Do you enjoy smoked beers?

It depends on the beer. I've had drastically different smoke flavors - some appealing, some unappealing. For example, I could drink Jack's Abby Fire in the Ham all day/everyday and be content (and I drank it alot when it was released). I then tried Auerbach's Rauchbier from Mystic, and struggled to get through the bottle.

 

Love them.

They are my bet for the next variation craft companies will be falling all over each other to create more of. Then I'll be able to sit in the corner of beer bars muttering to myself "I thought smoked beers were cool before you all did!"

Seriously though, I do love them, especially smoked lagers. Jack Abby Smoke and Dagger kicks mega ass.

 

If you haven't tried Aecht Schlenkerla Maerzen, please do. It is the benchmark, I believe, and is a great beverage for sure. It should be readily available in your area. Cheers.

 

Love em. But not a lot of folks do, it seems.

 

Caldera Rauch ÜrBock is sooooo good -

I don't like the aecht schlekerla just straight up bacon

 

I don't hunt them but I don't avoid them either. I've had a few pretty good smoked stouts- like Clown Shoes Vampire Slayer and Weyerbacher Fifteen (drank my last bottle last night & it was quitt tasty).

 

When I tried my first smoked beer , the Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Marzen I poured the whole thing. Then I tired Jack's Abby Smoke and Dagger and I liked it. So, I tried a Grodziskie next which is a polish smoked wheat beer and in the fridge I have De Molen Bloed, Zweet and Tranen. I think I'm starting to get the hang of it.

 

You've already mentioned Schlenkerla, the golden standard for Rauch. My personal favorite is the Urbock. While not technically made with smoked malt, the Schlenkera Helles has a nice smokiness to it (residual overlap from the same brewing equipment as the rauchbiers). Schlenkerla encompasses the best meaty & smoked bacon-esque flavors you can hope to get from smoked malt.

Mikkeller's Beer Geek series has a good smokiness to them, without officially being "smoked" beers, except for Beer Geek Bacon/Rauch, obviously. But even the regular Geek Breakfast & Geek Brunch Weasel have a large smoked presence. These ones are more on the charred smoke side, not quite as sweet as the Schlenkerla beers.

For an American rendition on smoked beer, my personal favorite is Stone Smoked porter. Nice, big body yet still drinkable with a perfect amount of smoke to compliment the roasted malts. Not to mention only 4-5$ for a bomber... yes please.

 

I like subtle smoke. DFH Immort Ale has a nice amount of smoke. Meantime Naval College Old Porter gets subtle smokiness from being aged in Islay whisky casks, and is an outstanding beer. I tried Aecht Schenkerla Rauchbier and found it too smoky for my taste.

 

Really really dislike. Going with the Jack's Abby examples already provided, I hated Fire in the Ham when I ordered it and struggled to finish it (though Smoke and Daggar I oddly enough do like in moderation). I also really like stouts but don't go for smokey ones and am wary of a good many porters for that reason as well.

To each their own.

 

OP, thanks for providing that link. IMHO, the below three paragraphs are very telling:

“But even among those of us who love it, there are thresholds. Too heavy a hand with the smoked malt and the whole thing topples over into a phenolic nightmare. You no longer have a glass of beer in your hand, it’s a tub of Germolene.

The balancing act between a distinctive smoke character and a beer that reeks of TCP takes some perfecting. All the more impressive then is the new smoked ale from Green Jack.

The East Anglian brewery has produced a dark amber ale that is enticingly smoky without the medicinal downside. It’s all rather deftly handled, with the concept of drinkability never lost from sight in the pursuit of idiosyncrasy.”

Needless to say but different people will have varying preferences but the aspect of “Too heavy a hand with the smoked malt and the whole thing topples over into a phenolic nightmare.” is very poignant.

I attended a smoked beer event at Yards Brewing in Philly called Smoke’em if Yous Got’em beer event. There was one highly respected beer of Aecht Schlenkerla Oak Smoked Doppelbock available of cask. From my notes: “heavy phenol aroma; medium smoke.” The heavy phenol aroma (a medicinal smell) was off putting to me. I do not recall if I finished the sample (4 ounces or so) of this beer. There was another Aecht Schlenkerla beer available on cask, the Aecht Schlenkerla Fastenbier. My notes for that beer: “medium smoke, very tasty!” I finished my sample of the Fastenbier and I went back for more (two more fill-ups).

I am not sure where in New Jersey you live but you might want to consider coming to the next Yards Smoke’em if Yous Got’em beer event (they happen in late September). In addition to plenty of tasty beers on cask (smoked and non-smoked) there is also a lot of very good grilled/smoked food available (and two bands; one inside and one outside).

Cheers!

 

Really love some of them. I can drink several of just about any Aecht Schlenkerla (Weizen, Marzen, Urbock) in a sitting, no prob. Honestly, Rauchbier is one of the few german style brews I love (Berliner Weisse and Hefe Weisse too). The Schlenkerla stuff were the best beers I had in German recently!

 

I've only had two: Schlenkerla Urbock and Marzen. I enjoyed them thoroughly and want to try others.

 

I am thinking of a trip to Bamberg and the surrounding towns to drink Rauchbier. Again!

Spezial Maerzen is also tasty! Not as smokey as the Schlenkerla though.

 

Time and place for me, with food in general. Most are too smokey for me.

 

I've had many, many bottles of Clown Shoes Vampire Slayer and not once did I notice it was smoked. I was, but that's a different story for another time.

Then I had a taster of that Greats Lakes/Deschutes abomination of a collaboration Imperial Smoked Porter and couldn't finish it. Subsequently I read that many did not consider the smokiness was adequate. WTH?

Smoked meats great, smoked brains even better, but I personally won't reach for smoked beer again.

 

Gotta say..I didn't, "at first". They, at least to me, were a bit of an acquired taste, but now I crave/love them (some of them).
O'fallon Smoke - one of the best out there. I hated it the first time or two I had it, but then kept thinking of & Wanting that Smoke Bomb taste. I got more.. mostly for as a Dinner beer, but developed a "hinkerin" 4 it, ..its awesome, can't wait 4 it to come my way this yr.

-- drink them a little less chilled..flavors Really come out.

 

The only one I've had was JA Smoke & Dagger...a drain pour...Definitely does not suit my taste.

 

Not something I would try to session, but I really enjoy them in smaller amounts. Just had the Schlenkerla Eiche Doppelbock on tap, and it was outstanding.

Also, fans of smoked beers and sours should seek out Jester King "Censored." It is a collaboration between the brewery and a local BBQ place. Brewed with pecan smoked malt an innoculated with lacto and pedio, I believe. Very interesting.