Samuel Adams Rauch Bier
Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

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From:
Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
 
Massachusetts, United States
Style:
Rauchbier
ABV:
5%
Score:
82
Avg:
3.38 | pDev: 25.15%
Reviews:
8
Ratings:
11
Status:
Retired
Rated:
May 31, 2012
Added:
Jan 18, 2004
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  1
No description / notes.
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Ratings by bros:

  None found.

 
Rated: 1 by UncleJon206 from Massachusetts

May 31, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3 by buckyp from South Carolina

Jan 01, 2012
 
Rated: 3 by jscottku21 from Pennsylvania

Dec 12, 2011
Photo of lordofthewiens
Reviewed by lordofthewiens from New Mexico

4.12/5  rDev +21.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
In my Sam Adams pint glass this beer was a coca cola color with a small tan head.

Caramel malt aroma with a definite smokiness.

It tasted like smoky toffee. The flavors really went well together.

Medium-bodied, maybe a little on the sharp side.

A really nice beer. Worth the price of the 12 pack.
Sep 09, 2011
Photo of Jason
Reviewed by Jason from Massachusetts

4.18/5  rDev +23.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Sample from the "Beer Lover's Choice" pack. 12 oz brown bottle with a freshness date on the label.

A- Amazing lacing, stickage all over the place. Crystal clear dark copper color.

S- Fresh smokiness, clean maltiness ... very aromatic and not meaty at all.

T&M- Smooth and crisp, excellent mouth feel ... medium body. Just enough smokiness upfront, nothing cloying or meaty. Dry maltiness meets a hint of hop bitterness and flavor which lays down a snappish semi-dry finsh. Faded smoke in the end.

D- Wow! Absolutely wonderful, perhaps the best domestic beer that uses smoked malt. Perfect balance and oh so drinkable.
Aug 22, 2006
Photo of Kookiekwan
Reviewed by Kookiekwan from Florida

3.36/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Sampled at Brew City in Worcester MA.
The appearance of this beer was orange/amber with very little head(less than a finger). The head did last throughout the beer and left some nice lacing. The smell slightly smoky and reminded me of barbequed meat. The taste was malty, malty, and malty. It was roasted, toasted, very smooth and easy to drink. The smoked malt flavor definetly lingers on the palate and makes for a sweet, smoky, and refreshing finish.

Reflection: If I could take away the smoky flavor I think this beer would be very similar to their Octoberfest. If you can still find it I would suggest trying it before its to late. Very good beer!
Nov 05, 2004
Photo of JMH_
Reviewed by JMH_ from New Jersey

3.45/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
not a bad stab at the style by the bbc, but a bit underwhelming overall. it pours a flat cola/iced tea muddied brown with no head (though i may attribute that moreso to the fact that the bartenders at sunset grill and tap still do not know how to properly pour a beer, but anyway...). carbonation level is average at best. the smell is of smoked maltiness and smoked meat, but is rather subdued overall. there is a definite earth nose to this one as well. the flavour echoes the nose and remains a touch watered down as was the smell. this is a very basic version of this style and might be an excellent choice for introduction to the style, as it doesn't smack you head on with a ton of smoked flavour, as do most rauchbiers. seeing as i am a fan of this style, i'd like to see them crank it up a bit in terms of flavour, but in the meantime, i guess this will suffice. it's cool to know that the bbc still experiments with new styles as well, and i think this one has some promise.
Oct 21, 2004
Photo of taez555
Reviewed by taez555 from Vermont

3.9/5  rDev +15.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Had this beer on tap at the Sunset Grill and Tap in Allston, MA.

It poured a clear amber/tan body with a small white head.

The nose was mostly a touch of malt with a faint but definitely present hint of smoke and wood.

The taste was surprisingly much more intense. It was very smooth and easy drinking with a light to medium body. That classic Sam Adams Lager type smoothness. Soft caramel malt with a soft hop taste and very even bitterness. Smoke and wood flavors come up through and are very present but never overpowering at all.

I was expected a dull lifeless rauch bier from Sam Adams but was pleasantly surprised. Sure it’s not a classic German example of the style, but it is very tasty. Lighter than you expect and the smoke is present but not over the top. Maybe the first true “session” rauch bier. I could definitely see myself drinking a 6 pack of this. Someone tell those guys at Sam Adams to bottle this stuff, I want more.
Sep 30, 2004
Photo of UnionMade
Reviewed by UnionMade from New York

3.81/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Sampled at Extreme Beer 2004.
The beer is a coppery caramel color, topped with a modest, antique white froth. The head settles into a thick mist, keeping throughout the sample, coating the glass with a film of sticky lace. Good clarity.
The aroma is richly malty, with plenty of toasty, bready sweetness. Very clean, with only a faint whiff of smoked malt. A light undercurrent of woodsmoke, with a mild german noble hopping adding a bit of an herbal quality. Not too much going on here, but it's nicely lagered and very clean.
The flavor starts with a clean toasty maltiness. A touch of caramel or toffee, with a mild, delicate smokiness settling on the palate. Restrained woodsmoke blends with the toasted malt admirably, a bit like smoked cheese. Mild, balancing herbal hops support the finish, moderate carbonation adding a brisk quality. The smoky rauch malt lingers on the palate, fading quickly. A lightish medium body, very clean, blended flavors and a mild, easy going mouthfeel.
Something along the lines of a marzen, with a bit of smoked malt. Enjoyable and interesting, with a delicate touch.
Feb 21, 2004
Photo of mschofield
Reviewed by mschofield from Massachusetts

3.37/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Pours a copper-amber with a light tan head.
Smoky aroma and taste, smoked cardboard and smoked meat.
Wood and brown sugar.
I like the meat but not the cardboard. Pretty malty and sweet, no bitterness. Again a hickory style smoke in the taste.
Light-medium feel, the taste isn't as robust as it should be. I'd punch up the smokiness in the taste and aroma and try to add more complexity, too much of a 'malty with a bit of smoke' going on.
Very easy to drink for a rauch.
Feb 06, 2004
Photo of Bierman9
Reviewed by Bierman9 from New Hampshire

3.95/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A new, limited, experimental offering from Sammy, sampled at EBF. This Rauch has a clear, deep golden color, with a big, frothy off-white topping. The head lasted very well, with good lacing to boot. The smokiness in the aroma is quite nice, yet understated so as to not scare people off who aren't familiar with the style. A good amount of maltiness accompanies the distinct smoky notes. The body was slightly under medium, yet it still passed rather nicely on the tongue. There is nice, toasty maltiness here, as well as the aforementioned distinct rauch flavor. The finish is quite dry, with the rauch flavor sticking nicely on the palate. A lot lighter in both color and rauch flavor as compared to the standard, Schlenkerla. Comes in more like a Spezial Rauchbier I think...

Zum Wohl!!

overall: 3.95
appearance: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | mouthfeel: 3.5 | drinkability: 4

678
Jan 19, 2004
Samuel Adams Rauch Bier from Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)
Beer rating: 82 out of 100 with 11 ratings