Rauchbier Helles
KC Bier Co.

 

Single bottle from a trade with Harrison8
Golden color with a thick white head, good retention.
Smoke aroma and taste is nicely balanced, not overpowering.
Notes of spicy hops with a hint of sweetness.
I like it.

Pours a dark copper with a foggy transparency. Head is a finger and a half of off-white foam. Aroma is smoke, clove, bread, earthy malts and faint banana. Smoke is the dominate feature. Flavor profile drives more smoke forward, but it refrains from dominating the taste. Bready, earthy malts, and faint clove round it out. Smokey bread. Mouth feel is medium in thickness with a moderately prickly effervescence, not quite achieving crispness, falling just short. Overall, a smoke driven helles, but it remains well balanced throughout. In other words, it is smoke forward, but it doesn't taste like eating a cigarette.

Served in a 15.5oz Speigalau tulip from a 12oz bottle.

Pours mostly clear dark golden color. Two finger white sudsy head forms on the beer and lingers for a moment before dissipating. Aroma is primarily smoked malt, campfire, bready malts, and some light spicy hop notes. The smoke is prominent but avoids becoming overpowering or "meaty".

Taste follows the nose with the smoked malts playing a big part in the profile of the beer. Notes of smoked malts, hints of smoked ham, bread, and smoke are present with some underlying bready notes and spicy hops on the back end. This is a pretty smoky helles lager - so if rauchbiers are not your thing, you are not going to like this. Honestly I would have hated this beer a few years ago - now I am thoroughly enjoying it. Feel is light, crisp, and smooth. Moderate, gentle carbonation.

Overall it is a lovely smoked helles lager