Tap at Churchkey. Dark maroon, thin beige head. Aroma of campfire. Taste has malt, scotch, chocolate, and a finish of housefire. Very complex, tasty, characterful. Tasted next to the Paradox Smokehead, and this one puts the Smokehead to shame.

Tap - a phenomenal smoked beer, reminiscent of schlenkerla urbock - smooth, creamy, full mouthfeel, with a strong, but perfectly integrated smokiness, working well atop the medium sweet malt base - notes of toasted marshmallow and caramel - soft edges all around - conjures memories of campfires - sooo smoky.

On draught 2/25/05 at the Moan and Dove, Péché Mortel release party. Served in a tumbler between 47-52 degrees.
Deep orange-yellow colored beer, thick looking (wavy and transluscent) with a small pillow of off-white head, moderate retention. Aroma of spicy hops, little bit of earthiness and saltiness. Some sweet toffee in the nose as well. The smoke flavor comes out swinging from the get-go. Rich, salty, sweet smoked-malt works perfectly with the fluffy, lightly creamy body. Even with all of the smokiness, it dosent get boring (to me) and I happily go back for a second glass. Not a syrupy or heavy body, but not a light or watery one either. It strikes a good balance, so to speak. Torn between giving this a 4 or a 5 for palate. Malt could be said to get a bit too sweet, in the end, but it hardly worries me. Low carbonation, no alcohol apparency. I’m sold, but then, I’m a sucker for rauchbiers.

Very well balanced. Great smokey flavours, chewy malt. Very long finish. So smooth you'd swear it was a lager, but it is top fermented.