Rauchbier
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant

RauchbierRauchbier
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From:
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
 
United States
Style:
Rauchbier
ABV:
3.8%
Score:
89
Avg:
3.98 | pDev: 10.05%
Reviews:
19
Ratings:
27
Status:
Active
Rated:
Jul 19, 2015
Added:
Oct 12, 2008
Wants:
  5
Gots:
  0
Bamburg-style German amber lager made with beech wood smoked malt giving this beer a distinct smoked character in both aroma and flavor.
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Ratings by t0rin0:
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Rated by t0rin0 from California

4/5  rDev +0.5%

Oct 15, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.42 by billab914 from Virginia

Jul 19, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by Durandal_777 from Pennsylvania

May 09, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by InspectorBob from New Jersey

Sep 23, 2013
Photo of Sammy
Reviewed by Sammy from Canada (ON)

3.97/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle from the originating North Wales brewpub. Slightly off-white head on yellow body. Smoke wafts yet it is not overwhelming the palate. Smoked wood and malts, vey smooth mouthfeel with a fruity and orange finish. Caramel. Bold taste. Very drinkable. Nicely done.
Dec 24, 2012
 
Rated: 5 by Oakenator from Pennsylvania

Dec 17, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by MerkurKing16 from Pennsylvania

Nov 17, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by BeerThursdays from Delaware

Nov 16, 2011
 
Rated: 4 by orangesol from Pennsylvania

Nov 16, 2011
Photo of Knapp85
Reviewed by Knapp85 from Pennsylvania

3.68/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
This beer poured out much lighter than expected. The color of the beer was a hazy yellow color with a really nice white domed head on top. The lacing left behind was scattered but still very nice. The smell of the beer was indeed smokey but had some faint malt aromas in there too. The smell was mostly a salty smoke flavor, not overwhelming. The mouthfeel was nice. Overall it fits the style pretty well.
Jul 09, 2011
Photo of SpeedwayJim
Reviewed by SpeedwayJim from New York

3.91/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Thanks to JAXSON for this one. Poured from a 750ml bottle into a Harpoon weizen glass (closest thing I had to a stange). I'm on a bit of a session beer kick so this is perfect.

A: Cork ejects without so much as a sound. Beer is well carbonated though. Standard pour yields a 2 finger foamy white head with good retention. Beer is a semi-clear orange lemon-yellow shade. Lacing is patchy and stringy with good stick. A nice looking beer.

S: Nose is one of the most unique I've ever encountered. Smells like a fragrant fire pit. Char, dates, and logan fruit. Slightly medicinal. This brings me back to when I was little and my parents used to make Chinese herbal medicine for me when I was sick. Aromatic. Very unique.

T: Opens smoky. Char, cane sugar, lemon rind, logan fruit, stale dates, and some adjunct corn and wheat sweetness. Slight creeping tartness towards the middle and end. More lemon and mild citrus fruit towards the end. Finish is logan fruit and some smoky bitterness in the aftertaste. Unique and takes a little getting used to but very refreshing.

M: Light bodied and well carbonated. Lively and prickly in the mouth and bubbly and abrasive going down. Finish is slightly messy with a lingering aftertaste. Very crisp and easy to drink.

O: Admittedly my first encounter with the style and I wasn't really sure what to expect. That being said, this beer is incredibly drinkable and while the flavor was very awkward at the start, I found myself getting used to and enjoying it more and more as time went on. A great introduction to the rauchbier style. Worth picking up.
Apr 25, 2011
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Reviewed by brokensail from California

3.58/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Thanks for sharing this, Bobby.

A: The pour is a golden orange color with a big white head. The appearance certainly isn't what I expected...

S: At first the smoke doesn't seem all that strong and there's just a hint of sweetness. As the beer sits for a moment the smoke really comes out and is pretty much all you can smell.

T: The flavor is dominated by the smoke, but it's not so strong that you feel like you're chewing on a campfire. There's a bit of bread and sweetness underneath it all.

M: Fairly light in body with a medium level of carbonaiton.

O: I'm normally not one for smoked beers, but this wasn't too terrible. Probably couldn't drink too much, but good to try at least.
Apr 16, 2011
Photo of cpetrone84
Reviewed by cpetrone84 from Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
A-pours a cloudy golden amber clor with a creamy pure white head leaving a fair bit of lace.

S-the nose has a nice moderately smokey aroma, light notes of smoked meet and campfire with a juicy citrus hop presence coming in behind.

T-great smokey flavors, subtle and somehow pleasant. these flavors are so soft as to not over power and deter, smoke meat and woods linger on the palate. no in your face campfire presence many smoked beers have. juicy citrus hops balance with notes of honey. very well integrated and balanced.

M-light body with a smooth and soft feel on the palate. there is a moderate carbonation and clean juicy finish.

D-very easy drink here and probably one of the most subtle and inviting smoke presences of any rauchbier I have had. the juicy hop presence balances it very well and adds a nice refreshing dimension.
Feb 15, 2011
Photo of JAXSON
Reviewed by JAXSON from Pennsylvania

4.52/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
This is for the bottle entry, I think this should be merged with "Bamberg Style Rauchbier" as it's the same bottle. Pours a very clear medium gold/orange with a large white head. Nose is what I would describe as a Vienna malt with some yeasty influence, and a beautiful salty smoked ham. Mouth is at first just a touch of yeast and light grains, and this really lovely smokey quality. I've had smoked beers before and haven't enjoyed one nearly this much. Light bitterness at the tail end. The smoke expresses itself in bacon or cured ham, it's fairly light but marries perfectly. I feel like I could down a 750ml of this quickly and easily. 3.8% abv, wow. This is a benchmark for this style, absolutely no off flavors, just so interesting and pleasant.
Dec 01, 2010
Photo of tigg924
Reviewed by tigg924 from Massachusetts

4.6/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
Had on tap at Phoenixville

Appearance: red/brown in color, 1 inch head, clear, medium carbonation

Smell: light smoked cedar

Taste: toasted caramel malt, light smoked wood throughout, honey

Mouthfeel: medium carbonation, sweet with smokiness throughout, light bodied

Drinkability: This is a beer worthy of driving long distances for. I love this style and it may be my favorite American version of the style. The smoke balances with the caramel malt perfectly. True to the German style with an American kick...Go get this one.
Nov 09, 2010
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Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania

3.72/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Transcribed from undated notes (probably late-Oct/early-Nov 2009).

Arrived with a finger's worth of off-tan head with decent retention. Color was a slightly hazy golden honey-yellow. Nose had a perfect light smokiness that would make it perfect for the beginner, yet palatable for the initiated. Mouthfeel was medium with a mildly smoky, slightly tart taste on the tongue. Finish was just smoky enough to make the German in me smile. I love this kind of thing from our American craft brewers!
Jul 06, 2010
Photo of gford217
Reviewed by gford217 from Georgia

4.28/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
Big thanks to hopdog for this one.

Pours much lighter than I was expecting, a crystal-clear golden amber with tons of bubbles streaming to the top feeding a creamy white head that recedes fairly quickly to a soapy swirl, leaving some spots of lacing.

The aroma is sweet caramel malts and smoked hickory. Also some lightly toasted grains and some faint spices.

The taste is very subtle but still complex, especially for the extremely low ABV. There is a light caramel malts sweetness and some spiciness up front with a smokiness that starts out faint but leaves a wonderful smoked hickory aftertaste.

The mouthfeel is light bodied and extremely crisp, with a strong bubbly carbonation.

This is a world class rauchbier and probably the most drinkable example I've tasted. Well crafted.
Apr 13, 2010
Photo of akorsak
Reviewed by akorsak from Pennsylvania

3.7/5  rDev -7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A corked and caged 750 mL bottle.

A: The bottle opened with little commotion. Following removal of the cork, a white foamy head slowly oozed up the neck of the bottle. A timely pour into a glass averted catastrophe. In my glass, the head is practically nonexistent. The rauchbier itself is an orange-yellow hue. The are quite a bit of floaties lingering around too.

S: The nose is full, coating the nostrils with a thick meaty smoked scent. A nicely smoked ham in a glass.

T: The rauchbier has a pleasant sweetness that cuts through the smoke. Coupled with the sweetness is a caramel malt base. The surprise is that the body doesn't have a strong smoky presence. Don't get me wrong, the smoke is there, it just isn't intense. Rather, it lends a meaty bite that pairs nicely with the malty sweetness. A smoked honey ham flavor is the last memory of each sip.

M: The mouthfeel is meaty but not overly smoked. The honey ham aspect is very nice, like dinner after dinner.

D: More, please! The ale lacks an alcohol presence but it cracks a solid flavor. A nice take on the style.
Jan 02, 2010
Photo of gromis
Reviewed by gromis from Pennsylvania

2.9/5  rDev -27.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
I bought this on a recent outing to Iron Hill. I let chill in the fridge for about a week before opening.

The nose is very smokey. Not overly so, just a hint.

The taste has a hint of smoke, basically just the astringency, but not the flavor.

The fade is when the smoke shines through, with the smoke flavors lasting quite a while.

This is my first foray into this style. While the beer wasn't bad, I didn't particularly enjoy it that much. Given that I've had lots of other Iron Hill beers and enjoyed them tremendously, I have come to the conclusion that; rather than this being a poor representation of the style, I must just not enjoy this style of beer personally.
Dec 21, 2009
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Reviewed by Kegatron from Pennsylvania

3.97/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a hand bottled jeroboam into a flute by head brewer Paul Rutherford at the 1 Year Anniversary Party help on 11/22/08.

Pours a hazy gold with some thin wisps of brite-white head. The appearance goes flat pretty quick, leaving no lacing behind. The aroma is straight up smoked meats and char with an underlying layer of pale malt sweetness.

The taste is once again just the right amount of smoked character that is backed by notes of citrus and light pale malts that offer balance while not being too heavy feeling. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with a moderate carbonation that seems to have just enough heft to be felt but still stay drinkable.

Nicely done Rauchbier here with just the right amount of smokey quality that keeps you interested but also doesn't detract from the drinkibility. I unfortunately skipped this when it was on draft last month but I wont' make the same mistake next time I see it!
Nov 23, 2008
Rauchbier from Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant
Beer rating: 89 out of 100 with 27 ratings