Our Mutual Friend Brewing Gelber Rauch

Assertive beechwood smoke—neither acrid nor harsh—swaddles toasty malt in the aroma. Flavor is plenty smoky—rich dark malt has enough sweetness to balance it. Slightly cloying profile, emphasizing caramel and toffee. Needs a crisper foundation. Finish is sweet and lingering.

“Captures the essence of dragon fruit with a pleasant soft cider-like tartness to balance, providing fruitiness, subtle spice, and earth notes. And there’s a distinctive beer character with a lightly toasted malt backbone.”

Hazy, light yellow. Low head. Medium-high carb. From the combo, I was expecting some kind of piña colada spin off, but the nose emphasizes a strong spicy ginger, backed by a moderate ripe pineapple. The coconut is there, providing a sense of sweetness, but it’s understated. Pineapple flavor dominates at first with soft, sweet coconut blending well. Ginger comes through the middle like a raging bull and sits firmly in a mostly dry finish. Some tartness comes from the kombucha foundation, along with some earthy astringency. The coconut hides out until the aftertaste, but even there, it’s eclipsed by the ginger. Ginger komucha is classic combo, so this is just a slightly more nuanced example.