
Clear deep brown; light brown head. This beer bloomed with a moderately strong smoked wood aroma with a touch of coffee. The smoked character is neither phenolic, burnt, nor peaty. Others noted faint impressions akin to wine and cherries. Medium-light body with moderately low carbonation. The flavor profile is broadly similar to that of the aroma with a medium roasty malt flavor up front backed by the familiar smoked wood. A low bready-doughy taste surfaced alongside very subtle fruitiness (lychees). Bitterness is moderate; off-dry finish. The noted smoked wood flavor also lingered into the aftertaste and was accompanied further by subtle chocolate and earthiness. No astringency.
THE VERDICT
Stands to Reason is a crisp and refreshing dark lager that boasts a soothing smoked wood profile backed by a subtle yet complex bouquet of coffee, wine, fruit, and even chocolate. Slightly stronger carbonation and less of the subtle bready-doughy and fruity flavors could improve further the overall presentation of this beer. Nonetheless, Stands to Reason is a very good beer to enjoy by the tent in the woods during summer or in a log cabin on a long winter night.
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