Dutchbag My Deer 4Pk

Dutchbag My Deer 4Pk is a dark smoked saison from Illinois-based Dutchbag Brew Co., sold as a four-pack. This farmhouse ale stands apart through its use of Nordic smoked malt sourced from Sugar Creek Malt Co. and fermentation with traditional Wallonian farmhouse yeast, producing a beer that balances campfire smokiness with dark fruit complexity.

Quick Facts: ABV: Not publicly listed  |  Origin: Illinois, USA  |  Style: Dark Smoked Saison  |  Brewery: Dutchbag Brew Co.

Production & Heritage

Dutchbag Brew Co. operates out of Illinois and focuses on farmhouse-inspired ales with distinctive grain bills. My Deer is built on a foundation of Pilsner malt, spelt, Nordic smoked malt from Sugar Creek Malt Co., special carafa malt, and flaked oats—a complex grist that delivers both body and smoke character. Hop additions of Hallertau Magnum and Hallertau Hersbrucker in the kettle keep bitterness restrained and classic, while the beer is fermented to near dryness with a Wallonian farmhouse yeast strain that contributes earthy, slightly peppery esters typical of Belgian saison traditions.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Cherry wood smoke dominates the nose, layered with red fruit leather and a subtle peat-like earthiness. Behind the smoke, dried plum and fig aromas emerge as the beer warms in the glass.

Taste: The entry delivers an immediate but controlled smokiness that reads closer to a Nordic bonfire than heavy rauch. Mid-palate, dark stone fruit—plums and figs—comes forward alongside the dry, spicy character imparted by the farmhouse yeast. The oats lend a soft, rounded mouthfeel that tempers the smoke and keeps the body from turning thin despite the near-dry finish.

Finish: Clean and surprisingly light for its intensity, with lingering wood smoke and a faint mineral quality. The dryness characteristic of a well-attenuated saison pulls through, leaving the palate refreshed rather than heavy.

How to Drink My Deer

Pour into a tulip glass or goblet at around 45–50°F to let the smoky aromatics fully develop without muting the fruit character. My Deer is best enjoyed on its own as a contemplative sipper, though it also works in beer-based cocktail formats: a Michelada, where the smoke complements the tomato and lime; a Beer Flip, where the dark fruit and oat body enrich the egg and sugar base; or a Shandy with fresh lemon juice, which brightens the smoke and pulls out the saison's peppery edge.

Best For

• Sharing with craft beer enthusiasts who enjoy smoked or farmhouse styles
• Pairing alongside a fall or winter charcuterie spread
• Exploring saison variations beyond traditional pale versions
• Bringing to a bottle share or tasting group focused on unique American farmhouse ales

Frequently Asked Questions

What does My Deer taste like? My Deer delivers pronounced cherry wood smoke up front, followed by dark fruit notes of plum and fig, and finishes dry and clean with lingering campfire character. The farmhouse yeast adds a peppery, earthy layer that keeps it from becoming one-dimensional.

How does My Deer compare to a German Rauchbier? Traditional Rauchbier, such as Schlenkerla Märzen, uses beechwood-smoked malt and a lager yeast for a malty, deeply smoky profile, while My Deer uses Nordic smoked malt with a Belgian-style farmhouse yeast that produces a drier, more fruit-forward, and spicier result. The saison fermentation character gives My Deer a lighter, more effervescent body compared to the heavier, bread-crusted richness of a classic Rauchbier.

Is My Deer good for sipping neat? Yes—its complex grain bill and dry finish reward slow, attentive drinking, especially when served slightly below room temperature to let the aromatics open up.

Where is My Deer made? My Deer is brewed by Dutchbag Brew Co. in Illinois, USA. The brewery sources its Nordic smoked malt from Sugar Creek Malt Co., an American craft maltster.

What foods pair well with My Deer? Smoked sausage or kielbasa mirrors the beer's smoke character; aged Gouda provides a caramel sweetness that contrasts the dryness; grilled portobello mushrooms echo the earthy farmhouse yeast notes; dried fig or date charcuterie boards complement the dark fruit profile; and barbecued ribs with a vinegar-based sauce cut through the smoke while adding tang.

What sizes does My Deer come in? My Deer is available as a four-pack; individual can size has not been publicly confirmed by the brewery.

Is My Deer worth the price? My Deer positions as a specialty craft saison with an unusual grain bill featuring Nordic smoked malt and traditional farmhouse fermentation, placing it in the mid-tier craft beer range—a fair value for drinkers seeking something well outside the mainstream smoked beer category.

Why My Deer?

Dark smoked saisons are exceptionally rare in the American craft landscape, and My Deer commits fully to the concept rather than treating smoke as a background accent. The Nordic smoked malt from Sugar Creek Malt Co. provides a distinctive smoke profile—cleaner and more resinous than the beechwood char found in Franconian Rauchbier. Fermenting with Wallonian farmhouse yeast to near dryness keeps the beer nimble and drinkable despite its bold aromatics. For anyone tired of predictable saisons or looking for a smoked beer that doesn't taste like a campfire fell into a lager, My Deer delivers a genuinely original drinking experience.