Rook & Vuur - Brouwerij De Molen

CHADMC3

Connecticut

3.65/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

To call this beer a gusher is a gross understatement as the foamy, light brown head absolutely erupts from the brown body and really hangs around a while before dissipating a bit.

As advertised, this beer is quite smoky, with hints of the chocolate malt and chili pepper as it warms, but also a touch phenolic.

The flavor is equally smoky with more pronounced chocolate malt and chili pepper than the nose and less phenolic profiles.

Medium to lighter in body with outrageous carbonation and a smoky finish.

A fine example of the style with great flavor, however a bit too phenolic in the aroma. Certainly a beer I am glad I tried and a worthy adversary to other in the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2012 23:09:23 | More by CHADMC3

Bonko_the_sane

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +19.7%

05-13-2013 06:09:46 | More by Bonko_the_sane

Irish12

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -15.5%

02-23-2013 14:43:23 | More by Irish12

aasher

Indiana

4/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This one pours a light bodied milk chocolate brown with a billowing three finger, very carbonated and active mocha head. Like most of their 12oz bottles, this one appears to be a little too carbonated. The nose is full of chile pepper, leather, and peat. It's very intriguing. I'm glad it holds its own on the pepper front. The flavors are smoky, dry, leathery, has some bark to it, and earthy musty pepper. It's interesting. It's peaty. The peaty characteristic is it's greatest strength. It drinks lighter in body than you'd think, because of the carbonation. It's effervescent. Overall this was a nice smoked beer. It was pretty well balanced between the peat, earth, and pepper. Solid beer from De Molen.

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 00:22:27 | More by aasher

profondo

Sweden

4/5  rDev +12.7%

11-03-2012 08:35:12 | More by profondo

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

4.18/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Fresh bottle at Volo release day. Outstanding smoked. Aromas of rich smoked malt and wine. Very rich malt, chocolate, peat, whisky, really tasty, with chiles in the finish.Good amount of retained head. One of the best beers I have had in last few months.

Serving type: bottle

09-23-2012 03:21:24 | More by northyorksammy

Rempo

Indiana

3/5  rDev -15.5%

09-16-2012 23:06:37 | More by Rempo

Satyr179

Sweden

3.25/5  rDev -8.5%

09-08-2012 17:44:36 | More by Satyr179

YobroitsJoe

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +19.7%

09-07-2012 04:12:47 | More by YobroitsJoe

MYJELLOMISFIT

Colorado

4/5  rDev +12.7%

08-15-2012 14:40:52 | More by MYJELLOMISFIT

MarkyMOD

Colorado

4/5  rDev +12.7%

08-15-2012 05:31:58 | More by MarkyMOD

womencantsail

California

2.38/5  rDev -33%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 1.5

Smoked beer with chili peppers...what could go wrong? Dark brown in color with an off-white head. Intensely smokey with lots of roasted malt, mild char, and maybe a bit of dark chocolate. Interesting, the chili peppers aren’t all that strong. The smoke is just as strong on the palate is on the aroma. A touch of peat to go along with all the char and ash. Maybe even a bit of glue, a moderate spiciness, and some burnt nuts. Not very pleasant.

Serving type: bottle

07-03-2012 18:28:39 | More by womencantsail

endovelico

Portugal

3.58/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The first impression upon opening a bottle of Rook & Vuur (which by the way translates to Smoke & Fire), is it's overflowing and indomitable dark brown foam quickly filling the stein and contracting like a tofu in an Heavy Metal concert.

I for one like foamers. Theres nothing more romantic that having a beer you've never had before tell you 'I'm a beer - And an interesting one at that!'

Anyway, the color is pretty much what you'd expect to see in other empirically 'stronger' Porters (Smoked, Robust, American, etc) while in meantime the aroma shows itself like a pudding of citrus, coffee, chocolate, bacon, earth, and a distinct 'something else' i can't really point my finger in.

The aroma isn't the expression of exuberance i was hoping for. It's actually kinda dull and 'closed' at best and plain muddy at worst.

Fortunately, the tongue doesn't really follow on the nose THAT closely. It's still muddy, but at the same time, surprisingly refreshing! Theres (protuberant) citrus notes(Lemon?); assertive chocolate, smoke, earth and some flowers. You definitely get the vegetable chili taste, and it works nicely, to be honest. But it's not too prominent to the point that i would single it out on a tasting without background information on the beer.

I'm surprised at the hop profile, as it's doesn't have the flowery Saaz (Premiant is a Saaz cross by the way) profile i'm used to getting, skewing heavily into a lemon profile you'd expect to taste in an obscure American hop or unknown Asian or Oceanic exotic hop.

It's coating on the tongue, with low bitterness and carbonation and not really spicy.

All in all, it kinda feels gimmicky and ends up being somewhat muddy and confusing (to my palate atleast). It does surprisingly well as a refreshing beer in the summer, though.

Serving type: bottle

07-01-2012 19:46:17 | More by endovelico

kojevergas

California

2.33/5  rDev -34.4%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

11.2 fl oz brown glass bottle with standard pressure cap served into a conical Guinness pint glass in me gaff in low altitude Los Angeles, California. Reviewed live. Expectations are below average - a smoked ale with chili peppers and chocolate? Bottled 18 August 2011. Imported by the Shelton Bastards.

Served straight from the refrigerator and allowed to warm over the course of consumption. Side-poured with extra vigor as carbonation issues are anticipated due to the brewery.

Not paired with food.

A: Pours a monstrous nine finger head of okay cream and thickness, and annoyingly good retention. Colour is a solid black. Plentiful yeast particles are visible. Sweet jesus this is yeasty for a rauchbier. No bubble show.

Sm: Pleasant baconey roast, smoke, vague peat, and whiskey (as opposed to whisky) notes. Enjoyable and inviting. Exactly what the style calls for. A moderate strength aroma.

T: Herbal notes (likely hop or yeast derived), a hint of lemon (?), heavy peat, whiskey, dark malts, smoke, roast, and light biscuity yeast. A touch ashy. Complex but not at all subtle. It's also poorly balanced, with a hodge-podge of malts not really cooperating. I don't care much for it. It's a far cry from Schenkerla. Where's this alleged chili pepper note? I can't find it.

Mf: Smooth, wet, and not at all creamy. Wrong for the style, almost entirely. Too thin for the style. Overcarbonated (when will De Molen finally get their carbonation correct?).

Dr: A very forgettable rauchbier. I'd never get it again. A high price for a low quality product. A disappointment from De Molen, but still somewhat drinkable.

"Enjoy within 4 years" me arse. This isn't worth pissing away cellar space on.

D+

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2012 01:55:11 | More by kojevergas

zaphodchak

Virginia

3.75/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Super foamy. Light tan head piled high that sticks around. Dark brown body.

Thinnish, acrid peat smoke on the nose.

Lightish, wood/peat smoke. Good if thin. Smoke is a bit too acrid.

Mouthfeel is kinda too carby.

Neat, but lots of smoke and not as much body.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2012 00:45:34 | More by zaphodchak

GONZALOYANNA

Spain

4/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

330ml bottle. ½ pint shaker glass. Enjoyed on jun´12. Pours dark amber in color, headed by dark beige, copious & rocky foam. Crown is lasting, creamy & flavorful. Shows aromas of roasted malts, burnt chocolate & peat smoked malts as well as roasted bacon & peppery hues. Subtle underlying floral notes. Sweet/sour flavor at first sip with intense burnt bread & smoky touch. Flavor seems to be smooth by roasted malts but spicy/smoky hues win the match. Suntuous bitter & kind oily palate. Medium body, moderate carbonation. Dry sour fruit/bitter finish. Odd beer!

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2012 22:37:03 | More by GONZALOYANNA

polishkaz

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +5.6%

06-07-2012 22:23:04 | More by polishkaz

kaelingirl

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +5.6%

05-30-2012 02:30:59 | More by kaelingirl

GRG1313

California

4/5  rDev +12.7%

05-06-2012 18:34:13 | More by GRG1313

thierrynantes

France

3.95/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Beer bottle (33 cl.) purchased from Clem's and tasted in 2012.

Appearance : reddish brown color with tan foamy head.
Smell : smoked aromas.
Taste & mouthfeel : roasted malt and wood, leading to bitter finish.
Drinkability : a good beer in the style Rauchbier (smoke & fire means rook & vuur in Dutch).
To drink at cellar t° with smoked meat.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2012 16:09:34 | More by thierrynantes

AlexM

California

3.5/5  rDev -1.4%

04-18-2012 21:38:25 | More by AlexM

westcoastbeerlvr

California

1.75/5  rDev -50.7%

03-29-2012 15:45:13 | More by westcoastbeerlvr

JAHMUR

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +12.7%

03-09-2012 05:35:06 | More by JAHMUR

smakawhat

Maryland

2.5/5  rDev -29.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 1.5

Poured from the bottle into my Dogfish Head snifter glass. Bottle dated August 18th 2011.

Appearance.. um ok.. let's call.. borderline ridiculousness. Ninety percent of my snifter is filled with foam that is going nowhere. It's like cellulose insulation in my glass. Seriously. I am looking at my bottle from which I poured. It's full of suds with half of it emptied. Body color is classic dark walnut brown to black. This is ridiculous looking, it gives me the impression it's infected. Finally settles down after a minute or so while I type this.

Nose is unique. Some rauch like classic smoke, beef jerky, but also some faint milk chocolate. Unfortunately, heavily phenolic, band aid smelling and too noticeable. Medicinal forward HEAVILY.

Palate starts off well, then finishes terribly. Hints off with classic smoke that descends into a mess. Afterfinish brings a giant novocaine blast. Seriously my tongue is numb as I am typing this, I feel the needle stuck in my gums. Mouthfeel is not too bad, slightly wet, but there's also noticeable heat here. When have I ever had a beer that NUMBED my sense? oh not until NOW! What joy is THAT?!?

Looking at the ingredients list, chilies? whiskey malts? umm where is this bouquet and flavor? This is a novocaine dentist office trip mess. I am craving a Schlenkerla now, this is not good and just makes me think what the heck where they thinking? Terrible, you've done better. I am scoring this overall REAL low, this is no fun at all and this is one of my favorite styles.. really dropped the ball here. Ok I admit using a snifter on this was a bit overkill, but the taste on this is a real disaster.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2012 04:04:09 | More by smakawhat

avalon07

South Carolina

4.08/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Poured from a bottle to a mug. Had a dark brown color and a murky texture. There was an absolutely massive, creamy, tan-colored, long-lasting head. Pretty good lacing.

S: As expected, a very smoky aroma, with a good amount of malt, too.

T: The flavor was dominated by the smoky quality, but that's to be expected - on some level it reminded of an Aecht beer. Also had hints of chocolate and caramel, and a surprisingly strong hops presence. A solid flavor.

M: A well-carbonated beer with a super dry finish. Medium-bodied.

O: Of course, a beer like this won't please everyone, but it is worth a shot if you like rauchbiers.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2012 13:11:40 | More by avalon07