Rauchenfelser Steinbrau
Privatbrauerei Franz Joseph Sailer

Rauchenfelser SteinbrauRauchenfelser Steinbrau
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From:
Privatbrauerei Franz Joseph Sailer
 
Germany
Style:
Rauchbier
ABV:
4.9%
Score:
84
Avg:
3.69 | pDev: 14.09%
Reviews:
52
Ratings:
55
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Nov 15, 2021
Added:
Sep 14, 2001
Wants:
  6
Gots:
  1
This light-bodied Rauchbier is brewed and caramelized in a special process where hot rocks are used to caramelize malts. Then the sugary rocks cool down and are placed into the maturation vats. The lightly smoked toffee flavors are produced from this process.
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Ratings by Frozensoul327:
Photo of Frozensoul327
Reviewed by Frozensoul327 from Michigan

4.07/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Thanks to Putnam for alerting me to this one. Poured out to a medium burnt orange color with a short lived head. Some rings of lace and light medium low carbonation. Aroma is of smoked malts and biscuits. Flavor is light and crisp, with nice hints of smoke, malt, cured meats and earth. Some mild hop bitterness is present in the background. Mouthfeel is smooth and light, with a slight hint of a butter character. Very nice. Drinkability is good. If one were to make a session out of a Rauchbier, this would be the choice. If one is looking for the definitive Rauchbier, Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Marzen would be the choice. Nonetheless, this is an excellent beer to start with when getting aquainted with the style. Recommended.
Dec 14, 2005
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.82 by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota

Nov 15, 2021
 
Rated: 3.9 by emerge077 from Illinois

Sep 22, 2021
 
Rated: 3.69 by smi69 from New York

Jul 03, 2020
Photo of RblWthACoz
Reviewed by RblWthACoz from Pennsylvania

2.88/5  rDev -22%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2
Pours a clouded, strangely hued orange brown. Nose is disgusting. It's like melted fat. This isn't my first rauch, so I know what's up. Yeah. And the flavor is bringing that melted fat thing too. I'm calling this early. Too harsh and nasty to really continue on. If you are looking to try your first rauch, don't go for this one. There are much better examples of the style out there.
Sep 12, 2008
Photo of IronDjinn
Reviewed by IronDjinn from Canada (AB)

2.7/5  rDev -26.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
Received this bottle as part of 2006's CANBIF from rudge75 and fisherman34 (thanks guys!). Finally have the chance to sit down and sample it...

Pours out a murky tea coloured body, like iced tea. Cloudy, with a spongy off-white head that recedes to a thin cap.

The aroma is a bit of a curiosity. Hickory smoke, carbon, ashes and a surprising citrus zing greet the nose. The malt seems to flounder beneath all of this, in its own sweet caramel guise.

Then things get even crazier in the flavour dep't. Sweet caramel malt is immediately eclipsed by sweet, tangy lemon iced tea, all the while being entrenched in a cloud of hickory smoke. Finishes with a real tart lemony splash, as if I had squeezed a lemon quarter into the beer myself. It's refreshing yet hard to swallow at the same time. A combination of flavours that just doesn't quite work for me.

Mouthfeel is light and thin, which helps carry the citrus tones of the flavour, but falls short accompanying the malt and the smoke.

I choke almost each sip down, then yet want to go back for more, perhaps out of sheer perverse curiosity. I've yet to try a rauchbier this dynamically ambivalent before. However I can't see myself going back for more after this bottle is finished. Still, it was a helluva ride.
Feb 05, 2007
Photo of jamie2dope
Reviewed by jamie2dope from Massachusetts

4.17/5  rDev +13%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Had this beer at the Bavarian Bier Garden. Poured a chestnut brown color with some red colors towards the bottom, not much head to mention. Smell was unlike anything i've had before with barbecue aromas, fired kindling, chicory, soy sauce, even a hint of coffee here and there. Taste was big on the smoke factor, with the other flavors falling into place quite nicely with the smoke backdrop. The balance of hops and malts seemed damn near perfect, making it a pleasent beer to have on any occasion. I would not say that this beer is for everybody...my mom had a taste and nearly coughed it back up from the extreme smokey tastes, but still very worth trying. Although I previously stated that this beer is good for any time of year, I would love to try it during Christmas time with a roaring fire in front of me and a snowy evening outside. Happy Trails
Apr 22, 2006
Photo of Citadel82
Reviewed by Citadel82 from New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
I really like smoked beers. This was a deliciously smoky aromatic brew though thin on taste and palate. It was still very decent but better brews are more readily available. Pours a light clear chestnut with a modest white head. Lovely, and I do mean lovely aroma of smoked malt and sweet caramel. Taste was a bit thin. A touch of smoke some pale malts, a little carmel and some hop notes. Thin on the palate though nicely drinkable. Would pair well with smoked cheese and meats. Prost!


P.S. Yes I will try again.
Mar 18, 2006
Photo of russpowell
Reviewed by russpowell from Arkansas

3.93/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Just update to my prior review (2-16-06): This bier is in fact a steinbier which doesn't have it's own category ATT. The main characteristic I get from most steinbiers is the sweetish/caramely taste along with smokiness as a secondary taste profile. Cheers to Horst for pointing this out to me. A fact I had forgotten after a few brews! Steinbier or rauchbier; still reccomended!

Here's the original notes : Pours a light copper color with a pillowy 2" deep sand colored head. Head drops to a healthy film. Very good head retention

Smell: Smokiness and not much else. What you want from a rauchbier?lilacs?

Taste: Sweetness up front countered by an oaky smoked flavor. dryness and maltiness in the finish

MF: Good carbonation levels, wouldn't mind it thicker. But otherwise balanced

Pretty darn drinakble. Not the best rauchbier I've ever had, but subtle enough to appreciate. Some American efforts are just too over the top. Give this a shot

[ serving type: bottle ]
Feb 21, 2006
Photo of assurbanipaul
Reviewed by assurbanipaul from Texas

3.22/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Pours a cloudy, murky brown with a medium-sized white head. Aroma is malty and smokey, like the embers of a campfire with a couple of cigarettes put out in it.

Taste is malty with more smoke. Sweetly smoked, like a fireplace, not like tobacco, but not too sweet and with a touch of tangy hops. Traces of orange flavor lost somewhere in the middle. Roasty, bready elements combined with a smoked-cheese flavor, like a hickory flavoring for meat. Some meat flavors, also. Finish is clean, smoke flavors fade toward the end of the glass, no real strong aftertaste.

Mouthfeel is medium, not real heavy. Sample has particulates a'floating in it, so it might be an old bottle. An odd style, to say the least. Not bad but one bottle is enough for me.
Oct 24, 2005
Photo of BuckeyeNation
Reviewed by BuckeyeNation from Iowa

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Beautiful, smoky orange-caramel that explodes with tangerine highlights when the glass is held up to the bright morning sunshine streaming through my front window. The ecru cap is on the small side following the pour, but looks to be in no hurry to disappear. Unfortunately, there are only a few ribbons of lace on the glass.

This is definitely a good rauchbier nose. I won't let the fact that I'd like a little more smoke keep me from granting a high score. On the other hand, I like the fact that it doesn't overpower the essential beerness of the beer. Even though it smells like sweet hickory, I'm sure the more traditional beechwood was used.

Rauchenfelser isn't quite as good on the palate because the relative lack of smokiness isn't as easily overlooked. Wood smoke shares the stage with a mild caramel maltiness that is especially evident on the finish when the smoke begins to fade. This is still good beer, but those hoping for a Schlenkerla-like 'rauch bomb' are likely to be disappointed.

The beer has a fair amount of underlying sweetness, but the mouthfeel is on the light side. A bigger mouthfeel might have worked better. I can't be too critical, though, because it looks as if the brewers were aiming for a lightly smoked, relatively light-bodied lager. If so, they hit the bull's eye.

Rauchenfelser Steinbrau is a good, drinkable rauchbier. It may not be entirely fair, but I can't help but compare it to the Brauerei Heller-Trum (Aecht Schlenkerla) line of wood-smoked beers. When judged by that standard, it falls a little short. However, those who like their rauchbiers to be less rauchy should find a lot to like within this attractive swing-top bottle.
Sep 21, 2005
Photo of fisherman34
Reviewed by fisherman34 from Canada (MB)

3.35/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Not as much smoke as some others that I've tried, but perhaps subltety is one of the things this beer has going for it. Sweetened lemon iced tea is perhaps the best beverage that I can compare this beer to. They are both the same colour (murkey brown with yellow hints), and both have lemon and tannic tea qualities. I enjoyed drinking this, but I'm not sure if that makes it a good beer.
Aug 08, 2005
Photo of garymuchow
Reviewed by garymuchow from Minnesota

3.58/5  rDev -3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
My first sniff out of the bottle was of bacon. It's subtler and flatter once poured with a maltier quality than smoke. I actually liked the sniff out of the bottle better. A lighter smoked meat quality.
Amber of brown and orange. Clear. Creamy looking head that settles to a thickish ring. Some lacing.
Smokish flavor. Again like a fresh meat being smoked. Balanced nicely with malt. Overall flavor profile is mild. Smoke flavor seems to create a dryness to finish. Has a nice lager quality.
Really watery like that blends with flavors somehow. Otherwise lager smooth. Medium carbonation and fairly soft.
Overall it's a decent drink and easy to drink. Blends nicely with the cheese I was eating.
Jun 04, 2005
Photo of Sycodrummer
Reviewed by Sycodrummer from Massachusetts

3.53/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from the bottle into a stange yeilding about 1.5 fingers of head atop of a deep brown near mahogony colored beer. Slight lacing ran down the side of the glass throughout the sample.

Smell was as if it had been "burnt" with a smokey almost hickory like aroma.

Taste was also quite smokey but not too much to enjoy. Balanced nicely with a slight bitterness and overall very smoked malt taste that was not too heavy on the palate and had little carbonation.

Not a taste I think I would enjoy alone, but paired with the BBQ ribs that it was, it was quite good.
Apr 05, 2005
Photo of Sixpack595
Reviewed by Sixpack595 from Michigan

3.98/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
Medium copper brown in color with a huge creamy cap of foam. Sweet and slightly smokey aroma is strong at first, but fades rapidly. Smoke flavor is very slight, carmel dominates with a good bit of sweetness. Bitterness is very mild. Mouthfeel is medium light, and the aftertaste is a bit smokey.
Mar 28, 2005
Photo of UncleJimbo
Reviewed by UncleJimbo from Massachusetts

3.67/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Sampled from a 500-mL flip-top bottle at The Sunset in Boston.

This "rauchbier" poured a cloudy, light coffee-colored brown with off-white foam that settled. The smell was smokey and lightly malty sweet. The taste was smokey with a light sweetness. Overall mostly malt with a bit of smoke. The mouthfeel was smooth with medium body and moderate carbonation. The aftertaste was mildly smokey and lightly malty. This was an OK bier.
Mar 13, 2005
Photo of DrainBamage
Reviewed by DrainBamage from Michigan

3.83/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a dark brown color with a large head initially and fades, but a thin one remains. You will definately be able to smell the smoked and roasted malts in this thing. Very strong, but not overwhelming. Taste is pretty much what you'll imagine after getting your first smell. The smoking flavor is desireable and can persuade to like this beer style. This is my first time trying a the rauchbier style, but I am quite pleased and when I see another like this I know it'll catch my eye.
Mar 03, 2005
Photo of Pegasus
Reviewed by Pegasus from Texas

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: Light amber brown color with a very small white head, minimal lacing is present.

Aroma: Profoundly smoky aroma, reminiscent of smoked meat, little else.

Taste: Smoky, earthy flavors utterly dominate, with lesser hoppy flavors. Finishes with a slight herbal bitterness.

Mouth feel: Smooth and full, quite nice.

Drinkability/notes: Definitely a treat for lovers of smoked foods, would likely pair very well with smoked meats and cheeses, and dark breads. Those who do not care for smoked foods may find this beer a bit overwhelming to the senses.
Feb 12, 2005
Photo of inebrius
Reviewed by inebrius from Michigan

4.64/5  rDev +25.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
Poured deep amber under a wispy tan head after I split the sausage casing. Wondrous fumes of fruitwood charcoal, pit stones and preserved lemons smolder while an easy slice of liquid whole grain toast sweeps the buds leaving deposits of river grass and gravel. My initial reaction was desire for a larger malt structure but after a few healthy swigs I understand the just balance between smoke and a sterling drinkability. Multiple liters might be the perfect mental escape from steel and concrete surroundings.
Jan 24, 2005
Photo of jeffjwes
Reviewed by jeffjwes from Indiana

3.66/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4
appearance : looks like a glass of ice tea but with nice head
smell : smoke is all I can smell
taste : smooth taste, light bitterness ,smoke is the main taste
mouthfeel : dry and light
drinkability : very drinkable would be a great session beer

This was only the second smoked beer I've ever had but I liked it for $2.00 for a pint I will definitely buy it again.
Dec 22, 2004
Rauchenfelser Steinbrau from Privatbrauerei Franz Joseph Sailer
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 55 ratings