Picked up a bottle of Otto at the Blue Max on the way home from getting my car worked on. No idea what it was--my trust in Victory was enough to pick up something new. There was a very detailed explanation on the bottle why it was named Otto, but I didn't write it down and didn't find it on the Victory site. Victory calls the beer a smoked malt dubbel.
Brown ale swirled with amber highlights with a dirty tan head that falls to a film. Significant but not overpowering smoke in the nose on top of caramel and sweet malt. There's an earthy spice blended neatly with the smoke. Assertive Aecht Schlenkerla-like smokiness in the taste, but more subtle. Lager-like smooth for a bottle conditioned ale. Earthy spice of the nose comes out more in the taste, but the mouthfeel thins out as it warms. Very good rauchbier, especially if you want it a bit towards the lighter but still unmistakable range of smokiness.
Overall, I thought it was a good bottle and a great introduction to a smoked beer. BA reviews seem a bit lower than my experience, but the warmed thinness and off-centered style may have foiled expectations.
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