Altenmünster Rauchenfelser Steinbier

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 3 | Overall: 3

A pitiful example of the style, this was a huge disappointment. Well, maybe I shouldn't have started Rauchbiers with Schlenkerla, but that is forever the benchmark and this was a pity. Light smoked aroma with caramel underneath. The flavor was way too sweet, too caramel-like, just phoney. The smoke wasn't overdone, but it was assertive, lost by a flavor that was too sweet. Mouthfeel was a little sticky, not smooth, certainly not lager-like.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Everyone who is a beer nut will at one time or another hear about Steinbiere - the beer that is actually brought to boil by dropping a super heated stone (2200 degrees Farenheit) into the wort.

Apparently this was done way back when brew kettles were wooden and couldn't be heated over a fire. The stones are coated with caramelized sugar during the boil and later placed in the lagering tanks to aid in the secondary fermentation. I knew I had to try this product when I read about it - and it was a rauchbier to boot. Talk about your medieval undertones!

The beer is copper colored with a brief head. Smoked aroma is of smoked meats and made me wish for some beef jerky. Flavor is obviously very smokey but the malt and hops are easily found and the result is a decent, albeit lightly smoked rauchbier. Given the rustic method used to brew this beer I'd have to say those ancient Germans should be given some credit. If their brew tasted even close to this one they did themselves proud.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 7

I saw two smoked beers from this brewery and decided to try both - the regular Steinbrau and this one - a smoked weiss. Wasn't sure if I could differentiate between the two styles with all the smoke. This beer is a light amber color with a huge weiss head. The aroma was that of a smoked salami - no "beer" smells can cut through that. Decent body to the beer and yes, there was a weiss hiding beneath the smoked malt flavor but you had to go looking for it. Smokey aftertaste was pleasant. Not the strongest smoke flavoring, but definitely enough to earn the title Rauchbier.

Aroma: 7 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 8

An attractive label (quite Germanic) advertises what this 500mL swing-top bottle holds -- a well-mannered, if perhaps too polite -- example of a Rauchbier.

Pours with a nice smoke aroma, but figured that the smell was a little subdued for the style due to this coming straight out of my `fridge, and needed some warming to kick it up a notch. No such luck, I'm afraid. At no time did this beer's aroma profile reach what I would call "the zone" for a Rauchbier. I'll take the balls-to-the-wall smokiness of an Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock over this subdued example any day and twice on Sunday.

Aside from the aroma profile that really never goes anywhere, this is a nice drinkable bier. Flavorful and enjoyable in the mouth, and reasonably drinkable.

But to be honest, I can get flavorful and nicely drinkable beers anywhere. When I buy a Rauchbier, I want smoke, and lots of it. Maybe this would be a good starter bier for newbies to the style, but just doesn't do a lot for me.
//TB

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 6

Very dark, beautiful amber and a medium white head. Smoked applewood and a littel bit of tobacco in the aroma. Fairly mild for a smoked beer. The taste is light and refreshing. It leaves a strong tea taste and some cola in the mouth. The smoothest and lightest smoked I have tried. If you are looking for a lot of smoke, try another one. If you want a smooth beer with just light smoke taste, then this might be up your alley.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

This is served at cellar temp..when the top is loosened it opens with an audible pop as steam comes out. The beer is a nice dark amber , almost brown colour with a small white head, that goes fast, minimal lacing. Smell is nice like lightly smoked haddock i used to eat as a child in Scotland, some malts too. mm woody carbon taste, again the smoked haddock comes to mind..lightly smoked this is no Sclenkerla rauch, but its very enjoyable if you like smoked foods..nice malt profile keeps it together. Its nice on the palate, maybe just a touch watery. Good drinkable beer..a stone brewed beer. This is not a dubbel.it is a stone brewed lager