A recent trip to the U.S. gave me the opportunity to explore some new beers that I haven’t seen before. That can be good and bad – unfortunately in this case it landed mainly on the bad side.
It seemed promising enough, a pale lager brewed by Von Trapp Brewing out of Stowe Vermont. These are the same Von Trapp’s that are featured in the Sound of Music. I’ve seen the movie (more times than I’ve seen Terminator, if that makes any sense) and I don’t remember any reference to brewing or beer. Although, trust me on this, it is way easier to watch if you quaff a couple. Perhaps the iconic image of Julie Andrews in the Swiss Alps is actually a field of hops?
The Helles are alive, with smoky suds.
I think there is just too much going on for this beer. The can says that Live Oak Brewing Co. is responsible for something – but it is brewed and packaged by Von Trapp, so I’m not sure what is left. Maybe they provided the recipe? Then there is the beer style. The bottom says it is a Bamberg-style Pale Ale – which is to say it is Helles, but the top says it is “Stowe style”. It proudly says “Brewed in Collaboration”, but I think this one might have had too many collaborators.
The colour is good and it is nicely balanced, but the smoke is overpowering and drowns out all other tastes.
If you are hanging out around the campfire for a few hours and have become desensitized to the smell of wood smoke, this beer will probably taste great. But as a straight up thirst quencher, I can’t get past the overwhelming smokiness.
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