Do you enjoy smoked beers?

porcine unidragon was a drain pour for me but I am looking forward to trying a surly smoke soon.

 

A unique experience. I've only had one and I'd have to say a bit weird and wild. http://blindbatbrewery.com/page4/page4.html
Vlad the Inhaler

 

I'm with you. Love me some Smoke and Dagger and Fire in the Ham is no slouch but it does drop off faster. Leaning Chimney by Grey Sail is pretty good but not quite at the same level as the Jack's ABby products. One I really enjoy that flies under the radar somewhat is Mystic's Auerbach's Rauchbier - very tasty (and no - not like one of Red's old cigars).

But take heed, like anything else this can be overdone. I can't remember which beer I sampled, but I imagined it to be what licking an ashtray would be like - pushed way, way too far. I like the flavor and smoke characteristics as long as it is subtle and part of the overall blend. Like anything else, I believe when it starts to take on a life of it's own, smokiness becomes obtrusive and one-dimensional. This is definitely a characteristic I want to explore more.

 

Try the regular lager- blue label. Doesn't really claim to be smoked, but I think it carries some of those traits! It is milder.

 

They are the best.

 

Deschutes/Great Lakes Class of 88 imperial smoked porter was pretty dope.

 

As the locals in Bamberg say about Rauchbier: you have to drink at least 3 in a single sitting to truly appreciate and understand it.

Or, to quote Michael Jackson, it is not a reflection of the style, but rather of timorous palates, that some people never learn to appreciate Rauchbier.

 

“I have had it, and I thought it was good, but not something I could have a whole bottle of on my own.”

You and I are kindred spirits. I spilt a big bottle of Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen with my wife. My ½ bottle was fine for me. My wife absolutely loved that beer. She would have liked to drink a second bottle all by herself. She is also a HUGE fan of Sly Fox Rauchbier.

Cheers!

 

Well, to be fair, there are an awful lot of US interpretations that are truly abominations.

 

Only tried the NG Smoked Rye....didn't like it.

Doesn't seem to be on the most popular sort for the style for some reason, but its average score would put it about 35th - if I run across something a little higher, I'll keep an open mind.

 

We were recently in Bamberg and my wife drank more Rauchbier than I did. I had my share, mind you, but she drank one everywhere they were available while I often tried something else.

 

I had a bottle of Aecht Schlenkerla Helles Lagerbier about 3 weeks ago and I really enjoyed drinking it. It only has a hint of smokiness to it. No smoked malts are used to brew this beer but it acquires some smoky flavor from being brewed in the same brewhouse and via the house yeast (the yeast retains smoky flavors from previous smoked beer batches).

I would recommend that you try it.

Cheers!