Bacon Industry

It seems only natural that a brewer would make a smoked beer for a barbecue contest.  That is what Neshaminy Creek  Brewing Company (NCBC) did for its Croydon is Burning: Barbecue Battle.  The battle took place back on April 15, 2018; and, no, I was not there.  But, from what I have read, local barbecue joints competed in a contest that required, among other things, that the pitmasters use one of two NCBC beers: the Croydon is Burning, which is a Bamberg-style Rauchbier, or, the Bacon Industry, which falls in the "other smoked beer" category. 

While I was not at the barbecue battle, I did have the chance to try the Bacon Industry during a recent visit to Philadelphia.  The Bacon Industry is brewed in the Helles style, using German beechwood smoked malt, American cherrywood malt and 100 pounds of cured, smoked bacon.  That makes the Bacon Industry my kind of beer.  So, I had two of them during lunch. 

According to the Beer Judge Certification Program, a beer that falls within the "other smoked beer" category should have a "pleasant balance" between the smoked character and the basic beer style.  Given the brewers at NCBC brewed the Bacon Industry in the style of a Helles (or Maibock beer), then we should look to what that beer style entails.  Typically, a Helles beer pours a deep amber to a light color, with malt-forward aromas (featuring little to no hop elements), and a strong, but clean malt flavor.    

With that background, the Bacon Industry does a very good job reaching the "pleasant balance" that one would strive between the smoked character and the Helles style.  The use of the beechwood smoked malt and the bacon allow for light smoked aromas and flavors to greet the nose and tongue of the drinker. At first, the smoked elements are the beechwood and cherrywood, which find their way into the aroma of the beer. I did not get as much of a sense of the bacon in the aroma, but it does find its way into the beer. (100 pounds of cured, smoked bacon should at least find its way into the flavor of the beer.) That bacon flavor is nestled among the malt elements of the beer, such as some light toast and bread flavors.  

The balance between the smoke and the malt in this smoked Helles beer is near perfect.  The Bacon Industry provides an interesting, albeit different, approach to a smoked beer.  Most smoked beers that I have tried in the past, like the Ola Dubh or the Sunturnbrew, achieve the smoked character solely through the use of malts.  The Bacon Industry sets itself apart with the use of 100 pounds of cured, smoked bacon. Given how much I liked this beer, I will keep my eye open for other bacon beers.  In the meantime, if you find yourself in Philadelphia or nearby NCBC, you should stop and see if this beer is available.  And, if you can, pair it with barbecue, as the brewers initially intended.  Until next time ...

ENJOY!

The Brew Kettle Big Horn Bock

Germany has a rich beer history, going back centuries.  For example, during the 14th century, brewers in the town of Einbeck brewed a dark, lightly hopped but very malty ale.  A couple of hundred years later, in the 16th century, brewers in Munich adopted the beer style, but adapted it to the lager style.  Supposedly, Bavarians would pronounce the town "Einbeck" as "ein Bock," and, hence the beer of Einbeck got its name, "Bock."  (It should be noted that "ein Bock" also means "billy goat.")

Thousands of miles away from Bavaria, The Brew Kettle brews its "Big Horn Bock."  This beer is not brewed in the traditional bock style; instead, it is brewed in the helles style.  The "helles" style dates back to the Spaten Brewery, which began to brew lighter beers, which it dubbed as "helles," which is German for light colored.  The brewers referred to their beers as "helles" to distinguish them from doppelbocks.  Eventually, brewers tried to strike a balance between the two beers, brewing a bock beer in the helles style, which is also known as a Maibock.

The Big Horn Bock pours an amber color, which what a little surprising to me, because I expected a more golden color.  However, amber colors are certainly within the Helles Bock style.  The aroma of the beer is relatively light, especially compared to some of the recent beers that I've reviewed.  There is a slight malty nose to the beer.  The taste of the beer heavily emphasizes the malts, with almost no hop flavors to be found.  I expected a little more of a hop flavor, but, I was certainly not disappointed in any way.  This is a good beer that reflects its style.

The Big Horn Bock is a very drinkable beer and it is a good beer for people who do not like hoppy beers like pale ales.  Although the beer is available in bottles, those bottles are sold at The Brew Kettle restaurant in Strongsville.

ENJOY!

For more on the history of bock beers and helles beers, check out Wikipedia.  For more about the Maibock or Helles Bock style, check out the Beer Certification Judge Program.