Rauchbier
Queen City Brewery

 

 

 

This was my 2nd of 2 full pours during a 21MAY19 visit to the brewpub with Alewife. A 16oz pour was $6.00.

It was a clear, medium golden/copper color, with aggressive carbo. Had a thin, white head, with light lacing. Had a fantastic nose - spot on for the style! Had caramel, toast and a healthy dose of smoked beechwood. Body was a solid medium, and it was light on the prickle.

Taste was dry, with lots of toasted grains, a smidge more of caramel, and plenty of smoky notes. Very much like the Spezial Rauchbier, from Bamberg; perhaps a bit more smoke than Spezial. This is quite solid, indeed! Zum Wohl!!

4.21/5 rDev +5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

2080

 

 

This was poured into a mug. The appearance was a semi-hazy burnt orange color with a one finger white foamy head that dissipated within about thirty seconds. A light film of lacing runs around the glass nicely. The smell starts off with a sweet to smokey bacon and ham thing going on. Light sweet breadiness slides in underneath. The taste takes the sweetness from the ham and combines nicely with the breadiness nicely. Light semi-wet bacon/bready aftertaste runs into a smooth finish. On the palate, this one sat about a light to medium on the body with a fairly decent sessionability about it. Carbonation runs fairly light and smooth. Overall, nice rauchbier that I would have again.

 

 

Super smokey.

 

 

Bacon bacon bacon

 

 

 

There is definitely a lot of smoke in this beer. In talking to the brewer, he said that traditional rauchbier would even be heavier with smoke. I liked this beer and the smoke did border on too much for me, but did not go over the line.

L - Dark amber with a thin film of coarse bubbles. Alright.

S - Wow! Nostalgia everywhere! Campfires from my youth come barreling back in full force. Great smokey aroma. Very promising of things to come.

T - Initial smokey punch up front that's almost so aggressive it quickly scatters in every direction and dissipates almost immediately. Huh. Not much flavor after that. Not necessarily a bad thing though. After trying the other beers in the flight(s), I have noticed that all now have a distinct underlying bacon flavor... so maybe the campfire wasn't as flirting as I thought!

F - Thin. Seems to be a recurring trend with these guys...

O - Super flavor, but not much in the robustness department. Very drinkable for what amounts to alcoholic ham.

Dark amber color. Smells like a campfire after being doused, in a good, rauchbier kind of way. Tastes the same with a sweetness at the back. Very good stuff.