This beer was received as a gift to my wife from one of her clients. She doesn't drink beer, but I do, so I get to reap the benefits. The person that provided this beer also provided high recommendations for it, that he always tries to pick some of this stuff up when it's available. Since it was a gift and not something I purchased, I tend to try and drink those sooner rather than later, mainly so I can provide some feedback and thank yous for the selection. I remember drinking this one down before leaving for some function. I knew that towards the end, I was drinking it down quite fast. The beer hails from Germany (http://www.schlenkerla.de/indexe.html), which isn't a country I get a lot of beer from, but I recognize the history that has been developed through the years and am looking forward to trying something that's not from the USA for a change.
The beer was poured into a pilsner glass. It had a dark mahogany color. A vigorous pour yielded about three fingers of khaki colored head, with moderate retention. It left behind a sticky ring towards the top of the glass. A rauchbier is classified as a smoked beer and it certainly does not disappoint. Aromas of smoke, caramel, brisket, and liquid smoke dominate the nose. For those that like the smell of smoke, it certainly gives a pleasing aroma. The liquid smoke smell can be a little off-putting, it can remind me of some smells found in dog treats, but as long as I don't take it in too much, it's okay.
The taste is just as pleasing. The base is a marzen, and it is evident in the tastes of caramel and no noticeable hop bite that the base is solid. The smokey taste comes through in the beer, along with the meaty taste of brisket and pepper. It's one of the more complex beers I've had in my short time as a beer enthusiast. The smoke isn't too overpowering. Light to medium bodied with light to medium carbonation, there's nothing here that will offend unless you absolutely hate smoke. This is the first of this type I had, but this is indeed top notch beer. I'm glad this was given as a gift, I'll definitely keep my eyes out in case I see it in the future. Have you had one of the other rauchbier varieties? Are they worth getting? Just let me know!
Grade: A-
Price Paid: Free (500 mL bottle)
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