Beer of the Week

The beer: Campfire Tales

Brewed by: Beer Tree Brew, Port Crane, New York

Description (from Untappd): "Imperial Milk Stout brewed with 1886 malted barley, specially roasted dark grains and flaked oats. Conditioned on specialty roasted cocoa nibs and liquid cocoa and then swirled with graham cracker and marshmallow. Grab some friends, build a fire and pour a glass. It’s time for Campfire Tales."

Would I buy it again?: This is a tricky one. On the one hand, this was a very good beer. Very hearty and chocolatey, but not in an overly sweet way. A fine imperial stout. On the other hand, that's all it really tasted like. Maybe there was the slightest hint of marshmallow, but definitely no graham cracker. Not really the s'mores beer I was hoping for. I would buy it again, but it's not exactly the beer it's advertised to be.

Beer of the Week

The beer: Scratch 452 - Dry-Hopped Rice Lager

Brewed by: Troegs Independent Brewing, Hershey, Pennsylvania

Description (from the can): "Scratch #452 starts with a grain bill of puffed Jasmine rice and two-row pilsner malt. Layered onto this super-crisp, clean, and delicate base are El Dorado's notes of pineapple, stone fruit, and pear. The result? A crispy lager that's hoppy and aromatic but not bitter."

Would I buy it again?: I would absolutely buy it again, but unfortunately this is one of Troegs' Scratch beers, which means it's experimental and not likely to be made again. Which is a shame, because this beer is great. It combines the simplicity of a lager with the hoppy flavoring of an IPA, just without the bitterness. Troegs should absolutely make this one again.