Fire Walk With Me
Notch Brewing

 

Not very special of an appearance with little head in the glass and it disappeared quickly. Aroma has a mild smoke. Taste and feel is where this beer really shines those. It has a light crispness with moderate smoke. I’d call this a smoked pilsner if that were a thing. A little different than other Rauchbiers I’ve had but it’s very tasty and nicely done.

Poured from tap at Salem location. Pours amber brown with two fingers of head; slowly recedes with nice lacing down the glass. Subtle taste of smoke accompanies sweet malt backing. Excellent.

Amber color and clear. Solid starting head which leaves a patch of tight spots. Otherwise the glass remains clean.

Strong smoke aroma. Everything else is way in the background.

While the smoke is strong it’s not overwhelming like some rauchbiers. The toasty malt is the secondary taste. Relatively thin with an elevated carbonation. The finish is more smoke, but fairly balanced with malt.

 

Crowler filled 1/21/23

And we’re on the last beer I brought hoke from Notch the other day. They are really good with their Rauch game; every one I’ve had from them has a nice balance to it. So I assume this one will be no different. Let’s crack it open and see what it’s all about

Pours a clear amber gold with 3 fingers of beige head that fades to a thin cap and leaves minimal lacing

Surprising absolutely nobody, the nose is smokey yet delicate. I’m picking up on aromas of beechwood smoke, doughy malt, sweet honey, toasted grain, raisin, herbal hops, and light brown sugar

And the balance carries through in taste, perhaps a bit less smoky and leaning further into the fruit vibes. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting sweet caramel, toasted grain, beechwood smoke, floral hops, orange zest, raisin, and brown sugar. The swallow brings notes of beechwood smoke, biscuity malt, herbal hops, sweet honey, toasted grain, raisin, and light toffee

A light body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a smooth and slick beer. Finishes a tad sticky but the smoke dries it out

While not my favorite Notch Rauchbier, this is still really good. I could be fooled into thinking it’s German

 

 

Pours a deep amber like maple syrup or an elegant tinge of reddishness. Off white head. Beautiful smoke character, more in the smoked meat realm or with some of the BBQ firewood character without the abrasiveness of the actual physical smoke. There's some sweetness in kind of a honey ham way along with a nice solid biscuity grain note. It's much more smoked meat forward than say Lost In The Dream and there's more sweetness and depth. It doesn't sacrifice the drinkability and it is still fairly dry overall. Just an excellent Rauch expression from Notch.

 

Pours clear, orange amber in color with one third inch head. Taste is smoked cedar and toasted malt. More smoke than the Grodiskie but less than Schlenkerla. Medium body, sweet, smoky with moderate carbonation. Love this one. Great smoke taste but still totally different than other rauchbier. Might be the best domestic rauchbier I have had. I would be drinking this daily if Notch was closer.

 

 

 

Enjoyed this on draft today at the brewery release, poured into .5 liter glass
A - Amber, dark copper color, excellent clarity. Carbonation was active and determined, Beautiful rocky white froth.
S - Beech wood smoked malts up front, then a refined grain, cracker, and floral hops round out the nose
T - Earthy grain start, smoked malts a constant but not overbearing, really nice light citrus piece adds to the complexity.
M - Medium in body, resides right between softer water feel and some prickly carbonation. Semi sweet start quickly shift to a beautiful dry finish,
O - A real treat, single decoction has this with a solid body but the start is the aromatics of that smoked malt. Enough to excite the smoked beer fan, and gentle enough to not be off putting.
Excellent beer

Crowler served in a .5l willibecker. Pours a lovely translucent mahogany hue with a rocky, half inch, off-white head that settles into an 1/8th inch cap embedded with tiny craters. Nose expresses notes of smoke and sweet (perhaps caramel) - very much akin to a Schlenkera rauchbier. Taste consistent with nose; however, a little watery and some biscuity notes make an appearance. Finish is slightly medicinal with a hint of lemon. Mouthfeel is light in body with a consistent carbonation shy of lively and a kiss of acidity. Overall, a nice example of a not often represented style.