Cinder Bock - Boston Beer Company (Samuel Adams)

chodinheaven

Maryland

4.23/5  rDev +17.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thick and slowly dissapating cream colored head sits on top of this one, leaving a patchwork of lacing with it as it goes. Great clarity to its darker color, a nice shade of ruby red or mahogany. Clean malty nose with a funky smokiness behind it that is a bit remeniscent of a campfire, no doubt. The clean smell comes from the light toffee and caramel notes, but the smokiness definitely dominates.

Rich and inviting caramel and toffee notes begin the taste wonderfully in the front of the palate. They are soft and not overbearingly sweet or cloying. It moves towards a touch of booze in the middle of the palate, with a subdued but definitely present dose of piney hops near the middle-back end. The smokiness of the malts doesn't fully hit the palate until the back end and finish, where it then engulfs the mouth with the smoky malt taste. In some rauchbiers I've tried, this smoky flavor has been overbearing to the point where it completely distracts from the other flavors in the beer. Not the case so much with this one as that smokiness complements the sweeter toffee notes and the bit of hops and booze, giving this beer a deep complexity. The toffee and caramel actually come out on top here, the smokiness being a close second. The mouthfeel is silky smooth, with a slight prickle in the middle from the booze and hops, with a medium body, but full of flavor.

I was a little wary on this one because I don't get into rauchbiers too much, but this was definitely a balanced and deliciously pleasant surprise. Pick it up if you're looking for a unique and tasty beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-29-2012 05:26:12 | More by chodinheaven

beergoot

Colorado

4/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

The beer pours a very clear, dark red amber color with a one-finger thick, off-white head.

Aroma smells of smoke, heavy and bread-like malt, with some piney hop notes.

A wonderful, dough-like bread and malt taste up front, followed with a soft bitterness. A very noticeable alcohol taste/warmth finishes things.

The mouthfeel is exceptional. Smooth, soft and velvety, nearly chewy. Medium to light-heavy in body. Most extraordinary!

A very interesting rauchbier creation. I didn't find the smokiness particularly noticeable in the taste (like some of Bamberg's best rauchbier offerings), but the complex taste and exceptionally smooth mouthfeel makes this beer stand out, to me. No, this isn't a Schlenkerla, but this is its own unique take on the rauchbier style.

Serving type: bottle

02-29-2012 00:41:26 | More by beergoot

tigg924

Massachusetts

4.43/5  rDev +23.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Sam Adams perfect pint glass

Appearance: 1/4 inch head, high carbonation, orange-brown in color, clear

Smell: big time smoke

Taste: smoky malt--maybe slight bacon--then this beer transforms into a dopplebock with huge caramel and toffee sweetness and light bark like hops

Mouthfeel: smoky goodness at first followed by a very sweet body and finish with light bitterness to take some sweet edge off, medium carbonation, medium-light bodied

Overall: This may be my favorite Sam Adams brew. This beer is a combination of two styles that really do not combine within the brew, but take separate turns at being excellent.The rauchbier aspect is dead on--similar to Aecht Scherlenkerla's Urbock--and the dopplebock that follows almost has more of a sweetness that I associate with an English barleywine. The alcohol is scarily barely noticeable. This one is right up there with the best I have had this year. I would not take this over Scherlenkerla's Urbock or Marzen, but for a cheaper US treat, I would stock this on a regular basis.

Serving type: bottle

02-27-2012 18:23:26 | More by tigg924

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

pretty unique shaped bomber into short stemmed tulip. bottle claims this as "Batch No. 1". not sure if this means batch number 1 of the limited series or batch number 1 of Cinder Bock.

A: clear body. very bright ruby red hue. head is reddish-white and frothy. retention and lacing are good.

S: smells like a big glass of cooked bacon. sweet wisps of caramel malt. must have used a sizable portion of caramel 60 to compete with the smoked malt.

T: flavor is bitter at first for a fleeting moment. moves to sweet and smoky BBQ-like flavors that are rather pleasant. a sweet malt underlies the smoke and reminds me that there is a big bock back there as well.

M: mellow/average carbonation on a big body.

D: im a sucker for smoke and this brew does not disappoint. smokey-sweet flavors makes for one of the biggest rauchbiers i have ever had.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2012 14:47:45 | More by Jimmys

Chico1985

Massachusetts

3/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Despite the awful name, always interested in trying a new lager from Sam Adams.

Pours an amber color with some orangeish highlights. Off-white head is huge for a while, eventually coming down to a half finger. Good retention and lace.

Smell is pretty weak. Really just slight smoky ham, just enough to let you know it's a rauchbier. A bit metallic.

Smoky malts, salty ham and campfire are up front but overbearing, medium strength I'd say, comes off as a little artificial. The doppelbock side doesn't really come through, though caramel+toasty malts and some dark fruit are noticeable.

High on the carbonation but a decent mouthfeel. Feels like a big beer but it does hide its alcohol quite well.

Not bad but uninteresting overall. Not much complexity and a bland smokiness, rauchbiers are not known to be easy drinking but a bomber of this solo is a haul.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2012 13:25:23 | More by Chico1985

ryanonline

Florida

4/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

this beer has a deep dark brown hue to it with a strong red background. lots of off white foamy head that dissipates quickly.

smells smokey and slightly heavy on the rye presence. Light on the hops.

taste is the same, heavier on the smoke. bit of sweetness too.

mouthfeel is slightly spritzy and dryish, overall still sweet though.

this has a truly remarkable drinkability, given the flavorful and high alcohol nature of this beer.

I approve.

Serving type: bottle

02-26-2012 09:05:53 | More by ryanonline

Brad007

Vermont

4.38/5  rDev +21.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a brick red with a thick head into my glass. Plenty 'o lacing for those who like it.

Smoky wood notes in the nose with just a hint of sweetness. Very much like the style. I like it.

Whoa baby! Smoky, chewy malt upfront. Despite the ABV, it drinks like a standard rauchbier.

Lingering smoked malt makes up the mouthfeel. Very well done. The alcohol isn't as prominent as I first thought.

I enjoy this rauchbier. You might too. It's not an authentic German example but it comes really damn close and ups the ABV in the process!

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2012 22:53:55 | More by Brad007

BeerResearcher

Massachusetts

4.08/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

1 PT. 6oz fancy dark brown bottle. Batch 1.
Served in a tall stein.
Pours a dark tannish amber color with a fast-rising, and fast-fading beige head.

Sniff fast to enjoy the peaty, smoke smell while the bubbly head is active. Smells of sweet malt, molasses, resinous and tea-like hops roll forward. A light whiff of bourbon and snuffed campfire lingers throughout.

The flavors are all familiar, yet unique in their combination.
It's malty, hoppy, smoky, nutty, malty (again), peaty, sweet and a bit boozy. What's unusual is, that despite its ever-present smokiness, all of the other flavors emerge independently and are easily noticed. It may be a tad overly brown sugar sweet, but that's the nature of a Doppelbock. On the other hand, it's a bit hoppy for a Rauch. I can live with all that, being that Cinder Bock is a style unto itself.
Prost!

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2012 14:17:34 | More by BeerResearcher

ksimons

New York

3.93/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A-a clear dark redish amber with a good amount of white head that sticks to the glass and leaves a nice layer of lace throughout

S-malty and smoky! Smells sort of liked smoked bacon

T-The taste is similar to the smell, a lot of smoke from this one with a big malt backbone. Some sweet caramel as well.

M-medium body, good carbonation, light smoky aftertaste

Overall I like these new additions to Sam Adams, they are kind of fun and different from the normal offerings. This one is another nice addition to the group.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2012 20:36:31 | More by ksimons

Greywulfken

New York

3.88/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: pours thin, a deep amber brown; thich fluffy head seetles into a bubbly foam, leaving lots of lace

S: some caramel/toffee, some fruit/citrus; malt

T: sweet with notes of smoke and spice - a pretty darn good taste - maybe a little sweeter than I expected, but with a nice blend of flavors - reminds me a little of scotch, too

M: a thin beer, no astringency, mild carbonation

O: a good choice - not a heavy beer, but with some kick (abv-wise) - smooth drinking and enjoyable

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2012 19:14:21 | More by Greywulfken

rdilauro

Connecticut

4.25/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I really want sure what to expect with this one. I've been tasting several of the Samuel Adams from Boston Beer Company editions and each one has had its surprises.

I assumed that being a Bock, it was going to be full bodied, low in carbonation, hardly any crispness and lacking of hops.

When I taste new beers or wines, I never read the labels or any other review. I dont want to be influenced by what someone else stated.

The aroma of this one was average, malty, but what I would normally expect from a bock. But then the first sip!, I could have be next to a camp fire. The smoky taste was right there , up front, very pronounced but at the same type not over powering. I couldnt wait until the second sip. Now, I appreciated the smoky flavour so much more. I only wish I had some good smoked ribs or steak to go with this one

The finish was just right for this one.

When I talk about this beer to some of the customers, I will talk about the smoke flavour. Its the same thing I do when a customer is looking for a Sauvignon Blanc, and I explain the differences between California, Washington State and New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs. The ones from New Zealand are loaded with citrus and its almost like biting into a fresh pink grapefruit.

This is one I will be again and put some away for later on

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2012 17:40:14 | More by rdilauro

Merkur

Tennessee

3.5/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Beer pours a rather thick dark amber color with a good amount of tan head that stays throughout.

Beer smells smokey, but not strongly. Also, notes of caramel are present. A bit sweeter smelling than expected.

Taste follows the nose. A good bit of sweet smoke that is not quite as balanced as I prefer. Notes of caramel and a bit of a nutty taste are also present.

Beer is a bit thick with very little carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 15:20:42 | More by Merkur

gueuzeonhigh

Maine

3.48/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clear red-amber with a tan tight knit short lived head with some lacing to boot.

Not much of a nose that I could detect.

Flavor-- I think that the "rauch" gets in the way of the bock flavor. The "Rauch" part reminds me of smoke sausage. If I tune out the "Rauch" part of the flavor- there's a hint of a light bock. It's got a good helping of malt, alcohol (but not too overpowering).

The mouthfeel is a quite cordial blanket-- with a tart finish that lasts a while.

Overall this is an enjoyable beer-- I don't think I'd choose it as an example of a bock. But regardless of its strict adherence to a particular style-- it's still an enjoyable beer for it's perhaps offbeat whim of smoke.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 02:45:58 | More by gueuzeonhigh

neenerzig

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Got a bomber of this at Warehouse Beverage yesterday. Poured into one of my mug's, this beer pours a clear, deep amber red color with tan head well over an inch thick when first poured. Has good lacing. Nice lacing on the inside of the glass, and the head eventually settles to a nice medium sized ring lining the inside of the glass along with a spotty foam film layer on the surface. Aromas of smokey caramel malts and some roasted nut, and a hint of herbals hops. Flavor wise it pretty much follows suit, nice smoked caramel malt upfront followed with a roasted nut brown quality, and rounded out with a touch of hoppyness. A pretty enjoyable beer here all around. Has a somewhat crisp, smooth, frothy, chewy medium to full bodied mouthfeel with moderate to heavy carbonation. Easy to drink in the say good beers are meant to be. A good effort here!

Eric

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2012 01:26:04 | More by neenerzig

MrHurmateeowish

New Hampshire

3.88/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

22oz bottle purchased at Shaw's in North Hampton. Pours a amber-red crystal-clear body with a good inch of khaki-colored head that sticks to the sides of the glass leaving some rather nice lacing. Smoke, banana, and nut waft from the aroma. Wood/smoke, banana, nut, and caramel hit the palate. Full bodied with moderate carbonation. Definitely a bit of a sipper, but Damn tasty and definitely disappears before I wish it had.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2012 01:06:21 | More by MrHurmateeowish

cindyjeffsmith

Georgia

3.88/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

appearance: clear copper. Slight off white head.
smell: pleasant "smoked meat" with a malty double bock counter.
taste: ditto from the nose. This is a really well done mixture, well balanced between a smoked beer and a double bock.
overall: I'm pleasantly surprised. Interesting experiment, well executed, and more importantly, a tasty brew.

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2012 00:14:38 | More by cindyjeffsmith

jtierney89

New Jersey

3.3/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The last release of these beers was pretty disappointing with the exception of the vixen. Let's see if the boston beer company can redeem themselves with these two new brews.

Pours a deep garnet color with good clarity and a bit of off white head. Nose is reminiscent of a pig roast and very smokey making me fear that the beer itself may be overly smokey. A bit of dark malts come forward as the beer airs out. Nice malt sweetness up front with a pretty big body. Beer changes gears quickly though and finish incredibly porky and smokey. Not to the point of being terrible but it is slightly abrasive. It is a unique brew in starting subtle and then lashing out in flavor and is pretty fun.

The beer however whips the tongue around a bit with a few odd combos of flavors that aren't layered in the best manner possible with the smokey savory character overriding most of the others. This beer could enhance the flavor of a lot of BBQ foods or balance out some of the sweetness brought on by some asian meals.

Give the beer a few sips and some time to air out and some of the caramel and chocolate flavors that normally make up a bock make themselves present to help balance some of the richer flavors in the beer. While still in need of some more balance this brew is definitely unique and pretty good.

I would recommend splitting the bottle with a buddy though as the flavors are pretty massive and intense and can wear ya out.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2012 02:39:11 | More by jtierney89

JayS2629

Alabama

3.8/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a beautiful mahogany with awesome clarity, a thick, two finger white head that fades slowly and leaves nice walls of lace.

The aroma has deep campfire/bacon-like aroma balanced with a bit of burnt toffee, fresh bread, and caramel.

a dash of roast, a touch of cocoa, and loads of caramel and burnt toffee creates the bottom. Smoke fills the throughout with a nice earthy balance.

Medium bodied, full, smooth

Overall, an interesting and great tasting beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2012 13:56:34 | More by JayS2629

SawDog505

New Hampshire

2.68/5  rDev -25.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured into a 16 oz Stella glass. Pours a mahogany with a fluffy white 3 inch head, leaves some lacing. I will be honest not a beer I am familiar with. Smell smoked peat. Taste is just as aggressive, unfortunately I can't get anything else out of it. This is one of those styles, that amazes me it has a following.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2012 18:34:49 | More by SawDog505

DavoleBomb

Ohio

3.55/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured into a snifter. Batch #1.

5.0 A: Clear deep amber color. Two and a half fingers of super creamy off-white/beige head. Retention is very good considering the ABV and glass covering lacing is left.

4.5 S: The smoke runs deep in this one and I love it. Campfire and smoked pork/bacon are abundant. Underneath, this is quite clean with caramel and toffee sweetness. This isn't overly sweet like a lot of bocks. Good balance between the smoke and the beer.

3.0 T: The smoke is a little lighter in the taste than in the nose. Unfortunately the booze pokes through and is formitable. Caramel and toffee are there again, but in less quantity than I would have guessed. Still clean, but a little bready. Still tasty, but not as well integrated as the nose.

3.5 M: Heavier medium body. Good moderate carbonation. Reasonably creamy. Smooth enough with a light warming on finish.

3.5 D: Really good looker and smeller. After that, it's still a decent beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2012 01:51:05 | More by DavoleBomb

Bierman9

New Hampshire

4.1/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Grabbed this bottle of Batch #1 today at Shaws while food-shopping, for $6.99. Was sitting right there, so why not?!?

Ok, two-thirds of the bottle fill an imperial nonic... Cinder has a lovely clear, copper color. Carbonation is light and dispersed, and the head is tan, thin and fine. Lacing isn't too heavy, yet leaves some nice stick. The aroma is great, with some lightly sweet caramel laying a base for a solid hit of "rauch"! This one is quite smooth, and the body is easily a medium, almost getting into the realm of chewyness.

Malty sweetness hits the palate, with a bit of caramel and hints of brown sugar. The smoked malts are at a nice level, being neither a bowl of bacon nor just subtle smoke. There is smidge of florality near the finish, but the smoke and malty sweetness carry the day. As with the other Sammy experimental biers lately, I like this, though I wish this was more in the $5 range. Having had a number of Rauchbiers while in Franken, I feel this one is a worthy offering. Still, a solid Rauch, though they should have snagged a more unique name than that of the dearly departed Heavyweight. Zum Wohl!!

4.1/5 rDev +18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

1441

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2012 23:00:55 | More by Bierman9

mrfrancis

Kentucky

2.83/5  rDev -21.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Pours a clear ruby with a creamy, lingering beige head.

S: I'm not getting a ton of smoked malt on the nose. Instead, aromas of caramel, roasted nuts, and grassy, herbal hops are pronounced. There is also a slight booziness here.

T: The entry is sweet and mildly smoky, quickly revealing notes of woodsmoke, smoked meat, caramel, treacle, woody spice, honey roasted nuts, and grassy, herbal, medicinal hops. The finish is intense and boozy with caramel, treacle, and medicinal hop notes consumed by fiery, peppery alcohol.

M: Full-bodied, sticky, and a little syrupy. Carbonation is a bit prickly. Alcohol presence is very pronounced.

O: This is far from my favorite Samuel Adams offering. Perhaps if the presence of smoked malt were a little more noticeable, this beer would be a winner, but as is, it's a bit rough. Maybe I just don't like the way Samuel Adams handles bocks, but this is not what I typically look for in the style.

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2012 16:41:50 | More by mrfrancis

Ego

New Jersey

3.58/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Batch 1... a nice cold (it is winter right?) evening to sample a new brew from an old crew...

eyes...
2 fingers of foam rise up on a normal pour, the head sticks around to take note of the surroundings, slowly retreating like the summer sun ducking below the horizon on those long august days, left behind is a story of lace, not just a trace, but quite the micro bubble picasso curtain. A clean ruby hue through showcasing a cirque de soliel of bubbles performing to the north, quite the eye catching brew.

nose...
sweet malts up front which then lead into a smoky highway in the realm of smoked meats, the is also an earthy dryness to it, sort of like spring, not dusty but clean and dry, nothing as good as madonna's half time show.. but better than average.

taste...
alot like the nose but more assertive, very sweet up front but thank goodness for the smoke which helps to quell the dive into uber cloy-land, wow, the alcohol really lets you know that (wait for it...) 1... 2... 3... 4.... wow.. there it is smacking up my insides and clouding my brain. This one packs a punch, sure I can read, the ABV is clearly printed on the bottle but sometimes that is just bluster. The beer remains very consistent and honestly I think one bottle might be much for most people. The mouth feel is spot on, nice thickness without being syrupy but containing the right weight to carry this bag o' bricks.

verdict?
a bit heavy handed in some areas. Definitely not an every day thing, perhaps best as an aperitif split amongst friends with some nice muenster to snack on before a winter meal. Definitely worth checking out if you like smoke beers, this is like a double Bamberg, it is up to you to decide whether you like the more subtle backbone of the german ones or the brash frontbone-in-your-face of this one.

verdict

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2012 05:42:53 | More by Ego

BEERMILER12

Maine

3.7/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Batch #1. Labeled as a rauch bock

A: Pours a nice amber color with a fingers worth of head

S: A lot of malty bock character along with salty and sweet smoke. Some fruitiness in there as well

T: Follows the nose, starting off with a solid malt base from the bock and then goes into a nice smoky/salty profile. Could use a little more smoke, but technically it isn't a full-on rauch. The 9.4% goes unnoticed for the most part

M: Medium body with moderate carbonation. Finishes clean

O: Another solid hybrid-style beer from SA. You definitely get both bock and rauch characters, and they combine to make a surprisingly good overall beer

Serving type: bottle

02-10-2012 03:07:18 | More by BEERMILER12

Knapp85

Pennsylvania

2.83/5  rDev -21.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Tried a little bit of a sample at the EBF. The beer poured out looking really nice. It has a red color with some shaded of brown in it. The smell of the beer is super smokey. The taste of the beer is too smokey I think. I wasn't digging this ones flavor too much. The mouthfeel was surprisingly heavy I thought. Overall this beer was didn't go over too well with me mainly because of the flavor. I prefer the Bonfire Rauch that came in the Autumn variety pack more.

Serving type: on-tap

02-06-2012 04:46:12 | More by Knapp85