Style: Amber lager
ABV: 5.6%
IBU: 22
Joe’s Take
Whew, that was one beer name that took a minute to type. This week, we’re tasting the new release (and ode to Spongebob Squarepants’ ever famous ballad) that was put out by Pitt Street Brewing Company in Greenville, NC. You may remember our review of Pitt Street’s “Deja Tiramisu” back in October. We paid them another visit to try the beer they released on November 29th, “C.A.M.P.F.I.R.E. S.O.N.G.,” and even though the name reminds me of my childhood (and still today) quoting the ever classic show Spongebob Squarepants, I dislike the name a little bit as it takes me a solid 30 seconds to type that every time with all of the periods. That aside, this was their newest amber lager (a style I don’t think I have had before), and it being a perfect time of year for this beer style we knew it had to be the next beer for our new release series. So keep reading to get our takes on the beer!
The amber lager was served in Pitt Street’s branded muffin top pint glass and with the lighting in their taproom, was a deep brown that was hard to see through in its most concentrated areas. Towards the edge of the glass, a clear beer with a red-amber hue was visible and it looked quite appealing. My pour had very little head to start, but there was a thin ring of foam around the edge of the glass that persisted throughout the tasting.
The beer had a nice simple aroma that consisted of sweet malty notes and minimal hop character. There was some detectable sweetness and hints of biscuit or bread that was complemented by faint hints of caramel. When smelling the beer I had a hard time picking up on the aromas that were present, but this got a bit easier as I drank the beer down to a level where the glass narrowed.
Mouthfeel was pleasant and not harsh. It was light-bodied and definitely not viscous. The mouthfeel was refreshing and made the beer go down easy. Carbonation was at a nice level and complemented the mouthfeel of the beer. It was not drying and not mouth coating.
Tasting the beer provided flavors that mimicked what was detected in the aromas: light sweetness with a malt forward flavor profile. There were notes of caramel, biscuit, toast, and maybe a hint of molasses. To me, it was a surprisingly delicate beer that was not overpowering and food pairing would require a delicate touch as to not overwhelm the flavors provided by the beer. A campfire would probably overwhelm the beer with smoke flavor, but hey, that might be a nice pairing in itself?
The great balance between sweetness and malt made the beer a smooth sipper and extremely drinkable. I would have no issue drinking a few of these on a Friday night – oh! Look what day it is! Unfortunately, I’ll be at my real job this evening but a guy can dream of a few Friday night pints, right?
So make your way over to the Greenville beer scene staple, Pitt Street Brewing Company, and grab yourself a pint of “C.A.M.P.F.I.R.E. S.O.N.G.” Tonight would be a great night for it as they are releasing another beer as well. Happy drinking!
Abbreviated tasting notes
Appearance: Almost no head, thin ring of foam around the glass. Deep brown and amber color, reddish hue on the edges. Clear beer. (4.5/5)
Aroma: Sweet malt, light, biscuit notes, not strong aromatics. (3.5/5)
Mouthfeel: Light, thin, medium carbonation, not drying. Pleasant. (4/5)
Taste: Malt, lightly sweet – not overbearingly so. Biscuity/bready malt, caramel malt. Great balance. (4.5/5)
Drinkability: Easily drinkable, could have several of these in a row without issue. Balance of flavor and mouthfeel combine to make a smooth sipper. (4.5/5)
Total: 21/25
Nick’s Take
“Let’s gather ’round the campfire, and sing our campfire song…” As Joe already mentioned, the classic hit from “Spongebob Squarepants” was running through our heads as we visited Pitt Street Brewing Company this week to try their new amber lager, “C.A.M.P.F.I.R.E. S.O.N.G.” For the uninitiated, I took the liberty of pulling a link to the song for your enjoyment: Spongebob Squarepants | ‘The Campfire Song’ Song.
Of course, we’re here for the beer and not the incredibly popular tune of the same name. Joe and I ordered our pints and grabbed a spot at one of the booths inside. My pour actually had a pretty collar, which was off-white and appeared to stick just a bit to the inside of the glass. My first impression of the beer’s color was that it was somewhere on the spectrum between ruby red and amber, and was quite dark. I held the glass up toward some light, and was able to see the light penetrate through, indicating a pretty clean, clear beer. As I proceeded to drink, a ring of foam clung to the top of the beer.
I’d note that this beer does not have powerful aromas, but as you might suspect from an amber lager, there were notable malt compounds on the nose. For me, it was a combination of sweet oats, roasty tones, and some bread characteristic. Overall, the aromas were fairly light but were pleasant nonetheless; additionally, I second Joe’s notion about the aromas becoming more present as we drank and the beer was into more narrow parts of the glass.
The mouthfeel really was a nice surprise for me. I’d characterize “C.A.M.P.F.I.R.E. S.O.N.G.” as crisp and tingly with a light to medium body. The carbonation makes it exciting upfront, but on the back end the beer finishes smoothly and without burn or bite. I didn’t notice any sticking or coating, and it didn’t leave my mouth dry at any point throughout the tasting.
This amber lager packs really good malt flavors that seemed to develop from the time I started until I drank the last sip. My earliest notes were of some smoke/char characteristics that were light and complementary to the sweet bready flavors. Over some time, I detected a little caramel and perhaps a bit of spice, which provided some warming attributes to this lager. The taste overall was very smooth, sweet, and satisfying to my palate.
I’d absolutely have a couple or more pints of “C.A.M.P.F.I.R.E. S.O.N.G.” at Pitt Street, and I hope to get my hands on it again before their kegs get kicked. This was one of my favorite beers from this brewery as of late! Very drinkable and delicious by itself, and I think it could easily be enjoyed with a variety of snacks. Charcuterie was the first thing that came to mind, as you’d have options of some cheeses, nuts, crackers, and maybe even some dried or fresh fruits.
Whether or not you’re a fan of Spongebob, I’m confident you’ll be a fan of this amber lager named after one of his biggest hits. Go check out the tap room and tell them we sent you!
Abbreviated tasting notes
Appearance: Ruby red to amber in color, with off-white head that clings to the edges. (4/5)
Aroma: Light, scents of oats, malts, and sweetness. (4/5)
Mouthfeel: Crisp and tingly on the tongue, with smooth finish. Light to medium body. (4.5/5)
Taste: A little smoke, bready, sweet malts, and mild spice notes on the back end. (4/5)
Drinkability: Most definitely easy to drink and very tasty. Warming attributes would make this enjoyable on chilly evenings, and could pair with a charcuterie board. (4.5/5)
Total: 21/25
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