Smoked Beer - Classic Rauchbier

BJCP 23-A

AROMA

Smoky aroma may range from faint to assertive. Some malt should be evident in the low- to moderately-smoked examples. Note that the smoke character can vary even among beechwood-smoked malts. Hop aroma should be negligible to very low. This beer is a lager; there should be no diacetyl or fruity aromas. The malt character from the underlying Maerzen/Oktoberfest style should be evident.

APPEARANCE

This should be a very clear beer, with a rich creamy head. The color should be amber, copper to dark brown.

FLAVOR

Sweetish, maltiness from the underlying Maerzen/Oktoberfest style of beer with smoke flavors ranging from low to high, but balanced with the malt and hop bitterness. The smoke flavor from beechwood kilning tends to be somewhat drier and neutral in character, although it can vary among maltsters, blending well with the sweetness of the malt. This beer will exhibit low to medium hop bitterness, low to no hop flavor, and the clean characteristics of a lager with no fruitiness or diacetyl.

MOUTH FEEL

Medium body with a good, medium level of carbonation. Smooth finish due to lagering.

OVERALL

Maerzen/Oktoberfest-style (see Oktoberfest) beer with a sweet, smoky aroma and flavor.

INGREDIENTS

Because of the unique flavored rendered to malts by various smoking materials, beechwood-kilned, not malts smoked with peat, hickory or other woods, should make up 5-50% of the malt bill. German or Czech hops.

COMMENTS

Examples of other smoked beer styles are available in Germany, such as the Bocks, Helles and Vienna-like beers such as Spezial Lager. Brewers entering these styles should use Other Smoked Beers as the entry category.

HISTORY

In the tradition of the Franconian region of Germany, a Maerzen/Oktoberfest style of beer made with malts kilned over moist beechwood log embers, imparting a smoky flavor and aroma to the beer. This beer is indigenous to Bamberg, Germany.

COMMERCIAL EXAMPLES

Schlenkerla Rauchbier, Kaiserdom Rauchbier.

VITAL

OG: 1.050-1.064 IBUs: 20-30 FG: 1.012-1.016 SRM: 7-16 ABV: 4.8-6.5%