Røyk Uten Ild (Smoke Without Fire) - HaandBryggeriet

donkeyrunner

Massachusetts

4.45/5  rDev +12.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

My wife picked up a Sculpin and I wanted a sexy beer for the night too.

Large tan head springs forth from a dark brown beer. Ruby highlights. Batch #273. Last sip looks as good as the first.

Intensely smoky aroma. A little meaty like beef soaked in a dark marinade. Worcestershire. Mild wheaty twang and light brown turbinado, tamarind sweetness.

As smoky as it smells. Smoke hits the palette 1st but rolls into a carmelized glaze reduction. Long, lingering smoke mouth aftertaste.

Smoke is good.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 22:37:48 | More by donkeyrunner

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

500ml bottle. What? Where there's smoke, there's fire, or so I've always been taught. Do things work differently in the land of fjords? What sayeth Slartibartfast of Magrathea on the matter?

This beer pours a murky, dark dirty brownish amber colour (this conveys smoke rather well, thank you very much, left brain!), with three fingers of puffy, foamy, shiny ecru head, which leaves some crudely broad caricatures of arched lace around the glass as it evenly bleeds away.

It smells of moderately smoky, somewhat seaside oriented in its bearing, bready, salted caramel malt, a soft, singed generic orchard fruitiness, some understated nutty milk chocolate, and weirdly funky, herbal hops. The taste is rather cocoa-heavy at the outset, the smoke saving its focus for the late arriving caramelized toffee malt, some persistent, if still underwhelming apple and pear fruit esters, persistently prickly earthy, leafy hops, and a slightly warming, swirling alcohol edge.

The carbonation is average, if just a bit more slavish to the frothing, effervescent manner, the body a steady medium weight, and smooth in a battlefield sense - calm now, sure - but what to expect right around the corner? It finishes off-dry, as the chocolate maltiness, lingering burnt fruit, and still unloved caramel notes combine to hold the persistent smoke at bay.

A decent smoked beer, a league or two more palatable than the last similar offering from this particular nation (I'm looking straight at you Nøgne Ø). The key seems to be the integration, because while it is indeed smoky, we're led to perceive this as a sub-attribute of whatever typical beer meme we're currently sussing out, rather than as an overarching component of the whole. As wanky as that was, it's true, and a straight-up compliment to the brewer.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2013 06:27:56 | More by biboergosum

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

4.2/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

500ml bottle poured into tulip 17/12/12

A doesn't look that dark as it pours out of the bottle but once in the glass its not quite black but quite dark, large 3 finger mocha foam sits around for a few sips leaving a single ring of lace

S the smoke is there but not over the top, some smoked spiced apple with some faint hops, a little nutty toffee and milk chocolate, not quite funky but the yeast profile is unfamiliar to me but I like it.

T the fruity, smokey notes are interesting and again mellow smoke works well with the chocolate, tastes solid but the nose had more complexity and intensity

M not as thick as you expect from the color but easy to drink not being as heavy, carbonation's almost foamy but not quite, a little slick after the fact with a lingering smoked chocolate aftertaste

O I rather liked this one, a nice smoked brew. The smoke is mellow allowing other aspects to play a part and no booze at any point, I could drink another

I'm pretty happy with this brewery and my ability to buy it in my home town, well worth trying and looking for if your a smoked malt fan

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 02:36:09 | More by wordemupg

NEhophead

Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

16.9 fl oz brown bottle served in a chalice.
Batch 426, total bottles 2160.

Deep oak color with a shade of maple. Carbonation-filled, foamy off-white head with quite surprising strength given its activity. Really nice ringed lacing around the chalice's edges.

Big leathery smoke quality with a touch of alcohol soaked peat, a bit like scotch. Rounded, moderately sweet caramel with a mild, clean floral hop presence. There's a bit of an herbal spice that adds a nice complement to the intense bacon-like smoke character.

Despite the intensely smokey aroma, the flavor is driven by a slightly heavy, sweet caramel with ripe, vinous fruit: plum, cherry. That's not to say that the leathery smoke flavor is absent, it is very flavorful yet slick as a result of some imbalances with the other flavor components. The sweetness is a bit much and the fruit is just a bit too young.

Nearly full bodied. For the style, it is one of the more 'heavier'/'maltier' ones that I've had. The texture supports the bolder flavors quite well.

I enjoyed this offering although it isn't my favorite version of the style. The fruit flavors might benefit from some age in order for some of the slightly tart qualities to mellow, which may allow the sweetness to turn a bit richer.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 00:30:26 | More by NEhophead

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle: Poured a clear dark brown color ale with a large foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of smoked malt with some caramel malt notes. Taste is good mix between some smoked malt with light smoked fish notes and some caramel malt. Body is about average with good carbonation and no apparent alcohol. Solid offering with great balanced taste of smoked malt and bacon and smoked fish.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2012 19:48:31 | More by Phyl21ca

womencantsail

California

3.58/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A dark brown color with a khaki colored head. As the name implies, very, very smokey. A bit of salt and cured meat aroma to it, too. Some bread and toast, maybe a little bit of toffee. The flavor has a hint of vanilla which is nice, but the smoke and salt notes are almost overwhelming. A little bit nutty and some sweetness of toffee, bread, and toasted malts.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2012 18:30:06 | More by womencantsail

metter98

New York

3.98/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: This beer is very hazy and dark brownish amber in color. When holding the glass close to a bright light, a low amount of carbonation is visible. It poured with a finger high dense beige head that has excellent retention properties and consistently left a small head covering the surface.
S: There are moderate aromas of smoke in the nose along with some notes of dark fruits and hints of burnt malts.
T: Similar to the smell, smoky flavors dominate the taste of this beer, although these are not overpowering in any way.
M: The wheat makes this feel a bit more than light-bodied and smooth on the palate; it also has a moderate to high amount of carbonation.
O: The light-bodied nature of this beer would make it not as daunting to drink for someone unfamiliar to the style. There’s a high amount of carbonation in the bottle so it requires a careful pour or else you will get lots of head and no beer in your glass. No alcohol is perceptible in the taste.

Note: Batch #426

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2012 01:25:57 | More by metter98

Mora2000

Texas

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

Thanks to bu11zeye for sharing this beer. Always happy to try a new smoked beer.

The beer pours a medium to dark brown color with a tan head. The aroma is very smokey. It reminds me of fresh smoked brisket, with a lot of meaty smoke notes and a little bit of roasted malt. The flavor has some great smoked chocolate notes, as well as some roasted malt. Medium to thick mouthfeel and medium carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 04:04:59 | More by Mora2000

lacqueredmouse

Australia

3.53/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

500ml bottle purchased from the Adelaide Bier Shop.

Pours with very effervescent carbonation, requiring quick thinking to keep the foam from exploding out of the bottle. The carbonation stays fine and voluminous throughout, feeding a frothy but smooth head of off-white. Body is a cloudy deep mahogany colour, reddish in places, deep chestnut brown in others. Surprisingly fluid in the glass. Not a bad look all up.

Nose is smoky and sweet, with a type of meatiness to it that makes it feel solid and a little savoury. There are big caramel or treacle characters, which with the smoke mingle to give a glazed ham aroma. It's good, but I wonder if it will be slightly too heavy.

Taste is, contrary to all my expectations, too *hoppy*. On the back palate, we get a pronounced bitterness, that tends towards soapy grapefruit and rusty metal. This mingles with the (now dominated) smoke character to give quite an ashy finish. But the smoke flavour itself has almost disappeared, and the sweetness I was worried about ends up being overborne by the hops.

It's another interesting beer from Haand, but this one works a little less than some of their others. Again, they have some interestingly odd characters to it, but it's a little bit skewed towards anarchic here.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2012 06:22:28 | More by lacqueredmouse

TurdFurgison

Ohio

3.48/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

500ml bottle picked up in Chicago a few months ago, something like $9-10. It pours very dark, brown and opaque except at the edges, where it's a translucent auburn. It sports a wet-looking tan foam that forms a lasting layer on top.

Smoky aroma (duh) but sort of one-dimensional. No other malts or hops come through, despite the listing of amarillo on the label. The taste is likewise smoky and simple, no sweetness for balance. A little bitterness on the aftertaste, but mostly clean and dry.

Good carbonation, standard body and mouthfeel. Sort of a let-down for me, not a bad beer but not really worth 2x the price of Schlenkerla bottles.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 00:41:48 | More by TurdFurgison

Jayli

Massachusetts

3.73/5  rDev -6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Consumed 11/28
Poured in to a pint glass

A: This beer pours a deep, dark, murky brown with slightly reddish hues. One finger of light brown head sits on top which recedes quickly leaving minor spots of lacing.

S: Nose is smoke, caramel malts, and light floral hop notes.

T: Taste starts with a smokey, floral hop character. A nice continued undertone of smoke is present as lighter malts take over the middle. Finish is caramel sweetness with a continued smoke flavoring.

M: Lighter side of medium body, medium carbonation, thin but crisp with a slightly dry finish.

O: Goes down easy, tasty, not too filling, well hidden kick, decent representation of style. I'd seek out others of the style first, but a decent offering.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2011 16:41:00 | More by Jayli

nezelrac

New York

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

batch 273, bottled 12/5/10
(from notes, this beer was just over a year old when I tasted it)

A - dark brown with tan creamy head; moderate retention; good lacing

S - big sweet malt attack immediately followed by wodsmoke and smoked meat; very engaging plum and roasted and chocolate malt notes; English-smelling hops peek out on top

T - smoked meat; caramel; roasted malt; tastes in between a smoked porter and a smoked dunkler bock - actually a bit stout-ish

M - medium-full; moderate/low CO2; sweet malt weight

O - quite a good beer; full of flavor without being tiring (though it is not entirely easy drinking!)

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2011 21:14:05 | More by nezelrac

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.7/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Decent though unexceptional smoked beer. Greyish tinged body with some retained off-white head. Average mouthfeel. Decent drinkability with lunch. Booze not too detectable. A tad of woodiness.Bottle from trade. Some chocolate malt and on the sweetish side.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2011 23:55:03 | More by northyorksammy

osusullins

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Sampled a bottle poured into a tulip glass.
The beer poured a dark brown with a soft, white head that slowly dissolves. The aroma is of dark fruit with subtle smoke and slight chocolate. Strong estery taste with the dark fruit very pronounced up front followed by chocolate with the smoke lingering on the back end of the beer. This beer has less smoke than another of Haandbryggeriet's beers (Norwegian Wood) which did disappoint me. I would like the smoke to be more prevelant, but this was still a very nice, drinkable beer. I enjoyed it, but like Norwegian Wood better.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2011 02:12:06 | More by osusullins

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.93/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served in a Gale Sayers shaker pint glass.

My last bit o' smoked goodness for a bit (stupid lack of unlimited funds...), but some good stuff recently. This capstone pours a murky garnet-auburn topped by over a finger of dirty tan foam. The nose comprises charred wood, toffee, toasted biscuits, and a small amount of pine sap. The taste brings in more of the same, with the toffee and smoke intertwining nicely, behaving themselves the whole time. Some mandarin oranges somehow sneak their way into the proceedings. Oddly enough, the smoke really doesn't dominate as I expected... The body is a straight medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a slightly oily, slightly dry feel (man, has my tongue been worked-over a bit here...). Overall, a very nice smoke-based brew, but one that could, somehow, stand to have a bit more smoke involved. Still, another nicely-crafted piece from the Haand boys.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2011 05:02:48 | More by TMoney2591

Bung

North Carolina

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

500ml. Nice dark brown pour, light tan head. Retains well enough.

Aroma, malt heavy, bready caramel. Some toasted malt, lesser smoke.

Taste has the malty caramel, some pumpernickel, peat and chocolates. Smoked malt is mostly there mid through finish. The smoked meat lingers nicely. Would prefer the smoke to be more in your face, this is quite well balanced.

About mid bodied with a good level of carbonation. No alcohol to speak of though a little higher in content than some.

Another fine brew from Mr. Haand.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2011 02:50:13 | More by Bung

ADZA

Australia

4.13/5  rDev +4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This brew pours a dark murky kola hue with beautiful carbonation that leaves behind a creamy,frothy two finger head that stays and leaves heaps of lacing all over the shop,the smell is a combination of smokey bacon,roasted malts,chichory,light liquorice and a tinge of herbal hops,it has a medium bodied well carbonated mouthfeel which coats the mouth with smokey bacon,toasted marshmallows,chichory,beef jerky and finishes with a herbal hoppy bitterness and overall very nice and would drink again.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2011 08:41:22 | More by ADZA

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

16.9-ounce bottle poured into a Mikasa tulip. Thanks to heyta for sending this bottle my way.

Pours a very, very dark brown with a fizzy off-white head that dissipates into a thick, bubbly collar quick quickly with only a spot or two of lacing on the edges of the glass. The nose comes forward with some nice roasted malt and then there's just a touch of smoke in the background. The flavor has a bit more smoke and less of the roast. In addition, there's some cocoa and a bit of strong, bold coffee. Mouthfeel is medium with moderately-high carbonation. Slight fizz on the back-end. Finish is slightly dry and a bit smokey. Nicely done.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2011 21:56:30 | More by Thorpe429

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a very dark chestnut brown color that appears almost black in the glass. Completely opaque with faint mahogany edges when held to a light and a two finger light beige head that slowly settles into a lasting cap. Large rings and chunks of lacing left behind.

Smoked malt aroma that isn't overbearing with hints of charcoal, wood, roasted coffee and BBQ as well as some sweeter notes like chocolate, toffee and hazelnut. I'm not picking up much of the hops or wheat but there's a nice balance of smoke and sweet in the nose. I usually prefer smoke bombs but this smells pretty good.

Medium bodied with a bit more roasted character than smoke. It's still pretty smokey but there's more of an acrid burnt flavor than I had hoped for. Lots of deep roasted coffee/espresso and burnt toast. The smokey notes are present with hints of charcoal, smoked meat, BBQ and ash but I wish this flavor was more dominant. Underneath there is some bitter dark chocolate as well as some caramel, toffee and nut. I'm also picking up slight wheat which was missing n the aroma but still not much of a hop presence. This beer is bitter but attribute that more to the burnt/roasted character than anything else.

Overall, this was an interesting take on the style. Pretty tasty and well balanced but I wish that it had more of a smoke component and wasn't so burnt tasting. Worth checking out if you're a smokehead but not something I would likely purchase again.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2011 04:21:55 | More by corby112

EgadBananas

Louisiana

3.05/5  rDev -23.2%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Very dark brown pour, with a thick light tan head. Lacing was scarce.

Aroma was a little smoky, roasty, and malty. The smoke aroma was nice, but very muted for a smoked beer.

Taste was pretty much the same, though everything was kicked up a notch, which was more enjoyable.

The feel was fairly light, but creamy, with some crisp carbonation.

Overall, a decent smoked beer, but just not very pronounced in any aspect.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2011 14:24:24 | More by EgadBananas

pokesbeerdude

Colorado

4.13/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Last one on the shelf at Wilbur's in Ft. Collins, around $8. Batch #273, Total Bottles Produced: 1080. Appears to be a label stuck on top of another label. Interesting. Into a Delirium Tremens glass.

A: Dark brown in color with a sand colored head right at a quarter of an inch thick that has receded to a small cap of bubbles with a few spots of lacing. Some decent red highlights when held to the light.

S: Decent amount of smoked malts, not a bacon bomb by any means but still a decent amount of smoke in this one. Behind the smoke is a bit of a bit of burnt malt, some slightly caramel like smells and some yeast esters.

T: Follows the nose nicely, just the right amount of smoke to let you know there is smoke, but doesn't punch your tongue like an Aecht Schlenkerla rauchbier. Some dark fruit sweetness and a slightly phenolic, estery yeast profile as well. Interesting mix of smoke and fruit. Nice bitterness on the finish to tie everything together. Really nice.

M: Medium carbonation, medium bodied, and surprisingly sweet and sticky, I figured this would be a little bit drier. Works well for this beer though.

O: This is a pretty nice smoked beer, nothing ground breaking but a well done, not overly smokey beer. Doesn't have the liquid bacon/ham that others are known for, but has just enough to make you notice. Glad I got the chance to try it.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2011 03:27:52 | More by pokesbeerdude

dgilks

Australia

4.33/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This pours a dirty brown colour with a small, tan head. Fair head retention.

Smoky, dark, roasty and smelling delicious. There is a touch of fruit in the background. Very good.

Smooth, malty, sweet and delicious. Great balance. A little earthy with plenty of smoke. A touch fruity.

Medium body with moderate carbonation. Fine.

A decent beer with lots of flavour. Really nice. The smopke is well balanced and there are some fine esters in there.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2011 09:54:54 | More by dgilks

scruffwhor

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +13.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Very nice tan head of three fingers and a thick layer of foam that lasts through all 650ml's. The color is a super dark brownie brown to black. I can barely see a few bubbles rising to the top.

Only a little smoke aroma enters the nostrils compared to what I expeceted. The aroma is a very strong malt bill of super toasted and roasted malts. Imparting medium chocolate and coffee aromas with some smokey cream.

The taste starts with a smokey caramel and coffee. Then the middle unloads more of the Bamberg smoked malts, but you also get some chocolate flavors as well. The finish is a slightly gritty and well carbonated palate with smokey rye bread crust, and maybe just a hint of bacon and wood. This is a great smoke beer. Probably on the top tier of smoked beers that I can enjoy and would buy again.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2011 20:34:36 | More by scruffwhor

crossovert

Wisconsin

3.78/5  rDev -4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

500ml bottle with the most bad-ass homemade label ever.

It pours a deep, dark brown with hints of lighter brown on the edges and a foamy off-white head that leaves a thick wall of lacing as it recedes.

The smell is smoky but not over the top smoky, it has a lot of caramal and hops to go with it.

The flavor is pretty delicious. It has notes of caramel and butterscotch amidst a bitter culmination of smoke and hops. It is smoky, bready, fruity, malty and good. It is a bit sweet, if they would have gone with a tad more smoked malt and a tad less sweet caramel malt it would have been really skull-smashing.

Overall a solid rare import.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2011 03:17:17 | More by crossovert

DaveHS

California

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

A-Cloudy mahogany with 3/4 inch of milky coffee colored head. Leaves rings of soapy lacing.

S-Rauchbier smokiness, gouda, peanut shells. Seriously, peanut shells.

T/M-Smooth, medium bodied, moderate to low carbonation. Very well balanced smokiness, burnt pretzels, light coffee roastiness.

D-Not as bold as I like in therms of the smoke, but a well put together beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2011 06:46:50 | More by DaveHS