Nakoureny Svihak - Pivovar Eggenberg & Restaurant Eggenberg

crnipeter

Slovenia

3.85/5  rDev -3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Brought home from trip to Czech republic earlier this year. Clear (that's not obvious due to dim color), dark brown body with ruby hue, capped by rather thin yet dense tan head that sets at medium pace but never completely dissipates, leaving fine veil all over the surface.

The scent is Munich malt sweetness with prominent chocolate and caramel aroma, bread crust and nut-like qualities, all indicating that Munich Dunkel has been used as base beer for this one. I dunno where the smoke has gone but it is nearly imperceptible, probably masked by malt sweetness and chocolate character. 4,5 for the aroma (would be 5 if there was just a hint more of smoke).

The very subtle ham-like smoke show up when it comes to flavor, but remains shy nonetheless. The flavor initially exhibits some Munich malt-like sweetness, but the stage is quickly taken by bitter chocolate-like slightly burnt notes of roasted malt (the burnt sensation might as well be introduced by smoke), leading into the rather dry finish with lingering hop-bitter and roasty aftertaste. While the nose was more reminiscent of Munich Dunkel, roasted and rather dry flavor points at Schwarzbier. Some diacetyl can be felt in aroma and flavor as well. Medium bodied with moderate carbonation.

Overall, a lightly smoked Munich Dunkel (aroma) or Schwarzbier (flavor). 500 ml, BB 08-26-2011, into tulip.

Serving type: bottle

10-28-2011 23:06:17 | More by crnipeter

chinchill

South Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This dunkel rauchbier was purchased and consumed in Cesky Krumlov, home of the brewery. The .5 L beer was dated "best by" 21 Jan. 2012.

A - near black and apparently hazy, with a durable and generous tan head.

This brew smells great: sweet barley malt with just a hint of hops and smoke. I am not a fan of smoked beers, or so I thought, so I was pleased that this at least smelled good. The taste was not the same as the aroma, with a pronounced smokiness in addition to the ample flavor of dark roasted malt. Normally objectionable (for me), I found the smoke a nice addition to this dark beer, overlaying a flavor of grilled grains with none of the artificial smoke flavor I've experienced in some other rauch beers. Even the smokiness that lingered after tasting was welcome.

M - smooth, creamy, well-carbonated.

O - the best smoked beer I've had to date. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2011 22:07:01 | More by chinchill