Rauchbier

Yeah, not trying to split hairs too much of course, but I thought it was worth noting, and to be fair, I haven't had/looked up Roog. I see now that it's a Rauchweizen (another style that Dovetail in Chicago tackled a few times to great success), which, as you correctly assert, is not a traditional Rauchbier.

Class War is great as well, totally agreed.

 

As always, I protest anyone who compares Rauchbier to greasy meat. However, the smokiness in Rauchbier is different than the peat smokiness of Scotch, but probably a better comparison than sausage.

 

My first experience with a rauchbier was in the late 1970s - I think it was Kaiserdom Rauchbier - at the time it came in an 11 oz. (?) stubby-ish bottle of light greenish-brown glass (not the later upgrade packaging w/neck foil via Merchant du Vin).

The first impression I got from it was "Uh, liquid smoked fish!" That was probably the first sixpack I couldn't finish - I remember some of the left-over beer sat way in the back of a bottom shelf of the refrigerator until the crowns started rusting. Tossed into the compost pile when I moved.

 

If you find a trading partner in Indy we have a Rauchbier available right now. If you make it to Indy you can enjoy it on draft. This version is meant to be the traditional lent season beer which is a more subtle smoked lager. I also agree that if you can find the Schlenkerla beers in your area they are one of the standards for the style.

 

Sweet baby jesusssssssss where did you find 16oz cans of Schlenkerla Helles? This might be the greatest thing since Schlenkerla minikegs!!

Also, correct me if I'm wrong but I thought I recall reading that the subtle smokiness in the Helles was because it is brewed using the same equipment as their other rauchbiers. You would think sanitizing would kill off any lingering smoke flavor but that's just what I've heard.

 

Interesting that you immediately equated to smoked fish -- must be an east coast thing. Salmon or white fish?

I've mentioned it before, but the best comparison and pairing to a (good) Rauchbier I've ever found is smoked almonds. The almonds aren't greasy and the 2 smoke characters really compliment each other.

 

They just started "exporting" them. IIRC they export the beer in big vessels and can it on this side of the ocean. Haven't seen 'em myself.

 

Awesome, thanks. Also if you find the ship carrying the big vessels of Schlenkerla, please let me know. I have some plans....

 

I purchased the 4-pack at my local Retail Beer Distributor.

I discussed this topic in my linked post:

"Where there’s smoke there is fire?

From the B. United International website:

“Brewed in the same old copper kettles as the classic smoke beer and fermented by the same Aecht Schlenkerla yeast; however, no smoke malt is used. Yet a slight smoky character persists.”

It is quite interesting that no smoked malt is part of the grain bill to brew the Helles but yet it still has a subtle smoke character to it. I have read a few theories on why this is. One theory is that it obtains this smoke character from the filter used at the brewery. Since this canned product is labeled as being “unfiltered” then we should expect this particular beer to be non-smoky? Another theory I have read is that the lager yeast used to ferment the Helles retains some smoky qualities from previously fermenting the Rauchbier at the brewery."

Cheers!

 

What you have heard is correct. They don't use any smoked malt in this Helles. The smokiness in the Helles comes from just absorbing all the smoke "essence" from the many years of making smoked lagers at the brewery. It's a great beer.

 

Probably something stronger like canned Kipper Snacks. Which I used to eat back then on occasion w/raw pepper and some nice bread - tho' my preferred smoked fish these days would be whiting from a fish market.

 

I'm going to have to find this "Retail Beer Distributor". Thanks for the tip!

Thanks for the explanations, guys. If they use the same grain mill all the time then it is no wonder why there would be some flavor crossover. Regardless, I'm happy to see this canned and canned now.

 

@tzieser, the batch of Schlenkerla Helles that I bought was canned in Dec. 2017. Hopefully they have a fresher batch out now.

Cheers!

 

Yeah, I hope so too but I'd still buy some without hesitating even with that date!

^ Sorry, I had to fix this. It was annoying me and I ran out of time to edit.

 

Don't knock until you've tried it.

 

Yeah, that profile probably fits the Kaiserdom of old.

Not from Sol and Sol's deli?
(Sorry, deeply inside joke there)

 

I've always found smoked beers age really well. Shrugs.

 

FWIW I have had some Schlenkerla bottled beers that I did not enjoy drinking which I assumed was due to those bottles being old. In contrast I have attended the Yards Brewing Smoked Beer Festival several times and those same Schlenkerla brands on draft were more pleasurable.

Maybe you have a differing palate here?

Cheers!

 

Were they perhaps the Helles and Marzen, 2 on the lower end of the abv scale?

 

Those two beers but also the Urbock, Eiche and Fastenbier.

Cheers!