Rail Dog Smoked Black Lager

I write a ton about ales it's not a secret. But I have love for lagers too. In case you're not familiar with these beer types here's my little guide to both. Lagers and ales are two extremely broad categories for beer (I was once told to think of the two groups like white and red wine). The basic difference is the yeast for an ale is different than the yeast for a lager. Ales need yeast that thrive in warmer temperatures while the yeast used in lagers ferments better in cooler temperatures. Because of the colder temperatures, lagers have a longer brew cycle and a bit more of a mellow (but equally delicious) flavor. Make sense? Good.
Tonight I enjoyed a Rail Dog Smoked Black Lager.

That dog on the cap is just darling. Darling.

Thirsty Dog Brewing Co. out of Ohio makes this tasty black lager. On the bottle, Thirsty Dog tells me that the Rail Dog Smoked Black Lager has the most "complex grain bill" of any beer that they brew. The complexity is apparent and the grains take center stage in this brew. Unlike a typical porter or stout, the notes of chocolate/coffee in this Black Lager are a little more subdued. As I was pouring this beer into my glass, I was hit with a smoky/grainy aroma immediately. As I started drinking, the standout flavors came from the apple smoked grain as well as a slight roasted essence, like coffee or dark chocolate. Another big taste in this beer comes from the earthy and fruity hops. It was a fairly full-bodied lager that was super drinkable. This beer has an ABV of  6.7% that I could barely detect. Rail Dog Smoked Black Lager was really smooth and well balanced from start to finish. 9/10: would drink again and again.