I like this beer.

I just wanted to admit it out front first. Maybe set a precedent of declaring my allegiance up front. That being said, it is by no means a perfect beer. I wouldn’t be spoiling a great movie ending by telling you the plot here — this beer has its serious shortcomings. Lack of decernable aroma being chief among them. So there. I said it. I like this beer and I think it sucks. Well, parts of it do.

Operating out of quiant St. Marys, PA… Straub brewing (www.straubbeer.com) is a real throwback to the way things were down. Back then. Known far and wide for their “no sugars, no salts, no preservatives”process and I like that. Makes me feel like it might closer to what was traditional German beer.

Appearance

Pours cold into a pint glass — appears to be a slightly cloudy pale amber. Not really a “dark” amber per se… but I suppose next to the standard Straub on tap — its ‘dark’ … with just one quote.  A reddish tint blows lightly. Off-white, almost dirty dishwash water, white head is intact yet never reaches past ¼” in height. Surprising to see the head hold steady.

Smell

Faint at best. Really the weakest area of all. Slightly soapy but hard to pin down.

Taste

This is the part where things get… interesting. Tasty beer without a nose? Is that possible? Special Dark leads off with a not-so-subtle caramel sweetness that seems overpowering if it weren’t for its breifness. There and gone. The light toast of malts comes through to cut into the sweet. Only enough to register then it too leaves. In a hurry. And thus the next part… even weirder.

Mouthfeel

Medium at best but so fleeting that it barely registers. It does leave a short lived sweetness that overpowers as well as soothes at first — but then it dries out to nothing. No memory. No last effects. Thats weird too.

Drinkability

THIS is the real name of the game here. I can drink this beer all day long. Not a pounding hectic pace — but respectable, good natured fun. This is what makes the Peter Straub Special Dark is so special to me. That taste is there beer after beer. Sure, the 4.1 APV is certainly there to keep yourself in check. Just a great, easy going session beer.

Bottomline

I will admit it. I like this beer. I like drinking it. I like drinking this beer when I am just sitting around, safe and sound. Just a great table beer, to spend hours around a campfire. Its cheap and the wife likes it.