Samuel Adams Bonfire Rauchbier - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

CDGoin

Virginia

1.35/5  rDev -60.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 1 | feel: 1 | overall: 1

Bonfire is the right name.. their is smoky beer and then there is this.

If you want your beer to taste like it was filtered through BURNT bacon drippings this is the beer for you. Simply undrinkable.

BTW I like bacon.. but this was somethign else.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2013 19:40:08 | More by CDGoin

KeithVan

Washington

1.35/5  rDev -60.3%
look: 3 | smell: 1 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 1.25

Tasted and smelt exaclty like buring firewood....Sam Adams Bonfire, no kidding. From the sam adams winter variety pack. Usually the variety packs are hit and miss. The winter pack was a great success. With the exception of "firewood Beer". I guess if you have this beer and take the name literially, you will not be dissapointed, especially if you happen to be a termite.

-Although it's been well over a year since I last tasted this "Gem", The taste is one that will not be forgotton.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2013 13:51:13 | More by KeithVan

Jadjunk

Georgia

3.9/5  rDev +14.7%
look: 2 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

It's been a long time since I've done a review of a bottle. This marks the final bottle of Samuel Adams' Harvest Collection 2011, a style I have not tried yet, so I'll try to approach this with an open mind. I always appreciate Samuel Adams' effort of taking on such diverse and unique styles. Date on bottle is Mid-February 2012, so this bottle is about 2 months out-of-date.

Served in the Samuel Adams Sensory Pint Glass at 50º Fahrenheit.

(Appearance) Beer pours a light tan soda-quality head that dissipates almost immediately, leaving nothing but a very busy carbonated surface stream and a slight thin ring around the edges. Color is a glorious shade of deep ruby red through the light, thinning to a deep shade of mahogany orange as the light reflects off the bottom of the glass. Beer is transparent despite being a darker shade of red-orange. There is a very busy level of carbonation arriving in the center of the surface. Appearance is nice for color but certainly lackluster for the head quality, which may be due to age, but is one of the most sorry appearances I have seen to date in just about any craft beer. No lacing either, what gives? 2

(Smell) Aroma is potent, heavy malt aroma with a distinct smoke flavor in the foreground and background. Aroma is most interesting, flavors of dark toasted caramel malts and a medium toffee emphasis would make it seem sweeter than it really is, but it keeps subtle enough on the nose. Smoke also remains a key participant in the aroma but avoids being domineering, lending itself well to the character of the aroma. Hops are subdued if at all present. The smell is actually quite enjoyable if you like smoke aromatics in your beer. 4.5

(Taste) The taste is even more unique. My first impressions are here as if I just took a bite out of a sweetly marinated and smoked slice of meat, simply a robust combination of flavors. The malt character is the front and the smoke flavor lends itself well, segueing to the dominating flavor on the finish, resting with a drop of toffee on the tongue. Despite all the flavor that comes from the malt and smoke character, the beer manages to feel light in flavor, with a lighter body than one would expect. Nothing is overdone here, and the overall product is far more accessible than I had anticipated it would be going in. It has an impressive flavor and one I wouldn't mind trying again very soon. 4

(Mouthfeel) Mostly smooth with a touch of air on the tongue, a well-done pairing of flavor and texture. Alcohol presence is low, and body is slightly below medium, short of the little more body that it needs to be ideal. Overall it has spot-on texture, manages to be subtle enough to savor the smoke and malt but lively enough to remind me that I'm not drinking a flat beer. Great. 4

(Overall) I really love the small niche styles like this. It's a well done interpretation of what I hope the Rauchbier style is all about. My biggest critique is on the pathetic head which took away from an extraordinary appearance as well as the body which could have been amped up a bit for an even fuller flavor. I will cross my fingers and hope that this is included in next Fall's variety pack (Which at this point is only about 3 months out!). I would certainly recommend trying this wherever it can be found. 3.5

Boston Beer Company's
Samuel Adams Bonfire Rauchbier
3.9/5.00

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2012 00:09:13 | More by Jadjunk

jkeeney2010

4.05/5  rDev +19.1%
look: 3 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A Low overall due to the absolute uniquieness of the beer.

A seasonal beer for a very good reason, this beer would not taste good any other season except for when your picturing yourself around a campfire

This beer is smokey and taste like you are drinking a campfire I had it in a Octoberfest Collection from Sam Adams and drinking more one of these the taste might get bad but one is excellent.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2012 10:11:04 | More by jkeeney2010

iabeerbaron

Iowa

2.73/5  rDev -19.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A style I'm trying to familiarize myself with and really can't drink a whole bottle quite yet. I do enjoy the first half and then after that it is too overwhelming for me. Dark orange almost brown pour, nice head. Aroma of smoke is dominant. Flavor is smokey with a bit of sweetness to round it out.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2012 18:08:59 | More by iabeerbaron

brewdlyhooked13

Ohio

4.13/5  rDev +21.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance - pours a clear copper gold with a dirty white head of half a finger at most. Not much resilience but good stick with the lace.

Aroma - starts off with a moderate but appealing smokiness. As it sets up, it takes on some olive-Orval aroma. I prefer just the smoke.

Taste - good maltiness, a hint of roast. The smoke comes on right after, but not in a rush. Tasty rauchbier, a wise move to not go as intense as Schlenkerla. This level is excellent and allow the beer flavor to co-exist. Finishes with a trace of balancing hops and the smoke of course.

Mouthfeel - average body, maybe a little bigger. Crisp and refreshing. Good levels.

Drinkability - the style could wear me out after a bottle. I could drink a few of these, though, nice balance given the sometimes overbearing nature of the smoke for this style. A fine way to end the night as the smoke clears on the men's college hoops. Congrats to both Kentucky and Kansas for an excellent game.

Serving type: bottle

04-03-2012 03:52:47 | More by brewdlyhooked13

Mumps

Maryland

2/5  rDev -41.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

12 oz bottle

Sadly, one of the few from Samuel Adams that I was not a fan of.

Color was a decent copper, good for the fall.

Unfortunately, the smell immediately put me off. Like smelling artificial smoke.

Again, unfortunately the taste was just as bad. Like drinking artificial smoke. Almost as if they were trying to give the beer too much smoke flavor.

The mouth feel wasn't too bad. Thick and smooth enough to make its presence known and to be pleasant to drink.

Unfortunately this brew was a sad let down. I have friends to loved it, but for myself I do not intend to have a repeat.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 02:21:18 | More by Mumps

JohnnyMc

Ohio

3.98/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

One of the best Sam Adams I have had the pleasure of trying recently. The aroma has a very nice smoky scent with hints of caramel and the flavor is much the same.

A nice amount of malts that don't overpower with a big smoky taste that is slightly sweet with caramel, toffee and a hint of coffee. Very easy to drink too.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2012 04:05:41 | More by JohnnyMc

bucklemyshoe

Georgia

3.88/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle. Pint glass.

A: Rustic bronze color with a finger of tan head.

S: Smoky malts, toffee, caramel, and some oak.

T: Smoked spam, some sweet fruitiness, toffee, and butterscotch.

M: Rather light body with pretty low carbonation.

O: Sam Adams has continued to impress with their seasonals this year.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2012 15:21:31 | More by bucklemyshoe

Redrover

Illinois

3.7/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 ox brown bottle poured into a SA perfect pint. The beer is mahogany with amber highlights. There is just a skim of a beige head.

There is wood smoke, malts and a hint of band aids on the nose.

The taste leads with smoke, kind of reminds me of a smoked landsjager or other hard sausage. There is a trace of sweetness and some bready malts. The bandaid thing is way in the back ground thank goodness. The smoke is the thing here but the base beer is not lost in the mix.

The mouth is decent and maybe slightly over carbonated.

I think this one is pretty tasty and may be a great beer to introduce folks to the style.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 01:46:10 | More by Redrover

dananabanana

Massachusetts

3.33/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Chestnut brown. Translucent, but just barely. A small bit of white foam when I first pour it, but it doesn't last.

S: Malt and a very little bit of sweetness-- perhaps chocolate? The smoke is definitely there, but it's not the heavy bacon-y scent I've picked up from other rauchbiers.

T: Smoke is the first flavor, passing over my tastebuds like a tidal wave and then receding. Not as in-your-face on subsequent sips. A little bit watery.

M: Bubbly, but not overwhelmingly effervescent. Very smooth finish.

O: Not as strong as other rauchbier's I've enjoyed. A solid intro to the style for those who might be put off by a more typical rauchbier.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2012 02:09:22 | More by dananabanana

jwc215

New Jersey

3.98/5  rDev +17.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Freshness date of January notched on the label:

Pours slightly hazed orange amber with a thin head that becomes a thin cover. Strands of dotted lacing stick.

The smell is of bacon-like smokiness with a Boston Lager base. Smokiness is prominent but not overbearing.

The taste is of a meat-smoked Boston Lager that lasts through a long finish.

The body is medium to full. It is pretty creamy and smooth. This is a rauchbier for Sam Adams lovers. Smokiness stands out without overwhelming the palate.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2011 18:23:58 | More by jwc215

chefhatt

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I poured this beer into a perfect pint glass, it has a nice rich brown, reddish color body with a nice 1"foamy white head. The smell is smokey and with some malts. The taste is very smoke flavored up front with some carmel malts. A little bit of hops comes through. The mouth feel is really good. Overall this beer is really good.

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2011 20:57:40 | More by chefhatt

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

3.63/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep reddish brown color with a short off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick on the glass.

S: The aroma contains a lot of smoke along with caramelized malts, lager yeast and a touch of hops.

T: The taste likewise very smoky up front accompanied by flavors of caramel, spices and some fruit that bring some sweetness. Then some breadiness comes in from lager yeast and a hearty malt character. The hops presence is mild but complementary and creates a good balance. The after-taste is smoky and slightly sweet.

M: Smooth and a little crisp, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Tasty, goes down easily, not too filling, mild kick, decent representation of style, it’s a solid beer but there are better smoked beers available.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2011 05:56:47 | More by TheManiacalOne

cradke

Texas

3.38/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Wonderful copper and amber. Clean with mild carbonation.

Smell: Smoke and malt. A clean smoke but one that is not too overpowering.

Taste: Much more intense smoke flavors than the nose would indicate. Some malt but an overpowering taste of smoke penetrates. Easy to drink but seems...like something was left out. Not polished enough.

Mouthfeel: Clean and pleasant. Nothing overwhelming or insulting.

Overall: The smoke is in tune with the style but not as well rounded as some of the more traditional german examples.

Serving: Bottle poured into Sam Adams Lager Pint

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2011 10:29:05 | More by cradke

soulfly1492

Pennsylvania

3.95/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Aroma: Very bold as expected. Smoke, licorice & anise, mild coffee, bitter chocolate, wood. Alcohol is very mild. Slightly more sweet than bitter. Should have a nice bold sweetness.

Appearance: Dark amber, towards the dark edge of the spectrum for the style. High clarity. Pours a tall light brown head. Good retention, moderate lacing.

Flavor: Sweet as expected, also very smoky. Mild bitterness, must be a small dose of hops in the mix. Similar in it's drying qualities to a Marzen. Strong smoky aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Medium body. On the oily side. Some slight drying toward the end.

Overall: Nice winter seasonal beer. Very pleasant yet bold, almost comparable to a fine cigar. Very similar with the strong smoky aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2011 02:09:50 | More by soulfly1492

Jparker37

Wisconsin

3.85/5  rDev +13.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bottle into a pilsner glass, Best by Date of January

A - Poured a thick rocky light tan head with tiny bubbles. A little reddish hue but on the lighter side of the Rauchbier spectrum. Good clarity and left some minor lacing down the glass.

S - There is a noticeable amount of smoke but far from overpowering. Other lightly caramelized, toffee malts join to round it out.

T - The smell gave great forewarning to the taste. Here is where the smokiness begins to fight back, but again not overpowering. A nice and quick, in your face, BBQ grill with great, mild caramel malts that complement each other extremely well. Finished with just enough bitterness to balance it and your left with a slight smokey aftertaste.

M - Medium, semi-sweet bodied with moderate to high carbonation.

O - This beer was near its best by date and therefor leads me to believe it lost a little bit of its fresh smokiness and began to mellow out. Nevertheless the beer was complex enough in flavor and surprisingly refreshing.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2011 23:37:06 | More by Jparker37

jeffress

Connecticut

3.43/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

I'm not sure if they repitch the yeast to effect the smoke nature but this is overall a touch thinner than I anticipated for a rauchbier. I didn't sample the Sam's retired rauch bier so I have no basis to compare there. Rauchbier is a marzen or March beer and can be a bit higher in alcohol content.

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2011 00:17:36 | More by jeffress

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +12.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This poured out as a brown color with a fizzy cream colored head on top that had a pretty good retention. The lacing was very minimal. The smell of the beer was lightly smoked with I liked. There was enough smoke in there to tell you it's a Rauch but not too much that it makes me wanna gag. The taste was good too I though. Nicely balanced flavors of the malts and the smoke. The flavors weren't salty like some beers in this style. The mouthfeel was pretty typical of Sam Adams, it's a drinkable brew for sure. Overall I liked it, I thought it was a pretty good attempt at what they set out to do and I can see myself drinking this one again.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2011 04:01:02 | More by Knapp85

nimrod979

Maryland

3.08/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bottle pours a hazy orange with a minimal white head.
Aroma is mostly caramel and toffee malts. Some smoke but not a ton.
Taste is a lot more smoke than the aroma leads on. There is plenty of smoke flavor as well as some caramel and toffee malts that help sweeten up this brew, It has a very mild bitter finish.
It is rather smooth with light carbonation. Medium body. It's an okay beer, not particularly my favorite style though.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2011 22:28:06 | More by nimrod979

BDIMike

Ohio

2.45/5  rDev -27.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 1.5

Pours a good looking light brown color with a good amount of haziness to it. A thin tan head is created that has fairly good retention.
Smell is fairly subdued. A bit of a smokey, roasty smell. Good malt smells too though.
Taste is really smoky. Really really smoky. Smoke overbears almost any other taste in this beer.
Mouthfeel is okay. Good thickness, a little too sharp for my liking.
Drinkability is very low. THe taste is so overpowering I can't taste anything else. I couldn't even finish this beer, and that does not happen very often with me.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2011 21:47:53 | More by BDIMike

TippySelenoid

Missouri

3.93/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured into a pint glass.

Clear coppery brown with a tan head that quickly turns to lace.

Smells smoky! A bit of a malt backbone, but mostly just smoke.

It tastes smoky. Sort of bacony. It has a dry flavor and the alcohol isn't totally hidden. There is some nice bitterness in the finish.

It's medium bodied with good carbonation.

This is One of the better Sam Adams seasonals I've had. Sure beats the pants off the pupkin and the octoberfest.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2011 21:19:06 | More by TippySelenoid

tjacobs610

Ohio

3.48/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Dark amber color, cream colored head that last quite awhile. Once it starts to dissipate it leaves a good amount of lacing

Smell: Very malty smell with caramel tones. Also has a roasted smoky odor

Taste: Very malty taste. Also very sweet beginning with the smoky hints in the flavor. Ends with a bitter hoppy taste

Mouthfeel: Pretty medium bodied. Not much carbonation to speak of

Overall: This is a pretty good Rauchbier. I was pleasantly surprised at how good it tasted. I would like to see this one more mass produced.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2011 08:07:00 | More by tjacobs610

prototypic

Ohio

3.55/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bonfire is copper in color. It’s mostly clear. When held to light, it has a distinct orange tint. Almost looks a little crimson. A light tan head tops it and is about a finger tall. It recedes to a surface covering quickly and holds firm there. Lacing was on the lighter side.

The nose is alright. Not bad. It’s a little weak. More strength would be good. It smells a little sweet. Caramel malts are definitely in the mix. It has a somewhat prominent smoky scent. It’s not overly strong though. It’s a nice complement to the malt base and works rather well. That about wraps it up. Perhaps there’s more here, it’s just not strong enough to cut through. Alcohol is definitely buried. Not bad, just needs more muscle.

The flavor is pretty good. The malt base is certainly caramel. It’s a little sweet, but it’s not offensive. The smoky flavor is nicely done. It’s not too strong and does complement the caramel flavor nicely. There are some earthy notes and an interesting bread-like flavor at the secondary level. They add a little depth and work pretty well. Alcohol isn’t a factor at all. No shock there. Finishes smoky and a little sweet. It’s not complicated, but it’s not bad.

Bonfire has a body that’s on the lighter side of medium. It’s actually nice and smooth. Carbonation is light and the bubbles feel soft. Nicely done. It goes down easily. The smoky flavor isn’t too strong, but could grow a little tiresome. I’ll stick with a single bottle.

Bonfire Rauchbier is pretty good beer. It’s a rather mild-mannered Rauchbier that would be a nice introduction to the style. The smoky aspect isn’t overly strong and complements the other elements well. It’s not very complex, but it is pretty good. Definitely worth checking out.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2011 03:52:26 | More by prototypic

taigor

New York

3.48/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Poured into Sam Adams pint glass.

A - Poured slightly hazy dark amber color with medium head that slowly dissipated leaving moderate lacing around the glass.

S - Mostly malts with caramel and smokiness.

T - Malts dominate with slight brown sugar and honey sweetness. Caramel and smokiness come through towards the finish with a slightly bitter hoppy aftertaste.

M - Medium bodied with above average carbonation.

O - Above average rauchbier that I would recommend but do not go out of the way to get it.

Serving type: bottle

11-17-2011 18:59:37 | More by taigor