Rauchbier
Goldfinger Brewing Company
- From:
- Goldfinger Brewing Company
- Illinois, United States
- Style:
- Rauchbier
Ranked #35 - ABV:
- 5.2%
- Score:
- 90
Ranked #13,720 - Avg:
- 4.11 | pDev: 4.87%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 7
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Aug 18, 2025
- Added:
- Nov 06, 2022
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
SCORE
90
Outstanding
90
Outstanding
Brewed in collaboration with Maplewood Brewing.
A traditional Bamberger smoked lager, this beer was inspired by Tudor courtyards, brisk air, and endless clay mugs of special beer. This lager is delightfully smoky on the nose at first, but as the palate adjusts to the smoke it gives way to malty and subtle floral notes. Malty sweetness up front balanced by smokiness that finishes dry.
Smoked beer fans, you’re going to love this. Non smoked beer fans, remember the golden rule: take three sips. Just like our Grodziskie started smoky but by the third or fourth sip it gave way to all sorts of other flavor complexities.
A traditional Bamberger smoked lager, this beer was inspired by Tudor courtyards, brisk air, and endless clay mugs of special beer. This lager is delightfully smoky on the nose at first, but as the palate adjusts to the smoke it gives way to malty and subtle floral notes. Malty sweetness up front balanced by smokiness that finishes dry.
Smoked beer fans, you’re going to love this. Non smoked beer fans, remember the golden rule: take three sips. Just like our Grodziskie started smoky but by the third or fourth sip it gave way to all sorts of other flavor complexities.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by stortore from Illinois
4.08/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.08/5 rDev -0.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16 ounce can into a pilsner glass. Canned 10/24/24, had 2/15/25.
Pours a mostly clear light caramel color, with a three inch head of spongy foam on an average pour and some foamy lacing. Aromas of caramel, malt, smoke, charred wood. Flavors of caramel, malt, smoke- less than the nose, a little bread. Smooth, a very good lighter medium body, well carbonated.
A solid example of the style, but the flavor is a little more tame than others. Has a great aroma, with a pretty good amount of smokiness. Very enjoyable.
Aug 18, 2025Pours a mostly clear light caramel color, with a three inch head of spongy foam on an average pour and some foamy lacing. Aromas of caramel, malt, smoke, charred wood. Flavors of caramel, malt, smoke- less than the nose, a little bread. Smooth, a very good lighter medium body, well carbonated.
A solid example of the style, but the flavor is a little more tame than others. Has a great aroma, with a pretty good amount of smokiness. Very enjoyable.
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois
4.23/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
4.23/5 rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Had on tap. Mostly clear dirty golden body with a huge off-white head leaving lines of lacing. Smell has that wonderful smoke meeting nutty malts, mild dried orange, and minor meaty tones. Taste adds a really complimentary yeast that is sneaky bready for the style with earth toned accents. So smooth and smoky, everything flows together in the sip so well, easy drinking. A good entry into the style as it is approachable yet good depth of flavor
Mar 19, 2025
Reviewed by BeerGeekExtraordinaire from Illinois
3.75/5 rDev -8.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.75/5 rDev -8.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Standard caveat is that I rate beers the same way I do on Untappd.
Poured into a 16 oz pint glass
Amber colored. Decent head.
There is a smoke aroma, but it's not overpowering.
The malt profile is bready, biscuity. Notes of caramel. There is some smoke flavor but again not overpowering. To me it tastes like a campfilre smells, if that makes any sense. It's not like Schlenkerla where the flavor seems like you're drinking ribs or ham.
Decent body/mouthfeel. It's not thin.
I think this would be a first foray for anyone trying a rauchbier for the first time. Enough smoke to let you know it's there in all aspects but not as heavy handed as something like Schlenkerla would be. I have had this with brisket and it's fantastic with that.
Nov 08, 2024Poured into a 16 oz pint glass
Amber colored. Decent head.
There is a smoke aroma, but it's not overpowering.
The malt profile is bready, biscuity. Notes of caramel. There is some smoke flavor but again not overpowering. To me it tastes like a campfilre smells, if that makes any sense. It's not like Schlenkerla where the flavor seems like you're drinking ribs or ham.
Decent body/mouthfeel. It's not thin.
I think this would be a first foray for anyone trying a rauchbier for the first time. Enough smoke to let you know it's there in all aspects but not as heavy handed as something like Schlenkerla would be. I have had this with brisket and it's fantastic with that.
Reviewed by GrumpyGas from Illinois
4.15/5 rDev +1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.15/5 rDev +1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
16oz can "Canned on 10/25/22 take three sips" and poured into a pint glass shows a clear orangish amber body and almost floats a cap of thin bubbles that leaves the glass clean behind.
Floral aromas back smoked bacon and orange peel and the flavor mixes that combination a little; floral notes, citrus peel, then smoke.
Medium, slick feel with a clean, almost wet, finish.
Overall a nice malt, easy drinking beer with a smoke focus that doesn't overpower.
Nov 27, 2022Floral aromas back smoked bacon and orange peel and the flavor mixes that combination a little; floral notes, citrus peel, then smoke.
Medium, slick feel with a clean, almost wet, finish.
Overall a nice malt, easy drinking beer with a smoke focus that doesn't overpower.
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
4.06/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.06/5 rDev -1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Canned 10/25/22; drank 11/16/22 @ the Yarchives.
See-through amber appearance.
A violent pour yielded a big, noisy eggshell head; strong, frothy lace.
Smoky bacon, orange peel & acorn notes in the nose. Interesting!
Creamy, medium mouthfeel.
Smoky bacon, mild cream & faint acorn flavors.
Very smoke forward, but overall enjoyable. I'd have another!
Nov 19, 2022See-through amber appearance.
A violent pour yielded a big, noisy eggshell head; strong, frothy lace.
Smoky bacon, orange peel & acorn notes in the nose. Interesting!
Creamy, medium mouthfeel.
Smoky bacon, mild cream & faint acorn flavors.
Very smoke forward, but overall enjoyable. I'd have another!
Reviewed by steveh from Illinois
4.19/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
4.19/5 rDev +1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Surprise find at the local Binny's. Had to have. Canned 10-25-22. Poured into my tall Becher.
L -- Clear, brassy-gold with an off-white head that settles pretty fast.
S -- Smoked malt up front, but not overwhelming. Light doughy malts and light DMS back. Subtle herbal hops making themselves known.
T -- Smoky malts right up front -- not in-your-face, but not a sample for someone's first foray into Rauchbier. Some light astringency from smoked malts, lightly herbal and bitter hops in the middle through the finish and aftertaste. Almost harsh, but pulling up short. Very light, sweet and doughy malts propping up the backbone.
F -- Mouthfeel is soft to crisp and dry with a medium to light-robust body.
O -- A very well-crafted take on the Franconian specialty. While not timid in its use of Rauchmalz, anyone who's grown to appreciate the style will love this one.
Nov 18, 2022L -- Clear, brassy-gold with an off-white head that settles pretty fast.
S -- Smoked malt up front, but not overwhelming. Light doughy malts and light DMS back. Subtle herbal hops making themselves known.
T -- Smoky malts right up front -- not in-your-face, but not a sample for someone's first foray into Rauchbier. Some light astringency from smoked malts, lightly herbal and bitter hops in the middle through the finish and aftertaste. Almost harsh, but pulling up short. Very light, sweet and doughy malts propping up the backbone.
F -- Mouthfeel is soft to crisp and dry with a medium to light-robust body.
O -- A very well-crafted take on the Franconian specialty. While not timid in its use of Rauchmalz, anyone who's grown to appreciate the style will love this one.
Reviewed by FBarber from Illinois
4.35/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.35/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours a dark brown color. Mostly clear, although there is a slight haziness to it. Lovely thick, frothy off white head forms on the beer and lingers for a moment before dissipating leaving just a rng of sudsy foam along the outside of the top of the beer.
Aroma has notes of smoked malt, rich smoke, some light meat notes a light fruity note.
Taste follows the nose with notes of smoked malts, some pepper, a touch of crusty bread, and a slight fruity note. The smoke is present, but even and balanced. Offers some nice complexity and depth of flavor beyond just the smoke.
Feel is medium bodied, smooth and easy drinking. Moderate carbonation. Semi-drier on the finish.
Overall another lovely beer coming out of Goldfinger.
Nov 06, 2022Aroma has notes of smoked malt, rich smoke, some light meat notes a light fruity note.
Taste follows the nose with notes of smoked malts, some pepper, a touch of crusty bread, and a slight fruity note. The smoke is present, but even and balanced. Offers some nice complexity and depth of flavor beyond just the smoke.
Feel is medium bodied, smooth and easy drinking. Moderate carbonation. Semi-drier on the finish.
Overall another lovely beer coming out of Goldfinger.
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