Smoke isn’t exclusively either peat – nor restricted to whiskey.
The fuel used to dry the barley – or other grains – imparts a wide variety of flavours to the resultant beverage.

For this Galway Bay Märzen – a popular style of German lager – beechwood is the choice.
I was keen to sample the results.

There’s an element of trompe l’oeil going on here.
You expect a dark, heavy ale – but get a light, refreshing lager overlaid with a soft, attractive wood fired smokiness.

An excellent accompaniment to those lazy sunny afternoon BBQ’s.
Sláinte