Judge’s Review: 78 Rating – Tall Dark & Smokey by Pontoon Brewing

Specialty Smoked Beer | Collaboration | United States

By Sal Mortillaro II

Judges Rating: 78
Aroma: 19
Appearance: 6
Flavor: 30
Mouthfeel: 9
Overall Impression: 14

Tall Dark & Smokey by Pontoon Brewing. This beer pours a dark brown in color with opaque clarity. It features ruby highlights when held up to the light. A thin, mocha-colored head is persistent around the edge of the glass. The aroma consists of very light smoke with a medium neutral sweet aspect. A medium-low chocolate and light vanilla, when coupled with the noted sweetness, is reminiscent of chocolate frosting. The flavor consists of a medium malt sweetness, which is at the forefront, then gives way to a low coffee and chocolate flavor. No hop flavor is noted and a medium-low bitterness seems to be malt- driven. The flavor in this beer is thin and persists only shortly into the finish and is reminiscent of a bitter Tootsie Roll. This beer has a medium body with low carbonation. There is no alcohol warmth and a very light, but pleasant, malt-derived astringency. Overall, I would have liked to have seen more smoked aspect in this beer. The flavor of this beer was slightly thin as a whole. More persistence in the finish would do this beer justice.