Rauch Ür Bock - Caldera Brewing Company

SLeffler27

New York

4.04/5  rDev -1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5

Pours clear copper (SRM 17-19) with ruby red highlights. A sparkling, golden cascade quickly builds a three-inch, khaki foam that drops to ¼ inch while leaving trails of lace on the Stiegl stange.

Strong charcoal or campfire smoke is nice. Especially nice is that the summer sausage is relegated to the background. Also noted charred steak and cashews.

This has light-to-barely-noticeable bitterness with lightly toasted malt, late sweetness and meaty flavors. The lingering finish vacillates between mild smoked gouda and cashews. Surprisingly, the flavors were clean.

Light-to-medium body with moderate carbonation, no sense of alcohol, and a smooth, soft texture.

This is a very easy-drinking beer to relax with. Given its relatively high alcohol, it could be dangerous, but nevertheless, quite enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2013 19:41:21 | More by SLeffler27

Tonmeister

Georgia

4.44/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a 16 oz Goose Island Glass

Appearance: Heavy amber, with a thin bubbly white head.

Smell: Smoked wood, Spicy and sweet from the malt characteristics.

Taste: earthy, meaty smoked, spicy, but not bitter with honey-like, vanilla sweetness.

Mouthfeel: Medium with moderate carbonation.

Overall: This beer paired excellent with the beef jerky. I would say that this beer will pair great for smoked cookouts: steak, chicken, sausage. This is an excellent representation of the American Rauch Beer. I think Caldera Brewing Company did an excellent job.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2013 05:31:58 | More by Tonmeister

Roman5150

Michigan

4.18/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

bottle into Duvel glass

appearance: dark mahogany brown, with some dark red when you hold it up to the light. slightly off white 1 finger head

smell: smokey, roasted malts, beef jerky, pepper, earthy grains

taste: mellow, smooth roasted smokey taste, not as intense of a smokey, beef jerky flavor as an Aecht Schlenkerla Urbock, but you can taste the warmness from the alcohol. Some earthy hops mix together with a coffee/dark chocolately english malt backbone.

mouthfeel: not a whole lot of carbonation, average body

overall: A great Rauchbier, but not as good as the originals from Bamburg, Germany. Still, this is a great brew that any beer advocate would enjoy, great roasted smokey flavor that pairs well with smoked foods and beef jerky. I will gladly buy this again, as I am a huge fan of Rauchbiers.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2013 05:26:41 | More by Roman5150

lsummers

California

4.16/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours a thick amber brown. One finger tan head. Has some constant carbonation bubbles floating up.

Smells of woody earthy smoky goodness. There's a slight malty sweetness.

Taste is nicely woody with lots of burnt smoke. There's a nice sweetness coming through like something from caramel malts or caramelized brown sugar.

Mouthfeel is crisp and full bodied. Moderate carbonation keeps this very drinkable.

Overall, this is fantastic. It's well balanced and has all the great smoked qualities I love. After this beer I feel like I've sat around a campfire. An entire 22 ounce bottle might be a bit much for this flavourful beer though.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 00:50:09 | More by lsummers

KidsDoc

California

4.15/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Enjoyed on 4/22 with my wife and visiting mother-in-law. My wife took one sip and then handed me back the 3 oz I poured for her. My MIL found it "interesting."

Poured a ruby-brown-plum, very interesting color, but had a thin cola-fizz type of tan head without much else.

Aroma was initially ALL smoke - not overpowering bacon smoke but a nice woodsy/campfire smokiness. The more I let it sit, the more I got a very complex mix of fruit: figs, apple along with a softer smoky blend.

Taste was similar and massively complex. I drank the bottle over a 30-40 minute time frame which really brought out some subtlety. If taking successive sips, the smokiness became much less intense and gave way to a very sweet cherry, raisiny-apple blend and some big malt angles. If I walked away from it for a few mins and then came back for a sip, the intense woody-smoke came back to the forefront. A true tasting experience

Mouthfeel was also quite complex in that it had a smooth character right at the start but then a coarse, almost abrasive fullness ripped through the middle. It stayed chewy and then finished sticky sweet but not over-the-top. The balance of smoke and sweetness lingered and lingered. Very cool.

I would certainly have this beer again. I will need to remind myself to really take time with it to get a full experience. Not many beers take you in so many directions as this rauchbier manages to do.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 03:43:21 | More by KidsDoc

kojevergas

California

4.11/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

7.5% ABV confirmed. Smoked lager. 1 pint 6 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a Samuel Smith's conical pint glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are high given its current ratings.

Served straight from the fridge and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with standard vigor as no carbonation issues are anticipated.

A: Pours a 2.5 finger head - disappointingly thin - without much cream. Retention is average (~2 minutes). Body colour is a rich translucent clear amber. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show. A bit lighter than expected for the style. Not unique or special, but generally appealing.

Sm: Heavy smoke and bacon notes. Roast. Caramel. I do get cherry wood. It's quite evocative and appealing - moreso than many beers in the style. The smokey notes aren't muddled; they have serious depth. A moderate strength aroma.

T: Delightful cherry wood notes. Rich evocative smokey notes. Very woody and tasty, like smoked barbecue. There's a rich malty foundation beneath it lending support and even a refreshing feel - like a good amber paired with barbecue all built into a beer. The amber malts are well executed, giving it a rich core. No yeast character or alcohol comes through. I quite fancy it. Very well balanced and built, with complexity and subtlety. Subtlety is very hard to accomplish in a rauchbier, but this one succeeds. Impressive depth of flavour, particularly concerning the smoke. Even Schlenkerla didn't have the depth of flavour I get off the smokey notes here.

Mf: Smooth and wet. Perfect coarseness to bring out the flavours without inhibiting drinkability. Carbonation is perfect. It's soft yet thick. Feels tailored specifically to its flavour profile. Quite delightful.

Dr: Very drinkable for the well-hidden high ABV as well as for the style, which is often not very drinkable at all. I'd definitely have this again, preferably on-draught. I could down this all night, and you don't hear that about many rauchbiers. Definitely among the best beers in the style that I've had. A very impressive offering from Caldera. Makes me want to try more of their beers. I love the woody smokey complexity.

A-

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2013 03:08:06 | More by kojevergas

mactrail

California

4.13/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a golden-hued, dark amber color with a big foam in the Brugs chalice. Great sudsy mouthfeel to start but carbonation flags after a couple of small glasses. Nose of apricot and bacon. Light body.

Rich and sweet with a fragrant smokiness. Surprisingly sweet with just a little tangy tartness. Huge aromatic nose of fruit and woodsy barbecue. Gets bitter anda little too close to the ashtray in the aftertaste. So fruity with plenty of roasted malt.

From the 22 oz bottle bought at Best Damn in San Diego. Label says grains are smoked with cherry and beech wood. Definitely one of the best smoked beers I've had.Rich and sweet with a fragrant smokiness.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 03:25:39 | More by mactrail

Murrhey

Montana

3.73/5  rDev -8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a bomber into a pint glass. Reviewed live.

A- One finger yellowish-cream color head. Fluffy, middling retention. Dark copper-colored body with a high clarity. Floating linger is nice as well. Appealing.

S- Hickory, wood smoke, bacon, brown sugar. Smells like cured bacon. Nice smelling rauch. The smoke comes through sweetly without overpowering. Some baking apples and pears add sweet notes at the end. This would be an excellent breakfast beer.

T- The smoke comes through very obviously, but the spicy hops and warm malts are very well balanced. Some sweet fruits juxtaposed with bitter flavors.

M- Creamy, high carbonation. Thick bodied.

O- Very tasty, aromatic and all-in-all a good, not great, highly drinkable beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2012 05:34:27 | More by Murrhey

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.15/5  rDev -23%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Review from 8/2010 notes. Poured into a Gulden Draak tulip. Pours a deep red/orange amber with little head and no lacing. Aroma of smoke and fruit. Strong smoke start with an average lager body. Light flavors of malt and fruit are overwhelmed by smoke, which leaves a chemically aftertaste, like burning electronic components. I didn't really enjoy this beer. I'm a fan of smoked beers, but the finish on this one was just way off for my taste. My experience was so much different from most others that I may have to revisit this beer in the future to see if I got an off bottle.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 17:39:20 | More by LiquidAmber

PintOHops

California

4.28/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Glass - Mug

A - A brighter mahogany colored brew with a good amount of light coming through. It produced a 2-finger head that dissipated rather fast. I didn't get any lacing on my Mug.

S - Leather and smokiness compete. It's dry with notes of alcohol and fig throughout. Brown sugar, and it really smells meaty and smokey.

T - Really not as sweet tasting as I expected. Upfront I pick up alcohol, fig, and prune. It quickly unfolds into smoke, charcoal, leather, dryness, brown sugar, and faint leafy hop flavors. It finishes with remnants of smoke, brown sugar, and soft notes of alcohol.

M - Smooth and creamy feel with low carbonation, and a medium-full body.

O - I'm really surprised that it's not too sweet. I really like the mouthfeel, it's not too thick and syrupy to me, and the look is welcoming as well. The smell isn't incredibly smokey, nor is the taste, but it's enough to make you want more for sure. Just a great Rauchbier, I'd definitely pick this one up again. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 23:49:19 | More by PintOHops

JosiahS

California

4.55/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

glass: mug

a: Nothing fancy, a dark plumb-juice appearance with a slim tan head.

s: Excellent aroma, just a touch of underlying sweet malt with much of the smokey characters taking center stage. Brown sugar, mild plumb and grape for the malt. The smokey component brings bacon, leather and a subtle milky quality.

t: Smokey, bacony, leathery goodness from front to back. The malt base is strong but not overly sweet. The smokey flavor work well to balance things. Finishes rather clean with only some malt sweetness and bacony flavor.

m: Full bodied, low-medium carbonation but it feels light at the same time. The mild finish and it's interesting mouthfeel makes for a beer that isn't ask pallete fatiguing as i would expect.

o: Not bad at all, in fact pretty dark good. It was a bit warm i think a few degrees colder would make for an even enjoyable experience.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2012 23:41:19 | More by JosiahS

CharlieMurphy

New York

3.53/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

A: Dark fruit brown with deep dark opaqueness. Small skim of off white head.

S: Not very aromatic. Smells mostly of dark fruits with a mild amount of smoke and warmth.

T: Olives! I hate Olives, especially in beer. There's also a Belgian character (not sure if there's any lagers that really produce this, it doesn't seem so much like a bock), dark fruits, and smoke with a sweetness that's warm, mildly spicy, and even almost tart. Olive character fades as it warms.

M: Mild-moderate carbonation, very drinkable, very friendly to the palate.

O: One of the more peculiar smoked beers I've ever had. Good, but not exceptional.

Serving type: bottle

01-13-2012 03:41:33 | More by CharlieMurphy

UCLABrewN84

California

4.38/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a murky light brown with a 1 inch fizzy tan head that settles to a film on the top of the beer. Small dots of lace slowly drip back into the remaining beer on the drink down. Smell is of smoked meat, smoked cheese, campfire smoke, etc. Taste is of smoked meat/cheese, campfire smoke, wood, and a slight cocoa/coffee flavor on the finish. The aftertaste is also cocoa/coffee with just a hint of the smoke flavors. This beer has a crisp level of carbonation with a bubbly mouthfeel. Overall this is a very good rauchbier from Caldera that has a bit of a different flavor than German rauchbiers.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 04:20:04 | More by UCLABrewN84

zaphodchak

Virginia

3.9/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Faint sudsy head with some with some dissipating fine surface. Light ruddy brown. Some lace.

Smokiness in the nose along with pickling vinegar (faint), and some slightly musty malt.

Plenty of bitter, slightly tangy, tannic beech smoke. Traces of sweet toffee on the finish.

Feel is standard, smooth, but went flat quite fast.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2011 19:46:52 | More by zaphodchak

Tilley4

Tennessee

4.05/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A new arrival to the West TN area...

Pours quite a bit lighter than I was expecting. Almost like a brown ale? Good head retention though...

Smoky bacon aromas upfront mesh with a sweet maltiness... This is definitely very smoky but not overpoweringly so... Its subtle at times and powerful at others on the nose... Like being in a smokehouse after the meat has already been removed... Very interesting...

Sweet caramel malts surprise me as I thought the smoke would hit hard right off the bat... The smokiness here is beautifully done... Not a smoke bomb but rather the smoked meat flavors run parallel to the sweetness darting in and out, here and there...

Very good example from Caldera here. Excellent use of the smoke with its subtleties...

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2011 18:51:44 | More by Tilley4

mikedrinksbeer2

California

4.55/5  rDev +11.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Sampled 10/30/11 - Transferring the notes.

A ruby pour with a half finger, off white head. Opaque. Smells like bacon it's so smoky. Very much a wood smoked scent, great on an autumn night. The flavor is full but not overbearing, smoky with a hint of sweetness. I dig this a lot, will seek out other rauchbiers for some comparison.

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2011 11:59:57 | More by mikedrinksbeer2

dbmernin83

California

4.33/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This is my first rauchbier.
Pours a burnt amber. Good head.
Holy smoked meat! This has huge beef jerky on the nose. Salty smoked meat goodness.
Tastes about the same as it the nose. Wood, smoked meat, cured meat, soy sauce.
This is delicious for the first 6-8oz, then it gets to be a little much. I imagine after having this a few times, you appreciate the flavors more. Maybe I should've picked a tamer rauchbier to be my first

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2011 09:40:21 | More by dbmernin83

titosupertramp

Tennessee

4.43/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a rich, ruby color, clear. Maybe a finger of off-white head. Thin cap with thick ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass. Light lacing.

S: Wow. Smoked meat balanced by caramel, bready sweetness. I wish they would make this smell into a cologne..no shit, I'd wear it to special occasions.

T: Taste is equally as good. Smoked meat with just a hint of peet. The nice thing about this beer is the smoked characteristics don't overpower the rest of the beer. The caramel, bready malts hold up nicely and there seems to a slightly hoppy finish.

M: A little on the light side, but it's still manages to be somewhat creamy.

O: I had heard some good things about this beer and it certainly lived up to my expectations. It's a very well crafted beer where the smoke asserts itself, but doesn't drown out everything else. I'll pick this up again without a doubt.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2011 00:18:34 | More by titosupertramp

EgadBananas

Louisiana

4.78/5  rDev +16.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

Pours a mahogany color, rich, with a tan head. a finger, didn't stick around.

Holy smokes! This is one of the most smokiest beer I've ever had! BUT. It's balance and not one sided. Smoke, cured bacon, rich caramel malts. More smoke. Ok, maybe it one sided, but it's heavenly.

Rich caramel malts and salty cured bacon strips. Bacon lover right here, so, I don't feel the need to go on.

Lighter, but medium in body. feels fine. Nothing tremendous.

Aroma and flavor alone are mouthwatering. Bravo. More please!!!

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2011 22:04:02 | More by EgadBananas

Blakaeris

Iowa

4.43/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours light caramel brown with reddish highlights. The crisp white head doesn't hang around long, but quickly dissipates to a thin ring.

Aroma is intense meaty smokyness. Underneath is a mild malty sweetness.

Taste is really interesting. The smoked meat quality is retained, but there is also a generous earthy, woody character. Caramel and toffee really round things out. Finishes with a mildly dry cedar character.

Mouthfeel is a chewy, medium body.

A flavorful brew. Strong smokiness is tempered by the rich caramel malt qualities. A real winner that could bring the non-smoke lover around.

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2011 23:41:41 | More by Blakaeris

bashiba

Iowa

4.3/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured a slightly cloudy deep amber/red color with a thin soap ring of head.

The smell is amazing, big bacony smoked pork Rauch goodness.

The taste follows the flavors nicely with a big smoked malt flavor with a nice bit of underlying sweetness, very pork like and very flavorful. Has a nice light bitterness in the finish that helps even it out very well.

The mouthfeel is very slick and oily.

Great Rauchbier!

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2011 23:31:22 | More by bashiba

Klym

California

4.4/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Big thanks to N2168 for knocking this off my wants. Poured into a stone nonic and shared with my buddy Ryan.

This was quite delicious. The pour made it seem a little lacking in carbonation, and while indeed it was light in carbonation I think it would have been awkward if it had been heavier considering the taste profile. This beer does such a good job of hitting the sweet and savory side of smoke. Nice big campfire smoke smell and taste without any roughness to it, with a nice smoked bacon savory sweetness. This is easy to drink and just downright delicious, would love to have a keg of this by my desk.

Serving type: bottle

09-19-2011 04:18:29 | More by Klym

flexabull

California

4.2/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap last night at the Caldera Tap House.

Pours a bright and clear brown color, with a small white head.

Aromas are quite potent. Lots of interesting smoke notes here, smoked meat, charred wood, like a camp out in a glass. Very nice.

Flavor is like the nose, but toned down just a bit. Light caramel, bready, and slightly sweet up front. Beer then settles Into a smoke house flavor, hints of charred wood, and jerky.

Mouthfeel is good, full, smooth, but not heavy at all.

Overall, this is a really well made smoked lager. The nose is wonderfull. But the beer turns out to be plenty drinkable, I usually am a one and done with smoked beers, not this one. Another great offering from Caldera.

Serving type: on-tap

09-10-2011 23:16:03 | More by flexabull

Bung

North Carolina

4.75/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

22 oz. Think I picked this up in Chicago Binny's Oak Park.
Solid amber/brown pour, half finger of off white head disappated to a ring, but lasted.

Smoked malt, peat, canadian bacon and some malty caramel. Starting out real well.

Taste, solid dose of smoked ham, bacon, peat and a woodiness. Caramelly malt body is there, almost some faint raisin or apple cider, then finishes with solid bbq.
The real deal, far far and away the best American version I've had of this style. So few try this style, even less accomplish the task.

Lighter side of medium bodied. Coats well, goes down smooth, no alcohol. 7.4 is a little larger than some for the style, but it doesn't show itself.

Best brew I've had in a while. First I've had from this brewery, if their others are even close to as good as this I won't be disapointed.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2011 01:40:54 | More by Bung

oberon

North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a 1/2 liter stein a deep rich amber/bronze with a fluffy one finger head that took its time fading.Sweet smoke,brown,sugar,a bit of alcohol in the nose,mellow and sweetish,I found it appetizing.Cherry wood sweetness and light peppery spice in the nose,its gentle sweet smoke instead of in your face,mellow but assertive enough.A real nice smoked bock beer,I will grab a few of these this fall while eating alot of smoked meat off my smoker.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2011 00:57:09 | More by oberon