Brews and Blues Beer and Smokin’ Blues

Shmaltz Brewing – Human Blockhead

Brewery: Schmaltz Brewing Company
Where: Saratoga Springs, NY
Beer: Human Blockhead Tough-As-Nails Lager
Style: American Amber / Red Lager
IBU: N/A
ABV: 10%

As promised previously, I picked up several more samples of the Freak beers from Shmaltz Brewing Company.  During the process, I also picked up some of the Chosen Beers as well, so we have several of these on hand to taste in the near future.  Their "Albino Python" and "Mermaid Pilsner" aren't available to me locally that I'm aware of, but I might be able to find them elswhere in the future...

Today's sample is the Human Blockhead Tough-As-Nails Lager.  When I was examining the bottle in the store, the first thing I found out of the ordinary (besides the normally outrageous packaging) was the 10% ABV note on the bottle.  That's pretty much over the top for this style of beer, so I was quite curious as to what it might provide in terms of taste.  Most beers like this have a significant alcohol presence in the flavor when they come right out of the refrigerator, and this beer is no exception.  My normal procedure on a beer like this is to let it warm up to 55° F before really digging in, which is what I did with this beer. 

This beer poured with a rich amber color and a decent head that maintained its presence for the entire drink.  The flavor of this beer just about knocked me down (in a good way!)  This beer is what I'd call a 'malt bomb' with a fantastic mouth feel.  According to Shmaltz, this beer is made up of the following malts:

• Munich
• Vienna
• Wheat
• Crystal Rye
• Pale Crystal
• Flaked Oats
• Rye

The flaked oats are most likely responsible for the nice mouth feel of this beer, but I'm simply unexperienced on the Rye portion of this grain bill.  I'm probably going to have to do a little research on those ingredients.  This beer, regardless of what went into it, has pulled me in as a fan of Shmaltz Brewing.  The malt complexity on this one is simply outstanding, but I must warn you... Take it easy with this one... It will sneak up on you while you aren't looking!

I'm such a fan at this point, I'm going to have to see if I can get Santa to cough up a Coney Island Lager T-shirt for me this year!