COMMUNITY BEER WORKS ADAMBIER ABV: 8.8%

 Adambier. Yes, this is a beer style and not just the pint left at the bar by your buddy Adam. Granted, Adam- bier is rare, with only a handful of examples on sites like RateBeer or Untappd. It’s an old, largely forgotten style originally from Dortmund, Germany—an intense, dark, complex ale (yes, an ale, not a lager) aged in oak barrels, which is sometimes soured. Think of it as an interloper between an old ale, altbier, wild beer, and a barleywine. The tricky thing about beers of this nature (extinct styles, etc. ) is that while historical references to the beers’ flavors and recipes exist, there are limited examples out there to taste, so brewers are sort of winging it. Well, our pals at Community Beer Works have taken an Adambier on wing—and this small batch, limited release beer soars high in November skies! This reviewer’s only previous experience with Adambier was with the truly spectacular “Adam” from Portland, Oregon’s Hair of the Dog brewery. There are aged bottles of “Adam” going for $2000 in traders markets, so my expectations were piqued and high for CBW’s offering. With a nose like a strong Schwartzbier, initial thoughts lean towards a standard malty, German offering, but that’s when CBW’s Adambier kicks into overdrive. Beachwood smoked barley from Bamberg offers a whiff of smoke, which lingers over the subtle oak notes obtained in its barreling. The 8.8% ABV bites, but not hard, revealing a deliciously layered malty finish—with just enough hops to add complexity. Adambier is like the German version of the Belgian dubbel. Enjoy CBW’s interpretation now!