Do Rauchbiers sell well in your area?

Ifa brewery (say Lakefront) makes a one-off smoked beer, it sells well. Otherwise, the imports whither on the shelves.

 

I can't speak to how Schlenkerla sells, but I never have trouble finding it in my area. There aren't many other options on the shelves. I can't see rauchbiers really taking off anytime soon, but there was a time I thought the same thing about lambics and now look at the demand. I just don't think the smoke characteristic is as approachable or inviting as something like the fruit or sour tartness you'd find in a lambic.

 

No local brewers package any Rauchbiers regularly here in MN. Schells did a limited release one a few years back that was awesome. Harriet does one in growlers and on tap every year and a few others have made a tap only one. I realize they are not for the majority of people which is why they probably don't sell well, but I personally love them and wish someone locally or even regionally bottled one with regular frequency.

Hammerheart does a whole bunch of different smoked beers, but again, taproom/growler only. They do them extremely well, but are an hour from where I live, so tough to find. Whenever I do see smoked beers on tap, I always try them, but my guess is they don't sell real fast.

Otherwise, we just have to settle for Schlenkerla, but I find it too pricey to buy on a regular basis. I wish they would do 12 oz. bottles in four or six packs.

 

My theory on why Schlenkerla sells well.

The bottle says "Schlenkera Rauchbier Marzen"

When I bought it 2 years ago, I never heard of a Rauchbier, but love Marzen's (and I thought I bought a Oktoberfest Marzen beer initiailly).

Wasn't until I got home and tasted it and saw on BA it was listed as a Rauchbier that I realized I was duped by the confusing label title.

I'm guess this has alot to with higher than normal sales...misconfusion of the buyer and not knowing what beer they are buying.

 

Around here the Schlenkerla bottles mostly stagnate. I haven't seen a Spezial bottle in years, so think they distributor dropped them.
I don't think they're huge draft sellers either. We've had a couple good ones on draft (notably the one from Comrade is really good) but I don't know if most people are ordering them.

 

According to the manager at my regular store, they don't sell well at all. When I say "they," I mean Schlenkerla, because that's pretty much the only thing that's regularly available in the style. To my eye, it looks like the bottles do sell, but he obviously knows his inventory.

There's only one local brewery by me that attempts these beers, and they rarely brew Rauchbier. I imagine they'd brew it more often if it sold. They'll attempt other beers with a touch of smoke more frequently... but it's not like anybody talks about those beers. Come to think of it, I don't know if I've actually met anybody who drinks and enjoys Rauchbier.

@bubseymour , I can't imagine there's much truth in your theory, but you never know.
@Domingo , did you manage to grab a Fastenbier bottle?

 

Shell's Chimney Sweep has a nice touch of smoked malt. Unfortunately, I don't find it around my area too readily.

 

It's still a Märzen, just a smoked Märzen.

 

Very slow movers here. Jack's Abby Smoke and Dagger is the only one with any real traction. Schlenkerla trickle at a slow but steady pace.

 

Sly Fox and Victory will serve Rauchbiers (of varying versions) from time to time at their brewpubs. I am uncertain how well they sell.

A beer bar near me (Capone’s) had Schlenkerla Fastenbier on tap for several weeks (3-4 weeks) last spring. That place will kick a beer like Pliny the Elder in one evening but the Fastenbier was available for a very long time.

A beer store near me used to carry Schlenkerla (I have purchased the Helles there a number of times). I was there a few months ago to see if they had the Fastenbier available; my conversation with the dude working there:

Dude: Can I help you?

Me: Yes, which Schlenkerla beers do you have in stock?

Dude: We don’t carry Schlenkerla.

Me: Yes, you do. I have bought several bottle of Schlenkerla here in the past.

Dude: What I meant to say is we stopped carrying it since it did not sell.

The store is The Beer Shoppe in Ardmore, PA.

http://ardmorebeershoppe.com/

Cheers!

 

Here in Asheville, I don't think I've seen a single smoked beer attempted by a local brewer since I've been here (a little over a year). Then again, I don't like smoked beers so, if I did see one, I just scanned over it and it possibly could have immediately flown from memory. That said, the shop where I work sells a good amount of Schlenkerla. It's not super popular but we regularly re-order the four different kinds.

The only time I've seen a local brewery do a smoked beer and have it sell well is when I lived in New Orleans. NOLA Brewing's fall seasonal is Smoky Mary and people dig it.

 

I did! Denver never received any (my local store tried) but a fellow BA from the east coast hooked me up. I'm still a Spezial guy at heart, but Fastenbier and especially Krausen are major winners, too.

 

I feel as if it would be more popular if given the chance. A lot of people I talk to in my area aren't very versed in Lagers in general.

 

Yeah, now that you mention it, there is Chimney Sweep (seasonal) and Bauhaus cans Stargrazer which is a Schwarzbier and has similar smoked components. I like both, but they are both very light on the smoke and I don't consider them to be in the same realm as a Rauchbier. I guess those would be in the beginner smoked beer category for me.

 

Schlenkerla doesn't sell well in my store, the only smoked beer that does, is Stone's Smoked Porter (all variations) and Quest Smoked Porter

 

Chris, have you heard anything about Krausen being imported to the US?

Cheers!

 

I buy Schlenkerla beers but not regularly...they are always in stock at most stores though.

 

>>Do Rauchbiers -- either local versions or global classics -- sell well in your area?

Not in my "immediate" area. (Just me. Not a fan.) Tried some highly rated ones too, but just can't wrap my mouth around the taste. I see some of the more common German imports and crafts in the stores, however.

 

I wish I bought Spezial when I had the chance.