Longshot Smokehouse Rauchbier
Samuel Adams (Boston Beer Company)

 

 

 

 

 

Pours a clear, brown color. One inch head of an off-white color. Great retention and good lacing. Smells of strong smoke, sweet malt, slight alcohol, hint of yeast, and slight pale malt. Mouth feel is sharp and clean, with an average carbonation level. Fits the style of a Rauchbier. Tastes of strong smoke, sweet malt, slight alcohol, hint of yeast, hint of caramel malt, and slight pale malt. Overall, good strong smoke flavor and aroma that doesn't overpower other flavors. Slightly disappointing was the overall complexity lacking, though.

 

 

12 oz bottle poured into a shaker pint.

Appearance
Mahogany-amber with 1 finger of head that dissipates quickly. Excellent clarity with light carbonation.

Nose
Beechwood smoke, caramel, and brown bread.

Taste
Nice beechwood smoked malt character; smoked sausage and assorted meats. Caramel and brown bread.

Mouthfeel
Medium-light bodied, crisp, slick, and off-sweet.

Overall
Fairly simple and just a tad too sweet. An alright Rauchbier.

 

Handsome appearance. Clear brownish amber color with plenty of foam and lots of lacing in the glass. Quite prickly on the tongue. A little sugar but the body is thin.

Carmel taste with a touch of smokey malt. Strong taste of club soda after the sweet smoke dissipates. Aftertaste falls flat and soapy. This is drinkable, but not very inspiring. I don't know what's wrong with the Longshot series this year, this is the only drinkable one of the three. From the mixed six-pack purchased at Susan's Fine Wine & Spirits in Santa Fe.

 

Boston Beer Co. "Samuel Adam's Longshot Smokehouse Rauchbier"
12 oz. brown glass bottle, "BREWERY-FRESH" by October... I just made it!

Rauchbier is one of my favorite styles of beer, but it's often one that's over-done or under-done. I would have personally liked a little bit more character to the malt in this one, but I can't really argue against it. As for the smoke and the bitterness, it's right on. It's really nicely balanced, and I'd think you could drink a few of these - which is not normally something I can say as the smoke builds upon the palate! Beyond that it looks great in the glass. The head retention and lacing are both impressive. Where it wavers, or probably more likely where I waver, is the hop character. I was expecting a more traditional beer but there's a subtle twist here. Instead of the floral and leafy/grassy hops that I normally find, there's a delicate squirt of lemony-citrus hops. In a way that adds to the drinkability, and helps cut through the smoke after the initial few sips - which is good - but it's also a little odd for me and I don't quite know how to take it. Still, I'm quite pleased by it, and if this was available by the six-pack I'd gladly pick some up (I might even go for a whole case). If you come across it you should definitely give it a shot.

 

 

Served in a Trooper shaker pint glass.

Whilst Yongary ravages Seoul, I strangely have a yen for some smoke... Anyway, this stuff pours a clear sienna topped by a finger of relatively short-lived ashen foam. The nose comprises dry wood (beech bordering on balsa), mild toffee, dried biscuit, and a wisp of barbecue pit, sauce spots included. The taste revs things up a good deal, leading the way with what feels like hickory smoke, followed by some molasses- and caramel-laden toasted biscuits, then finishing with some mild grass and toffee. The smoke is relatively mild, as though you're keeping your distance from the fire pit for fear of accidental ember burns, so you're still getting the general effect without having to worry about your eyes drying out in a matter of seconds. The body is a light-leaning medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a somewhat slick feel. Overall, a solid rauchbier, one I might describe as a worthwhile introduction to the style: It's well-balanced, somewhat light on the smoke component (without losing it entirely, as some have a tendency to do, oddly enough), and definitely drinkable. Not bad at all.

 

 

Pours a vibrant copper color with excellent clarity. A malty looking beer that has a bubbly white head that leaves ample lacing down the shaker pint I had.

Aroma has a deep beechwood like smoked malt note. Campfire is how many craft drinkers describe the smell, and it is a omen of things to come surely.

The taste is nice and malty with caramel and toffee notes complimented by a medium strong smoked malt flavor. Peaty, woody smoke that is more than likely imported from Germany, but could certainly have been done onsite by Boston Brewing Co's well worked brewing crew that are no strangers to this game. Great combination of malt and smoke with just a kiss of floral hop aroma and herbal bitterness.

Full bodied, smooth, creamy and smokey, this beer drinks easily for those accustomed to this type of flavor profile. Not for an amateur drinker or those with a fragile palate. This will walk circles around your tongue, using a smokestack infused with brew to spray you down.

A fine rauchbier by any standard. A few grades above your average example of this often well executed and very traditional style.