Emelisse Rauchbier - Bierbrouwerij Grand-Café Emelisse

acevenom

Louisiana

4.3/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured into a glass mug. The beer pours dark caramel brown with a thin off-white head and some yeast sediment. The head lingers for a long time. The beer is wonderfully smoky with hints of caramel and chocolate. There's some of that breadiness from the smoked malt as well. The flavor is malty, slightly sweet, and smoky. The smokiness lingers in the mouth along with some mild back end bitterness. I get some of those chocolate notes as well, but they're faint. The body is medium to full with low carbonation. The beer coats the mouth, allowing for a smoky aftertaste to linger. The beer is pretty easy to drink. This is an excellent beer. It's not quite up there with the German rauchbiers, but it's not far off.

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 00:33:36 | More by acevenom

mick303

Ontario (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

7% ABV. Pours a nice frothy head of creamy tan foam. Colour is a deep, thick dark drown, opaque. Retention is very good, leaving excellent lacing and film.

Smell is of fruity bonfire, woodsmoke, and a light smoked fish. But a nice sweet fruity zing, cherry, coffee, light spice. Maltiness is strong, thick and smoky.

Taste is malty, bready, with a pervasive woodsmoke. Retains some aspects of cherry and fruitwood, (toss em on the fire). A bit more bitterness develops afterward, some tart fruit. Finish is dry, woody, with a dry, slightly astringent, lingering smoke. Pretty well balanced, lot of complex flavour.

Mouthfeel has a moderate body, carbonation is pretty light, but there is a lot of heavy malt on the palate. A sipper, but the alcohol is mostly not perceived, it comes out on the aftertaste. It is refreshing.

This was a nice take on the rauchbier style. It offers a complex encapsulation of the style, it has a few rough edges toward the end, and the dry smokiness can be a bit overshadowing but its a quality beer and I would have it again.

Serving type: bottle

11-14-2012 19:19:21 | More by mick303

brentk56

North Carolina

4.33/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: A hard pour produces a still modest head that pillows the cloudy amber/ice tea brown liquid; lots of yeast in suspension and the lacing was rather impressive

Smell: A blend of smoked beechwood and caramel that almost creates a whiskey character

Taste: Caramel and smoked beechwood blend together in the opening, with a bit of earthy hop character developing in the middle; nicely balanced after the swallow, as well

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation; just a touch flabby

Overall: Oftentimes smoked beers take on a band-aid character but in this case the smoke and the caramel blend perfectly, bringing complexity and balance

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2012 20:30:36 | More by brentk56

PEBKAC

New York

3.33/5  rDev -14%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

$3 bottle from New Beer. 12/12/A notch. A bit of a gusher upon opening. Hope the price break didn't mean this was headed to the clearance rack. Things have to be pretty bleak to land there.

Ommegang chalice. Muddy amber/brown body. Whispy off-white head.

Smell is a moderately rich sausage smoke. Faint char & alcohol.

Feel is a bit thin. Taste is a bit more subdued. Light ash, sweet char, mellow whiskey. Lingering bark-like bitterness. Odd, twangy fruit finish. Paired with the thin, beaded body, & the overeager start, I'm guessing that this one will start turning sooner rather then later.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2012 06:37:15 | More by PEBKAC

UCLABrewN84

California

3.95/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Blue Palms Brewhouse in Los Angeles, CA.

Pours a clear dark orange with a foamy tan head that settles to a film on top of the beer. A foamy curtain of lace coats the glass on the drink down. Smell is of smoked malt, campfire, and smoked meats and cheeses. Taste is much the same with a slight adhesive bandage flavor and a very smokey aftertaste. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer with some nice aromas and flavors for the style.

Serving type: on-tap

07-29-2012 05:36:26 | More by UCLABrewN84

Absumaster

Netherlands

3.98/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer pours a dark brown color with a medium head that settles.

Smell is smoky, like a nice bbq. The smoke is nicely mixed with the caramel malts and the mild yeast character that reminds me most of a German yeast. It adds a spicy and malt forward smell.

The taste is smoky, with notes of ribs on the bbq, some light rubber and bandaid. The beer is German malty, I mean the malt is so subtle but in a good way, grainy and crisp and lightly grassy. The beer has some bitterness that can be tasted after swallowing the beer. I am not sure if this is the malt bitterness or the hops.
I get used to the smoke after half the glass, but the beer reains interesting.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2012 15:51:48 | More by Absumaster

tony223366

California

3.48/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

A: After a rigorous pour I have two fingers of light tan, fluffy head. It's quickly dissipating though. The color is a murky walnut brown with lots of sediment floating around. Not overly attractive all things considered.

S: But this is! Man they got the Rauchbier aroma right. I get all kinds of bacony smokey goodness. Mixed in with some rich caramels make this beer so appetizing. Maybe a little chocolate, but the smoke really takes the cake here.

T: It doesn't quite deliver what the aroma promises. If I had to start someone on Rauchbiers this might be my choice though. Schlenkerla's are much more bold and robust but they can be overwhelming at first. With this I get some caramel and actually some hop bitterness too. The hops come off a little piney. The malts then come in with some caramel and a little chocolate. It finishes with that smokey roastedness which gives you a really nice finish.

M: This is where the beer falls the shortest though. Very light body that doesn't jive with the flavors and aroma. It needs a bit more to stand up to the flavors and aroma, otherwise it's just jarring.

O: The review looks worse than it really is. I do enjoy this beer and would give it a much better score if it had a more luxurious mouthfeel.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2012 04:41:22 | More by tony223366

ZorPrime

Quebec (Canada)

3.83/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Beer is brown in color with a pretty dense and nice looking head. The aroma is smoky with bacon. Medium intensity. On the taste, the beer is strongly smoked, quite intense. Some woody notes in there too, mainly on the finish. Not very bitter. Medium body. Quite effervescent. The head sticks well to the glass. A nice rauchbier.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2012 18:37:09 | More by ZorPrime

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

4/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle: Poured a dark amber color ale with a medium size foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of smoke and light sweet caramel malt base is quite nice. Taste is also a good mix between some smoke notes with some medium sweet caramelized malt backbone. Body is about average with good carbonation and no apparent alcohol. Nice balance between smoke notes and caramelized sugar with provides a great drinking experience.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2012 14:11:25 | More by Phyl21ca

DARIVA

Netherlands

3.1/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Dark brown cloudy beer with an minimal head.

S: Smoky, sweet and some citrus scents.

T: Bitter with some sour taste.

M: Bitter on the tongue, but further not very special.

O: Can have more body and I'm missing the aftertaste.
Drinks very easily.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 09:38:50 | More by DARIVA

LiquidAmber

Washington

4.6/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into an Ommegang flute. Pours a slightly cloudy medium to dark garnet orange amber. Half finger off-white head dissipates slowly to a ring with nice lacing. Aroma of smoked meat and mild malt. Flavor is a very pleasant, rich malt and smoke with light fruit flavors fleetingly present. Finish is smooth smoke and sweet malt. Creamy medium to heavy bodied, nice. This is a very distinctive and flavorful rauchbier. Very well integrated with a very interesting flavor progression. I'm very impressed and will buy this again.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2012 05:12:30 | More by LiquidAmber

EgadBananas

Louisiana

3.85/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured a chestnut color, with a cream colored finger and a half of frothy head. Aroma was nice, with a not overpowering, but assertive smokey malt aroma, with some hints of caramel, toffee and meatiness. The charred smokiness is super assertive! There's some nuttiness and caramel with hints of toffee on the finish. Much more intense than the aroma. The feel has a quite creamy feel, medium bodied. Overall, this is quite nice. It's an assertive Rauchbier, but I like em that way.

Serving type: bottle

12-11-2011 18:20:25 | More by EgadBananas

JizackFH

New York

3.78/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - This beer pours a dark brown copper color. There is almost 2-fingers of off-white head resting on top. The head has pretty good retention, and leaves behind a few specs of lace on the glass. There is also quite a bit of sediment floating around in the glass.

S - The nose starts off with some toasted malt and a nice bit of smoked meat and campfire. There are also some fruit aromas, as well as some sweetness.

T - The taste is of toasted malt and a heft dose of meaty smoke. There are also some flavors of fruit, caramel, and some piney hop flavor. The finish leaves some lingering hop bitterness and smoke behind on the palate.

M - This has a medium body and good carbonation. It goes down easy and has a smooth velvety feel to it. It has a sweet backbone, but there is some nice hop bitterness that comes out as well. The smoke is definitely there, and I think it is a good amount.

O - This has good drinkability. It just goes down really easy, add it has a really nice flavor to it. Overall, I think this is a really nice beer, and a good example of the style. I really enjoyed this beer, and I would be happy to drink it again. I recommend checking it out.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2011 10:33:55 | More by JizackFH

DoubleJ

California

3.98/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Beachwood BBQ, on to the beer:

Dots of white lace stick to the glass of this amber brown colored beer. The nose brings out a modest smoke note and cured meat, also some sweet malt. For those afraid of a really smokey beer, you don't need to be afraid this Dutch brew. The smoke is modest, but a sweet smoke. It's almost like candied bacon. More commonly found is the marzen-like maltiness and sweetness. Fairly smooth and light medium bodied, which helps make this a pleasant beer for anytime.

Serving type: on-tap

10-12-2011 16:50:42 | More by DoubleJ

clayrock81

Virginia

3.78/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured an almost brown amber body w/ one finger offwhite head that died slow on top of a strong, roasted malt aroma w/ some smokiness but a rather mild smokey aroma; not overpowering or "beef jerkyish". For a rauchbier this brew tones down the dry, roasted malts in favor of a slightly smoother, creamier version. Don't get me wrong, the smoke is there and it is good and I like the sweet notes and a touch of minor grassy hops on the finish for a slight prick on the tongue, but when I think of rauchbiers I tend to think of real dry and smokey.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2011 12:40:38 | More by clayrock81

stcules

Italy

3.1/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Light tanned head, quite dark and deep color.
Smoked smell, quite strong, with dry chestnut - like notes.
Again inthe taste, smoked, present and interesting. Again dry chestnuts.
And even a good hop bitterness in the finish. Interesting, almot rhubarb and liquorice.
Average bodied, bitter aftertaste, rhubarb, smokiness, full, with a long and pleasant bitterness.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2011 19:21:35 | More by stcules

jbertsch

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Appears an opaque dark auburn with an off-white head of decent size. Head fades.

The aroma of this brew immediately after an aggressive pour is amazing. Smells like smoked, cooked food...or at least nice cheese and cured smoked meats. As head fades, smoke mixes with a little caramel malt and nuttiness.

The taste is a smooth and slightly spiced malt profile one would normally find in a good red ale. Smokey notes lay on top. Finishes a little bitter, in a good way.

Below average carbonation, with medium body.

This went great with some smoked almonds, dutch cheese, an prosciutto .

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2011 00:58:27 | More by jbertsch

alpinebryant

Connecticut

3.88/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy chestnut brown with a lite lacing of tiny bubbles around the edges. Chunks of particulate matter in the bottom of the glass.

Aroma of light smoke, some roasted malts

Taste is a very well conditioned rauchbier. This is probably the most balanced rauchbier that I have had and is extremely easy drinking. So smooth it is even refreshing on a 85+ day in CT. Definitely a great beer, just not sure if it is $5 great per 10.14 oz.

Light carbonation, light mouthfeel, overall pretty good stuff. Extremely well balanced.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2011 23:39:07 | More by alpinebryant

codsmith

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 2 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: dirty brown with tiny white head. Has a bunch of impurities that float around.

S: nice beachwood smoke.

T: full of smoke taste and flavor. There is a nice caramel sweetness.

M: very light and crisp. But misses low on carbonation

O: if you love a beer that is HUGE in smoke this beer is awesome but missing on carbonation

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2011 23:57:39 | More by codsmith

Halcyondays

California

3.7/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On-tap at Beachwood BBQ,

A: Pours a cloudy red brown with a firm big white head, spotty lace.

S: Smoky, wood smoke, very much to style.

T: Sweet caramel malt with a good smoke character, but nowhere near the nuance of a good Schlenkerla.

M: Medium-bodied, smooth, easy carbonation, thin at times.

O: A good rauchbier, you get what you pay for, but nothing wowing here.

Serving type: on-tap

05-11-2011 01:20:11 | More by Halcyondays

Bung

North Carolina

3.95/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz. Nice amber pour, solid finger of off white head. Retains well, lacing maybe not so much.

Carmelly malty aroma, very light bacon, smoked peat. Surprisingly mild smoke actually. Increases nicely as it warms.

Light toffee then the smoked peat, canadian bacon, corndog. A little herbal hop twang there. Then it is back to the smoke for the finish. A friend called it a liquid hushpuppy, fairly apt I'd say.

Carbonation is there but fades quickly making it a little boring on the tongue. Could use just a tad more body, but it is fairly easy to drink. Probably a one and done though.

A little one sided, but a good Rauch.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2011 02:55:31 | More by Bung

thagr81us

South Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Massive thanks goes out to Jeff and Charles at Appalachian Vintner in Asheville for giving me this one on my most recent visit! Thanks guys! Served from bottle into a Mother Earth strange. Poured red-orange with a one and a half finger off-white head that subsided to one finger slowly. Maintained nice lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of roasted malt, smoke, and ham. The flavor was of sweet malt, smoke, ham, and pulled pork. It had a light feel on the palate with mild carbonation. Overall this was a pretty tasty brew. Massive amounts of smoked meat flavors going on in this one. Honestly tasted like I was at a BBQ and has made me one to plan one for this summer now! Reason being is that I wish I had some to go with this brew. It will definitely be present when I have a BBQ next time. Great aroma and flavor going on in this one. A very nice example of the style and a must try in my opinion!

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2011 14:37:23 | More by thagr81us

oline73

Maryland

3.75/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a bottle into a standard pint glass.

Appearance: Pours a very slightly cloudy reddish amber color with a half finger of off white head that goes away completely.

Smell: Smokey, like any good rauchbier should be. There is also a very mild nutty sweetness as well.

Taste: Again, smokey is the dominant flavor. Has that good smokey flavor that reminds me of being at a barbecue. Mildly sweet from the malt with hints of nuts and dark fruit. The finish is mildly bitter.

Mouthfeel: Medium body with a medium amount of smooth carbonation. The finish has a very slight dryness to it.

Overall: This is a good but not great rauchbier. It has a good smokey flavor to it, but it isn't quite as bold as I would like it to be. I would drink this again, but I might not buy it.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2011 00:31:12 | More by oline73

zaphodchak

Virginia

3.9/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

One finger ecru-white head over amber translucent body. Decent head retention and lacing.

Slightly smoky nose, possible game meat.

This is an interesting one-- it's like a smoked Flemish sour! All the vegetal tartness of something like Bourgogne de Flandres, but with some smoke thrown in for good measure.

Mouthfeel is standard; enough fizz to keep it from being watery; it's pretty thin-bodied.

For the price and taste, I probably won't get it again, but it was certainly interesting. I don't find it super-drinkable, but this could be well paired with food (duck?).

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2011 02:20:52 | More by zaphodchak

OregonHopmonster

Oregon

3.58/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

.33cl Bottle that was a couple dollars more than an Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Maerzen.

I found the appearance of this beer to be very appealing- a nice, compact light beige head that lasted and a beautiful ruby color.

The nose was quite smoky, reminiscent of the classic Bamberg examples, but with a little less of the malty/meaty component. So far so good.

Then things went a little bit off-kilter. The mouthfeel was certainly more rounded than is traditional, a byproduct of both this being an ale and a lower carbonation level than would be found in a German rauchbier. And while the flavor was right where you would want it to be for the style, all smoke, malt and meat (though not as much as some examples), the overall impression was somewhat confusing. This beer is bock strength but isn't any more malty or satisfying than its German regular strength bretheren.

Nice to try, but I will not buy it again, mostly because of the price.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2011 07:22:09 | More by OregonHopmonster