Alaskan Brewing Co. Perserverence
What the brewers say
“Alaska birch syrup … lends a deep almost-tart character to the dark malt profile, while wildflower honey adds a delicate sweetness and floral notes. Our alder-smoked malt alludes to the distinctive roasted flavor of turn-of-the-century malting practices.”
What our panel thought
Aroma: “Big, rich cocoa powder blends with dark roasted barley, with just a touch of smoke, raspberry-like esters, and a hint of cherry. Notes of burnt toast, campfire-roasted marshmallow, and milk and dark chocolates, as well as molasses and coffee.”
Flavor: “An interesting balance between sweet chocolate and dark roast flavors—the strong roasted barley and chocolate malt are quickly covered up by smoky campfire phenolics. There’s a bit of metallic up front, which dissipates as the beer warms. Very low earthy hops.”
Overall: “This beer would be great aged a little bit. The blend of roasted malts is well executed, malt-forward, and balanced with just enough bitterness to clean the palate. The welcome aroma is very enticing and evokes a backcountry campfire in the middle of winter.”
