Episode 18: Knoxville Beers Part II: Printshop Beer Company's Something More Than Night Smoked Porter and Alliance Brewing's Mandarina Blonde with Justin Smith

I. Introduction 

Last week we started something we were not prepared to finish.  Our eyes were bigger than our mouths.  This week, well, we finish our meal.

Today, on Pickled Eggs & Cold Beer, we're talking about Printshop Beer Company's Something More Than Night Smoked Porter and Alliance Brewing's Mandarina Blonde.

Today's theme is Cripple Clarence Lofton's 1939 "Pine Top's Boogie Woogie." 

II. Our Guest, the Elegant Mr. Smith

Justine Bateman Smith

III. Rubric: Printshop Beer Company's Something More Than Night Smoked Porter

BeerAdvocate: n/a

RateBeer: n/a

Untappd: 3.85 of 5

ABV: 5.8%

IBU: 39

Ingredients: Deliciousness.  And smoke.

Cost: $$

IV. Our Reviews and Talking Points: Printshop Beer Company's Something More Than Night Smoked Porter

Appearance: Black, completely opaque, not much head (rapidly dissipates).  Good legs.

Aroma: Smokey but not overwhelming.

Flavor: Rauchbier porter, very smokey, but not overwhelmingly so.  Clayman asserted, "that's a meal." Smilin' Mike Mason believes it would pair wonderfully with a good cigar.

Mouthfeel:  Smooth, smokey.

Authenticity, Marketing, and Other Factors: Small-batch, locally brewed, fantastic.

Overall: Superb, an unusual beer that is a pleasure for the connoisseur - Justin gave it a 4.75, Mason a 4.625, Clayman a 4, and Eric a 4.25 - overall?   4.41 of 5

V. Rubric: Alliance Brewing's Mandarina Blonde

BeerAdvocate: n/a

RateBeer: n/a

Untappd: 3.71 of 5

ABV: 5.3% ABV

IBU: 20

Ingredients:

Cost: $$

VI. Our Reviews and Talking Points: Alliance Brewing's Mandarina Blonde

Appearance: Pale lemony yellow, unfiltered, with a significant and slowly receding head.

Aroma: Citrus forward notes, smells wonderful but the odor recedes fairly quickly after the pour.

Flavor: Citrusy, crisp, clean, hops present but reserved - we thought it had notes like lemongrass, coconut, and starfruit.  Definitely wouldn't mind pairing this with some Thai food.

Mouthfeel:  Clean and sparkling.

Authenticity, Marketing, and Other Factors: Guys, this is legitimate.  End.

Overall: Justin gave it a 4.5 of 5, Mason a 4.25 of 5, Clayman a 4.1 of 5, and Eric a solid 4.75 of 5 - overall? 4.4 of 5

VII. Sponsors

This episode was sponsored by two wonderful local businesses:

Leben Farms of Abingdon, Virginia

Leben Farms is a community supported-agriculture (CSA) program that offers locally grown fresh vegetables in weekly boxes to its members in Southwest Virginia and East Tennessee.  Using organic and regenerative practices to grow nutrient dense food, community-supported agriculture is a food production and distribution system that directly connects farmers and consumers. In short: people buy "shares" of a farm's harvest in advance and then receive a portion of the crops as they're harvested.

Check them out on Facebook or Instagram.

Also...

Glade Pharmacy in Glade Spring, Virginia

33472 Lee Hwy, Glade Spring, VA 24340

Locally owned and managed, Glade Pharmacy provides the highest quality pharmaceutical service in the Emory/Glade Spring area.

VIII. Plugs

Alliance Brewing Company

Knoxville, Tennessee

The Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum
Key West, Florida

Printshop Beer Company

Knoxville, Tennessee

Sloppy Joe's
Key West, Florida

The William King Museum of Art

Abingdon, Virginia

Wolf Hills Brewing

Abingdon, Virginia