From the Beer Writer: Some of the first beers I fell for when introduced to craft were dark, smoked ales. From the clean, peaty Stone Smoked Porter to the smoldered-salmon sensation of Alaskan Smoked Porter, these beers were rather prevalent. It would seem the beer-drinking public’s interest in smoked beers has declined a bit over the past two decades, making it all the more special when a new one comes along. Swimming into the local sudscape like the migratory sharks it gets its name from is Seven Sharks A-Circling, the latest holiday-beer offering in Karl Strauss Brewing Company‘s 12 Days of Christmas series, which sees a unique yuletide offering released each December. This imperial porter is as big on alcohol (9% by-volume) as it is on smoke character. Subdued chocolate-coated, malted milk-ball notes greet one’s taste buds, and are quickly overtaken by a deep, almost meaty smokiness. The beer has a warming effect that’s perfect for winter, and the brawn of this brew makes it best consumed in tight sips while taking in the splendor of a roaring fire or the family Christmas Tree.
From the Brewer: “We wanted to brew an imperial porter for this installment of our holiday series, but with a little something extra. We had this nice, beautiful smoked malt left over from a recent collaboration brew we did with Taylor Guitars that we had smoked using maple wood from the Skagit Valley, where they source the wood for their guitars. We had experimented a bit and didn’t end up using the smoked malt in that particular brew and thought it would be a great addition to this imperial porter. We added just enough smoke flavor to complement the base-beer in a delicate and thoughtful way without overwhelming the brew. I think we ended up with a respectable, balanced imperial porter with a high ABV to keep you warm during those cold San Diego winter nights.”—Paul Segura, Brewmaster, Karl Strauss Brewing Company