Grandpa's Pipe by Seedstock Brewery was judged as  category 32B, specialty Smoked Beer.

Off the pour I am glad that I am not nailed with a face full of smoke. What I get is a subtle malty aroma, that is mostly nutty with low caramel and toasty notes. I don’t think it’s a classic Marzen style, but seems more like an American brown ale of sorts. The hops are low and spicy. The smoke aroma is subtle, but you don’t miss it. It’s light and plays a supporting role to the more dominant malt aroma.

The color is reddish brown, with a light tan very long-lasting head. The beer is moderately hazy with a good amount of clarity, just not crystal clear, which is OK for the style.

Moving into the flavor this is certainly an American Brown in my opinion. The malt in the flavor is richly toasty and moving into the roasty realm. It has a moderate amount of sweetness that pulls out notes of caramel and very low chocolate tones. The hop bitterness is moderate as well, and balances the sweetness well. The smoke phenol comes through in the finish and lasts long after you take a drink. It’s mild and subtle, like the finish of a cigar. I really like it, because if you don’t think about it when you take a drink, you are reminded as you rest in the finish. The dominant flavor is still the sweeter roasty/toasty malt but the smoke is not lost.

The beer is medium-bodied and has a very pleasant creamy texture. There is not astringency, or hot alcohol. I actually do not detect much in terms of alcohol in either the mouthfeel, nor aroma or flavor. So I suspect this is not a big beer.

Overall, on a personal note this is probably one of the best smoked beers I’ve ever had, and that’s coming from a judge who avoids smoked beers. They just are not a style I enjoy, but I could drink a lot of this. Stylistically speaking, it’s well balanced and pleasant to drink.  The specialty flavor of the smoke is not too assertive but is still present. This is a prime example of excellence with a restrained hand. This is certainly one of the better beers I’ve had in a while. Not so much just because the base beer itself is so good, but the specialty additions complement the beer and make it better all-around. It's not overdone and in your face. It's a subtle change that adds depth and complexity to the beer, making it a very interesting pint to drink, and you can keep drinking it without getting tired of the overplayed specialty addition. Great beer.