Kaiserdom Rauchbier

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 9 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Rauchbier is a German beer style which has its roots in the Northern Bavarian brewing city of Bamburg. Rauchbiers are very pungent with salty, sooty, smokey flavor and aroma. A portion of malt in brewing of this beer style, is smoked over a beech wood fire. Its a very distinctive aroma and flavor, even a small portion of this malt in a beer goes a very long way. This portion of "smoked" malt added in some cases, can be as high as 60% of the grain bill. That makes for an intensely smokey beer. It has been said the locals in Bamburg say you need to try six or seven liters of this beer style before you can really enjoy it. I'm like Michael Jackson, The Beer Hunter when he said: "I loved it the first time I ever tried it.". I love rauchbier, and Kaiserdom Rauchbier, was my introduction into this style. Schlenkerla Ur-Bock and Marzen, are my favorite German examples. Kaiserdom doesn't use a marzen or a bock as a base to their rauchbier, though I wish they would. They use a helles, and while outstanding, I belive a beer style such as bock or marzen is more suited for rauchbier. Kaiserdom Rauchbier pours to a deep blonde/golden color, with a nice white head, and a good carbonation. The nose is very smokey. Whiffs of salty, sooty, beech wood smoked malt aroma flood the nose. The palate is a lean malt back bone of pale malts, and of course that salty, sooty rauch malt flavor. Smoke dominates in this beer, the pale malts don't stand a chance. This beer finishes with a long, dry, salty, smokey finish. This beer is liquid smoked ham in a glass. It really is a great introduction into rauchbier, you'll know what smoked malt tastes like after one sample of this. I have had mixed experiences with this beer. On draught it is devine. In bottles, you have to be careful. Kaiserdom Rauchbier is packaged in green bottles, and if old and light struck, you'll get some "skunky" aroma and flavor with your smoke. This beer is a bit pricey as well, Schelenkla is a better example of the style in my opinion and can be purchased a little cheaper. Still a great beer to try and a good example of rauchbier. I would match this with grilled bratwurst, roasted chicken, and smoked cheeses.

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 6 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 5

Darker amber coloring with a little head. Aroma can only be described as a heavy smell of smoked meat - like standing over a barbeque. Mouthfeel was a bit flat. Flavor did have a nice malt characteristic to it but the smoke flavoring was a bit too meat-like for me. Really tasted like there might be some beef puree in this one - a bit off putting.

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

I had to try this one after recently having the Schlenkerla. I found this one to be less smokey and flavorfull, but I thought the other one was too overwhelming.

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

I really enjoy smoked beers. Schlenkerla being the best. This one is a tad bitter, but enjoyable none the less.