Rauch Ür Bock - Caldera Brewing Company

JosiahS

California

4.55/5  rDev +11.5%
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

KidsDoc

California

4.15/5  rDev +1.7%
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

baklo

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -2%

04-07-2013 00:46:53 | More by baklo

Rollzroyce21

California

2/5  rDev -51%

04-04-2013 18:58:22 | More by Rollzroyce21

chugamugofsud

Oregon

3.5/5  rDev -14.2%

02-20-2013 21:36:58 | More by chugamugofsud

kojevergas

California

4.11/5  rDev +0.7%
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

extra

California

3/5  rDev -26.5%

01-18-2013 07:04:05 | More by extra

mactrail

California

4.13/5  rDev +1.2%
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 -8.6%
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 -22.8%
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

avaldivia

California

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

07-28-2012 22:03:29 | More by avaldivia

PintOHops

California

4.28/5  rDev +4.9%
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

mhaugo

California

4/5  rDev -2%

07-16-2012 05:48:20 | More by mhaugo

TheBishopco

Tennessee

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

06-27-2012 02:39:46 | More by TheBishopco

Chou

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev +4.2%

04-17-2012 23:12:30 | More by Chou

wmrogers11

Tennessee

4/5  rDev -2%

04-13-2012 10:25:46 | More by wmrogers11

kylemckinnis

Oregon

3/5  rDev -26.5%

02-27-2012 01:43:49 | More by kylemckinnis

ygtbsm94

Virginia

3.5/5  rDev -14.2%

01-29-2012 07:54:04 | More by ygtbsm94

TeamUgly

California

5/5  rDev +22.5%

01-16-2012 23:54:18 | More by TeamUgly

CharlieMurphy

New York

3.53/5  rDev -13.5%
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 +7.4%
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 -4.4%
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

cosmicslop

Tennessee

5/5  rDev +22.5%

12-16-2011 07:09:54 | More by cosmicslop

Tilley4

Tennessee

4.05/5  rDev -0.7%
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

deapokid

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2%

11-25-2011 15:41:33 | More by deapokid