Beer of the Week: Maple Smoked Maibock

From the Beer Writer: In a county of well over 100 different brewing companies there are a couple of ways to stand out from the pack. One is to brew styles that not everyone is making. Another is to rack up a bunch of awards at big-time brewing contests like the Great American Beer Festival (GABF), San Diego International Beer Competition (SDIBC) and U.S. Open Beer Championship. But neither of these methods is foolproof. While the fervor of the beer-loving public elevates some perennially award-winning beers to hall-of-fame status, some still hover under the radar. Take this week’s featured beer, Maple Smoked Maibock from Kilowatt Brewing. This beer is the only one of its kind in all of San Diego County, and it’s captured both a gold and silver medal at GABF, a silver and a bronze at the SDIBC, and a bronze at the U.S Open. Did I mention all of those awards were earned in 2021 and 2022 alone! You’d be hard-pressed to find a beer so well-made but since it’s not an IPA, crispy-boi lager, barrel-aged behemoth or pastry creation, it fails to grab peoples’ attention even with all the shiny hardware it’s amassed. So, as we close out the year, I’d like to wave my hands wildly to help draw attention to one of 2022’s best beers you’ve never tried. Yes, it’s infused with maple, but so are all those pancake and waffle beers that have become so en vogue. Yes, it’s smoked, but let me allay your fears. As someone who understands how too much ashen smolder can render a beer disgusting, I’m here to assure you that they’ve achieved the perfect level of smoke with this one. Don’t believe me? I get it. I’m just some guy who really loves beer. But I’m pretty sure you can believe not one, not two, but three panels of qualified beer-competition judges who were wowed by this exceptional maibock. And here’s a belated Christmas gift for you. This award-winner may be better-suited than any ale or lager on the planet as the base for beer bread. I tried it out over the holidays and it was magical. Want to give that recipe a go? Just shoot me an email and I’ll happily share it with you. Cheers and best wishes for a happy, prosperous New Year!

From the Brewer: “I’ve always liked the way maple and smoke pair together, which is why maybe you see some doughnut shops put a slice of bacon on their maple bars. I wanted to do something fun like that in a beer but not be over-the-top about it. So, we decided to incorporate that into a maibock. We tried to create something that was drinkable with a nice balance instead of a smoke bomb. I think a lot of smoke beers get a bad rap because sometimes they can be a bit too heavy on the smoke and it can be a flavor that not everyone enjoys. You can definitely taste the maple in this beer and it pairs nice with the smoke. Also, it’s not overly sweet, so it drinks pretty easy for 7% ABV (alcohol-by-volume).”—Brian Crecely, Head Brewer, Kilowatt Brewing