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Smoke on the Water

Smithers Brewing Company
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🌍 Canada · Smoked Amber Ale · One of 1 Smoked Amber Ales in hopIQ

The autumn entry in the Skeena seasonal series, an amber ale brewed with grain smoked over Kispiox cottonwood. Toffee and toasted bread come from the malt, and the smoke sits behind them as a thin, dry woodiness rather than anything campfire-like. The body is medium and malt-led, the hops present only as balance, and the smoke is what lingers longest in the finish. Label art by Roy Henry Vickers.

ABV
6%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Malt-forward bitterness
SRM
amber12
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Even from Body through Texture, the taste structure is evenly distributed.

Harmony over emphasis — the beer is built for each note to sit at the same volume.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Smoked Amber Ale.
Malt character
malty
toasty
caramel
Distinctive notes
smoky
oak
Hop character
earthy
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Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Smoke on the Water

Appearance

Deep amber to copper-brown, clear and bright. The head is modest but persistent, laying down fine lacing as it recedes. Carbonation appears moderate and well-integrated.

deep amberclearfine lacing

Aroma

Smoke dominates immediately, but it reads as dry woodsmoke rather than aggressive or camp-fire driven. Beneath lies toasted bread and malt sweetness, with subtle caramel undertones. The smoke sits layered over the grain, creating a complex if restrained bouquet.

woodsmoketoasted graincaramel notesdry

Taste

Malt-forward on entry, with toffee and toasted bread character establishing the foundation. Hops provide gentle balance without asserting themselves; the medium body remains smooth and approachable. Smoke threads through the mid-palate as a thin, earthy woodiness, never overwhelming the malt sweetness.

toffeetoasted breadearthy smokemalt-driven

Finish

Medium-length, with smoke lingering longest in the aftertaste. The dry woodiness persists as the malt sweetness fades, leaving a clean and slightly astringent conclusion.

smoke lingersdryclean finish
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
78
Appearance
75
Finish
76
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Smoke on the Water

Serve at 8–11°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Smoke on the Water

About Smoked Amber Ale

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Smoked Amber Ale?

Amber Ales have 4.5–6.2% ABV and IBU 25–40. Caramel malt sweetness balanced by moderate hop bitterness, a reddish-amber colour and smooth finish.

Finding a similar Smoked Amber Ale

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same smoky, toasty, malty character as Smoke on the Water will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

WHERE TO BUY

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