Rauch Marzen
Von Ebert Brewing

Poured into a Seattle Beer Week pint glass. Pours a medium coppery amber with a half finger off-white head with good retention and lacing. Aroma of dry caramel and light biscuit malt and smokehouse smoke. Flavor is mild caramel and bready malt, apple, mild toffee, a little rye tartness and smokehouse (umami) smokiness. Although I prefer smoked bocks over most marzen and helles styles, I gave this a shot because Von Ebert and their collaborator, Chuckanut are so solid. Glad I did. This has a solid marzen style malt body with some light fruit notes and the smoked malt has the wonderful character of a smokehouse used for food for years. Smokiness is a bit dialed back, but probably fits the marzen style better than a peaty malt. I liked this quite a bit.

 

Look: Nearly clear amber with a sudsy head that swells up and slowly settles to a lid, leaving great lacing behind
Aroma: Wood smoke, barbeque, warm bread, and savory/umami notes
Taste: Starts off with a light kiss of smoke before a long-drawn-out barbeque and umami profile gains momentum, constantly developing. Smoldering wood, wood flavoring chips, and savory all included. Bready malt is present throughout and blends with the smoky aspects flawlessly
Mouthfeel: Full but light, clean throughout, medium-high carbonation, and a clean and crisp finish
Overall: This is some good stuff. A delicious malty Marzen with a lovely bouquet of smoky goodness that weaves in and out seamlessly and seems never-ending in its depth. I didn’t see that this was a collaboration when I bought it but cool to see two breweries I respect come together and brew this gem of a Rauch

Can from New Seasons.

A clear amber with a dense off-white head with good retention and lacing.
The nose is great with a blend of bread and smoke, a nice, firm hoppy bite, a little caramel. The blend of Munich malt and smoke is great! The palate opens smoky and sweet with a blend of Munich malt, smoke, earthy hops, and a mild caramel note. The smoke is clean and mildly fruity. Mildly sweet on the finish with lingering smoke and a little bread. Lovely mouthfeel.