Emelisse Rauchbier - Bierbrouwerij Grand-Café Emelisse

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

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

wedgie9

Tennessee

3.15/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Tasted from 10.14oz bottle. Pours clear amber with a decent off-white but quickly receding head. The nose has a hint of sweetness with hickory smoke, salty brine, and some lightly roasted malt. Flavor is smoked hickory with smoky roasted almonds and some malt. The body is fairly light with average carbonation and a medium-length smoked finish.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2010 03:31:14 | More by wedgie9

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

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

100floods

California

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

pours a hazy, thick mud brown with clear shades of a nut-brown, too. Smells of sweet, bock-like malt with some kind of smokish notes. Pleasant and pretty clean, but too much like a doppel bock. The smoked malt comes through a lot more in the flavor. It does come through as strong as Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier, but perhaps the difference is what makes this one nice, but not as good. I'd say this one tastes more like 'smoke' that meat that has been smoked. It's not a strong bacon or smoked salmon flavor that makes the other classic examples good, but not extremely drinkable in high frequency.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2011 02:01:24 | More by 100floods

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

crossovert

Wisconsin

3.6/5  rDev -7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

An expensive 10.14 oz bottle. Apparently is an ale and not a Rauchbier.

It pours a clear brown with a foamy off-white head. The head quickly recedes with no lacing.

The smell is very smoky and campfirey. But it also as a prevailing caramel sweetness.

The flavor is alright. It is a very light beer. It has mostly lager characeristics. Nice bready malt, a subtle hop note. The smoke definitely isn't overboard.

It is a nice one, but have a Bamberger Rauch for less money rather than this.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2011 03:02:28 | More by crossovert

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

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

Medium smoke aroma. Lacey on yellow body. Medium mouthfeel. Some sourish taste, not unusual, and malted down for drinkability. Residual hoppy taste in aftertaste, and that's the best part.

Ken's bottle. A decent enough smoked beer though not exceptional it is worth trying.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2011 16:15:17 | More by northyorksammy

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

metter98

New York

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

A: It poured clear amber in color into a mug with a thin, white head. A moderate level of carbonation is visible from the rising bubbles; there is a good amount of head retention.
S: There is a gentle smell of smoky aromas in the nose.
T: The taste has a good mix of malty and smoky flavors.
M: It feels medium-bodied and relatively smooth on the palate.
D: This beer was relatively easy to drink, although the smoked smell and flavor wasn't quite as intense as some of the other rauchbiers out there.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2010 21:53:54 | More by metter98

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

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

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

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

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

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.88/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Served in a Hirter stange.

VDubb hearkens back to his family's roots with his selection, a continuation of the Leaving Falls Church uber-bender. This conspirator pours a clear russet topped by a finger or so of creamy ecru foam. The nose is definitely dominated by charred smoke, though some honey-drizzled ham sits savoringly in the clear-aired background. There's a vague sweetness in there as well. The taste focuses more on the ham to begin with, a slice of pineapple laying on top; the smoke comes in near the end, diminished in strength since the smell. The body is pretty light, with a light moderate carbonation and a kinda crisp finish. Overall, this is a pretty decent rauch, though a bit light on the smoke for me. Still, it is very smooth and seems to go down insanely easily.

Serving type: bottle

08-26-2010 08:36:20 | More by TMoney2591

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

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

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

kwjd

Ontario (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I picked this up at a store in Brooklyn, New York. Pours a murky brown colour with very thin head. Lots of smoke, almost bacony. I find the flavour to have almost a salty aftertaste, with the lingering bacon flavour as an aftertaste. Medium bodied carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2011 21:28:20 | More by kwjd

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

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

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

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