Smoked Vienna Lager - Bell's Brewery, Inc.

kojevergas

California

3.48/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served on-draught into a Summit pilsner glass at the Muddy Pig in St. Paul. Reviewed from notes taken around Thanksgiving 2012.

A: Pours a half finger beige colour of average retention. Colour is a clear vibrant copper. No yeast particles are visible. No bubble show.

Sm: Rauch bacon smoke. Pale malts. Vienna malts. An average strength aroma.

T: Vienna malts, tame bacon and smoke character, crisp full-bodied barley, and a crisp clean pale malt finish. Nicely balanced for a rauchbier. Even a bit tame. Built well.

Mf: Smooth and wet. Good carbonation and thickness. Suits the flavours nicely.

Dr: Very drinkable for the style - which is a tough one to pull off. Rarely are smokey notes so subtle. A solid rauchbier/Vienna lager from Bell's. Tasty and enjoyable. I'd have it again.

High B-

Serving type: on-tap

12-06-2012 19:23:58 | More by kojevergas

ManiacalBilby

Georgia

4.95/5  rDev +36%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A-Hazy straw color with a thick white head.
S-Mmm. Breast malt with a good amount of smokiness.
T-Fair amount of smoke right away. Not to strong not to light. Followed up by perfect bread like malt finish.
M-Wonderfully smooth and creamy.

Overall- I'm a sucker for smoke beers but had never had one quite like this. It was way better than I expected.

Serving type: on-tap

05-06-2012 17:41:24 | More by ManiacalBilby

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.68/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bell's brewery masterfully layers aromas and smoky flavors on a bready and malty-rich lager. More robust and characterful than most, this lager gives savory flavors without compromising drinkability.

Pouring a strong straw color or light golden hue, this lager shows brilliant clarity while carrying a fluffy white foam stance deep into the sesstion. Light on lace, the beer has the general appearance of more heafty lagers.

Aromas of smoke are apparent and sit just above the complementary notes of fresh baked breads, bread crust, and lightly toasted grains. Malt aromas and flowery, herbal hops keep reminding you of the German heritage that's being honored in this recipe.

Smokey sweetness and a bready malt undertow set the stage for savory sun kissed grains, earthy-spicy hop bitterness. The balance is superb- making the base Munich malts govern the tempo while the smoke adds a bold layer of complexity but without dominating the beer. The beer shows a lot of restraint and finess in recipe formulatio and execution.

As Vienna lagers go, the bready rich flavor translates to a smoother and richer body with medium creaminess especially early. Hop bitterness and crisp dryness dictates the finish while a linger of smoke lasts well into the next sip.

A very good lager with added smoke aroma and flavor, giving the impressions of braised beef or barbecue (which would make perfect compliments to the session). Delicioius, although the smoke character could prove challenging to most beer drinkers.

Serving type: on-tap

05-29-2011 17:54:19 | More by BEERchitect

Dreadnaught33

District of Columbia

4.22/5  rDev +15.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I thought at first this would be under the 'smoked lager' category but I had it at the Brewery and they insisted it was a vienna lager with smoked malt, not a rauchbeer like it is listed under the smoked lager category so i believe that this one is different. Had in the first week of April while visiting the Bell's brewery.

A: Clean lighter amber color with a little ring of head and very little lacing. Average and juice like almost.

S: A very well done smoked malt note mixes well with the subtle sweetness of the German malts. Has a nice earthiness and meat like quality to it.

T: Clean and yeasty flavor with a great fresh bread taste, along with the smoked meat notes. Some other lemon zest adds in from the hops giving the beer a nice twist at the end that is subtle but noticeable.

M: Clean and crisp with nice carbonation that rides smoothly over the palate.

O: A very nice beer that took me by surprise!

Serving type: on-tap

05-15-2011 22:12:17 | More by Dreadnaught33