Emelisse Rauchbier - Bierbrouwerij Grand-Café Emelisse

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

rhoadsrage

Illinois

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

(Served in a dimple mug)
A- This beer has a slightly dense clear brown body with a beige bubbly head that pops away to a thin film. There is a gentle carbonation of tiny bubbles gliding up the sides of the glass.
S- The oak and leather smoke aroma is mild with a soft band-aid note that finishes with a mineral note.
T- The slight watery note turns into a oaky smoke note with a soft band-aid note to the dry finish. There is some soft brown malt flavors underneath that support the smoke flavor.
M- This medium mouthfeel has a tight fizz that dries the finish more and no alcohol heat.
D- The smoke has some nice complexity to it and the band-aid note is in the background and not the offensive plastic taste but a good cloth band-aid note. Malt is a bit buried but plays a good supporting role.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2010 21:01:55 | More by rhoadsrage

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

wl0307

United Kingdom (England)

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

Purchased at the BSF bar, GBBF 2010, this bottle-conditioned ale comes in a short, slim brown 300ml bottle; BB 03-06/2011, served lightly chilled in a straight imperial pint glass.

A: pours a murky and dark chestnut brown colour, topped with a super-huge and thick light-beige froth, settling slowly to a 0.5cm head to last on top of constant streams of mini-fizz.
S: the smell is very similar to Schlenkerla Märzen, in that the beech-wood smoked malts come in their full strength, radiating lots of salty-sweet marinated-prune aroma, but less bacon-ish or smoked-fishy; the caramalts contribute a secondary layer of malt sweetness, while there's a light tinge of... something (hops?) behind. A good swirl brings out something that the original Bamberg Rauchbier doesn't show - an enticing, jammy estery elements endowed by bottle-conditioning of Belgian yeasts! Enticing and smooth...
T: a smooth mouthful of smoked malts, lightly sour-sweet smoked prune-ish and smoked woody, and mildly... toffee-like, leading towards an unexpectedly bitter-ish and dry-ish aftertaste, resulting from the woodiness and definitely hops (I guess). Lingering in the finish are nicely-tuned maltiness and a mildly medicinal/phenolic undertone, while a faint touch of dried herbs floats somewhere in the mouth...
M&D: well bottle-conditioned, the mouthfeel is consistently mildly effervescent and smooth, against a medium body. All in all, I find this Belgian take on smoked beer a very successful and succulent one, coming with a bit different complexity than the original Bamberg stuff. Highly enjoyable!

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2010 20:21:13 | More by wl0307

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

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

Tone

Missouri

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

Pours a slightly hazy, amber color. Suspended sediment is present. 2/3 inch head of an off-white color. Great retention and decent lacing. Smells of sweet malt, smoke, slight roasted malt, hint of alcohol, and an odd bacon grease aroma that is amazing. Fits the style of a Rauchbier. Mouth feel is smooth and clean, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of smoke, sweet malt, slight roasted malt, hops, hint of citrus, and a hint of yeast. Overall, great aroma, great body, and great blend.

Serving type: bottle

11-08-2010 00:53:36 | More by Tone

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

rtepiak

Poland

4.22/5  rDev +9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

a rather exceptional beer when it comes to food accompaniment with a excellenct balance of smoked malt, and dark fruit qualities. pour is cloudy dark orange/amber with about two fingers of nearly white head. nose is plum, black berry and smokey camp fire. palate is first off smokey as expected. but a dryness that is equal to the citrus notes of the hops... palate has a meaty black currant to it, plum and blackberries like in the nose but with a quality of subtle cherry yogurt. this beer has not in any way gone bad. its very subtle and it may be because i have it with liver, shallots and kale in balsamic vinegar but it brought out some fantastic potential in the range.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2010 00:19:11 | More by rtepiak

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

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