Classic With A Twist #2 - Double Rauchbock
Funky Fluid

 

Pours a deep mahogany coloration with a ruby sheen when held up to the light, with a medium, fluffy head. Smells of smoked, caramel malt and hints of chocolate and dark fruits, with notes of plum and fig, as well as burned bacon. Taste is a great balance of smoked, caramel malt, some dark fruits and red berries, with notes of plum, fig and lighter cranberry, hints of chocolate and mild tobacco, licorice and herbal hop accents. Finishes bittersweet, with some campfire-smoked bacon, dark fruits and hints of licorice and herbal hops lingering in the aftertaste. Full mouthfeel with a medium/rich body and light/medium carbonation.

This makes for a pretty nice Rauchbock that really has that campfire-smoked bacon quality to it that I expect from the style, while also managing a great balance of sweet and bitter notes, feeling quite rich and full-bodied, while managing a certain complexity as well. I really do like the interplay of smoked, fruity, sweet and bitter notes here, with the smoked malts and dark fruits standing out particularly, while the accents of chocolate, tobacco, licorice and herbal hops provide additional depth here. Overall, this makes for a quite rich and well-balanced Rauchbock with a great depth of character.