Echigo Rauch Lager
Land Beer

 

Had this on tap at Kura-Kura in Kanda, Tokyo. (Plug for the bar, too -- very nicely kept and out of the way of street traffic so not overcrowded. Recommended!) This was my first rauch beer, and all I knew to expect was a toasted flavor. However, this beer had even more than that. The head was a beautiful dark tone that maintained throughout 75% of its life in the glass. The head really helped to release the smoked scent as I drank it, and also worked to introduce other scents of wood, grain, and even caramel perhaps. It was a bit thin in the area of mouthfeel, but perhaps this is the style of the beer. Overall, a very drinkable yet smokey brew. Definitely hard to pair with food though -- I would recommend this more for an after-dinner brew similar.