Deep Purple Rauchbier
Marshall Wharf Brewing Company / Three Tides Restaurant

3.46/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Tap at the festival.

Semi clear auburn color, light fizzy head.

Nose some smoke, soapy perfumy aromatics, light campfire, caramel, sweet malts, chewy malt like, charcoaly.

Taste Smoke galore, campfire smoke, hint of peat like smoke even, caramel and reddish malts, chewy, light earthy grassy hops, a bit of bitterness, little creamy even, and a heat from the smoke itself but fluffy. Finish is long smoke, bitterness, light astringent.

Mouth is med bodied, decent carb.

Overall not bad but not great, I've had better and worse Rauchbiers. It brings plenty of smoke, but not much else I think.

 597 characters

4.41/5  rDev +14.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

@ Novare Res, Portland ME

Dark orange with a thin head. Some crescent moon retention to begin with but all foam is pretty much dead by 4 fingers.

Smells like campfire, bread crust and fig jam.

Smoke, of course, is the base but the malty depth is as good as I've ever had in a rauch - MacIntosh apple, gingerbread and as it warms the sweetness settles down and it tastes like a smoked pretzel. Not as smokey as it could be but the malt character is complimentary and enjoyable enough that it works.

I've yet to have a Marshall Wharf beer that didn't impress the pants off me and once again I find myself pant-less.

 619 characters

4.17/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at When Pigs Fly. Have I mentioned what a phenomenal beer list they have?

In a snifter the beer was a dark brown color with a small tan head.

It had a caramel and an understated smoke aroma.

The taste was smoky caramel, with a little vanilla.

This was a very smooth and delicious beer. The smoke was kind of in the background, and not right in your face. Very nice.

 376 characters

4/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I stopped into Three Tides with Alewife on 09DEC11 for some bier and food. Started off with a 1/2-pint of their Rauchbier, served by the Tides owner, David Carlson.

My slender, fluted glass was filled with a clear copper brew, with steady carbo rising up. Head was thin and fine, off-white, but left minimal lacing. Had an attractive aroma, some caramel mingling with light smokiness. The rauch was easily evident but not overly strong. Medium bodied all the way, the liquid was also fairly easy-going on the tongue.

Good caramel notes and light sweetness were first to board the palate. Restrained smoke was noted. Again, like the aroma, it was readily noticed but not the liquid-bacon that scares most people off. The smoke was there but didn't overpower anything else here. A little florality came into play at the finish, which was pretty dry. Quite satisfying and enjoyable. Most folks either love or hate Rauchs; I'm in with the Rauch-lovers, and this one hit the spot. Prosit!!

4 rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

1417

 1,060 characters

3.49/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured on-tap at Three Tides, the beer was served in a pint glass. The beer pours a honey-brown color, with a vibrant, yellow-hued highlight. There is a thin ring of fluffy, white head. The smokey nose is similar to applewood bacon and oak chips. The beer's flavors are a bit watery and light, especially after the heavy aromas. Mostly nutty sweet, with a steady smoked background. The aftertaste is very light, with a balance of smoke and sweet malt. The beer does have a smooth, clean finish.

 494 characters

3.83/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at Three Tides, Belfast, ME

Described as "bacon in a glass." I've definitely had rauchbiers that are smokier than this, but this was nice and easily drinkable.

Poured a thick, dark brown with a nice finger of well-retaining head. Roasted malts and nuts in the aroma with an obvious smoke presence. More roasted malts in the taste, with smoked wood and mesquite happening, but not overly smokey compared to other rauchbiers. A bit of sweetness coming through on the finish. Medium bodied and pretty drinkable if you're a fan of the style.

 557 characters

4.17/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from the growler, not too much carbonation so no need to be careful with your pour. This beer is definitely not for everyone, the main characteristic is certainly smokey, almost reminiscent of bacon, which I don't mind at all. Underlying sweetness rounds out the taste. Definitely will try this one again.

 312 characters

3.53/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

a: pint serving, dark amber in color with a nice off white head that shows good retention

s: malty lager base - perhaps toasty vienna and the like, with a full but mostly balanced hardwood smoke presence, fruity esters

m: carbonation light, medium bodied

t: a malty toasted lager structure holds a genuine hardwood smoke flavor, not necessarily the dominant characteristic but at the top of the mix, moderately sweet with a grass hop edge, somewhat estery with some light fruits, decent smoked beer

d: easy enough, but not something worth more than a glass

ordered this at Novare Res but the keg kicked halfway into my pint, which the bartender kindly provided without charge

 680 characters

1.65/5  rDev -57%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Had this in a pint glass on tap at Novare Res. The pour was decent. The bartender said it would take a bit to settle and after a couple pours then settles I had a clear brown beer with a small white head. No visible carbonation and my ability to see right through this beer really surprised me. I was expecting something a little more heavy. After looking at it for a while I stuck my nose right in. Deep Purple gives a faint smell of a smokehouse flavor. As if I where smoking bacon. Not much else to the nose. It's really dominated by smoke. Not much to taste in this one. A little bit of the smokey bacon flavor I was expecting from the aroma, but there wasn't enough of anything. This was really watery and had zero carbonation. I really felt like I was drinking dirty smoked water. The lack of carbonation and extremely light body give this beer an off putting mouth feel. This would be easier to drink if the flavors where more there, I just feel like there wasn't enough of anything. I'm really hoping my next Marshall Wharf endeavor is better. I ended up only drinking about a third of this before just calling it a night.

 1,130 characters