Rauchbier
Gypsy Brewing Company

From the half liter bottle, it pours a nice clear dark amber color with a modest, soon diminishing off-white head. Some spotty lacing. The nose gets the bacony smoke scent of a nice rauchbier. The mouth revels in the slick covering of the brew, engaging first with smoke and then with some toasted malt notes and maybe some caramel. Not a bad US rendition!

The label has a lovely rendition of the Bamberg Rathaus in the middle of the Regnitz River - good reminder of the home of Rauchbier!!

 

Could this be a good local alternative to the legendary Schlenkerla rauchbier? Judging from the aroma, it certainly seems close to that mark - and I don't say things like that lightly (not to mention it pours a beautiful and clear chestnut color). The dominating note is smoked beechwood, with a nice undercurrent of caramel and toasted malt. In terms of intensity and delicate nuance, it's a little bit behind Schlenkerla's rauchbier, but really it isn't that far behind. The flavor profile, while missing that perfect cohesion and deft balance, certainly strikes the right notes. Smoked wood is the first flavor to hit the palate, followed by a wave of caramel, toasted malt, and cream. There's a little too much sweetness around the mid-taste, and the finish isn't as soft. Still, it offers a nice smoky presence, and I do like how it subsides to reveal more of the base beer. The mouthfeel is nicely round, though lacking a superbly crisp finish. It's almost too round to the point of being lumpy, though. Carbonation is low. To answer my question, is it a good local alternative to the legendary Schlenkerla rauchbier? Yes...but it isn't quite a great local alternative. It's just lacking that certain "pop" for me. Still, it's an enjoyable smoked beer, one I'd never refuse.