Rauchbier Von Durham
Triangle Brewing Company

A: The beer pours a pale golden color, reminiscent of a pilsner. A thin layer of bubbles forms on top, but there is little retention.

S: There is only a mild aroma of smoke and cereal grains.

T: Slightly sweet up front. The smoke kicks in quickly and helps to temper the sweetness. There is a slight hop bite late, but not enough to overwhelm the smoke. I'd actually like a bit more smoke presence though. Other than the smoke, the taste is reminiscent of a kolsch.

M: Moderate carbonation. Relatively light on the tongue. A bit sweet up front, but fairly dry on the finish.

D: This went down nicely with a pizza. Very drinkable, if somewhat muted in character.

Triangle's Rauchbier is an ale rather than a lager, so it is actually a smoked beer and not a traditional rauch. Either way, it pours a light golden body with a white head that sticks around a bit. The aromas are sweet pale malt along with a light smokiness that is more along the lines of bacon than ham. Just a hint of smoke and not over the top. The flavor is sweet up front with a light hint of smoke in the finish and just enough hops to keep the sweetness in check. The mouthfeel is on the lighter side with adequate carbonation. All in all an interesting beer that would pair well with a BLT.