Schweinshaxe
Oxbow Brewing Company

Oxbow Brewing Co. "Schweinshaxe"
$6 / ,3l on tap @ Brauhaus Schmidt's, Philadelphia, PA

Look: Dark chestnut brown body with a ruby sheen beneath a short head of creamy khaki foam. Average head retention and lacing.

Smell: Distinctly, intensely, Beechwood smoked.

Taste: The flavor is not as smoky as the aroma suggests, nor is it as rich as something like a Schlenkerla Urbock, but there are certainly lighter examples than this to be found in Franconia. It's gently malty with some dark caramel to it, and earthy. A firm bitterness balanced it nicely.

Feel: Medium bodied with a light caress on the tongue.

Overall: A pretty good example of a German-style rauchbier.

 

On tap at Row 34 in Boston, MA.

This one pours a reddish brown color, with not much head or lacing.

This smells like woody and earthy smoke, maple sap, cedar, and a very light earthy funk.

This is a really interesting and weird beer. The smoky flavor is very strong, very earthy, and melds pretty well with the light farmhouse and clovey funk. The maple flavor is sticky and bittersweet, and doesn’t add as much sweetness as expected.

This is medium bodied, pretty rich, with a soft and natural level of carbonation.

Like most Oxbow beers, this is super weird. However, it works pretty well.

I'm trying this at the pizza parlor in the West Loop of Chicago. It poured a nearly opaque dark with thin ercu head that is leaving a spotty lace. The scent is smoke and peat. The taste was nicely balanced and easy to drink. The mouthfeel is lighter in body with good carbonation. Overall it's worth a try.

 

Look: Opaque cola brown with ruby highlights. The head is medium and khaki colored.

Smell: Sweet Brady malt with hints of dark fruits and leather. There is a light smoke on the finish but it’s subtle

Taste: Smoky cold bacon and smoked cedar on the attack. The smoke lingers as the body produces whole wheat bread malt notes and a light fig. There is also a light salinity to the finish.

Feel: Medium bodied. No alcohol. Carbonation is solid. The body is quenching to a semi dry finish.

Overall: A rauchbier I actually enjoyed. The smoke is both subtle and yet full flavored. It mingled with the flavors through while remaining dominat. It also is soft on the palate unlike most rauchbiers I’ve had.

 

 

 

 

On tap at Coppertail. Pours black and creamy with a big khaki head. Smells smokey and sweet. A hint of meatiness. Tastes of yeast flavors up front. Esters before some sweet maltiness. Pushes into the maple flavor and finally a bitter smokiness in the finish. Medium heavy. Pretty good, but I was looking for something a little more from Oxbow.

On tap at Max's 72 Hrs. Smoky aroma and upfront flavor. Light on the tongue with moderate sourness. Not for everyone. I enjoyed it.

On tap at the brewery