Spezial Rauchbier Lager - Brauerei Spezial

crossovert

Wisconsin

3.93/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

500ml bottle best by 06.04.10.

Poured into my Bamberger ceramic stein (Gustbrauerei G. Bernreuther-Pyras) it has a nice bright white 4 finger head that recedes into a froth. The beer is brown with red and yellow hints.

It smells between a helles and a rauchbock. It has a nice smokiness to it with also a pinch of malt aroma.

I actually think the smoke is less present int he taste. It is like a nice light dukel lager with a good dose of smoke flavor over the top. The aftertaste is of helles lager.

The mouthfeel is nice, with a good carbonation level. The drinkability is high for the style.

Overall a great beer that isn't for all but can be something to be accustomed to.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2010 02:13:55 | More by crossovert

tigg924

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: 1/3 inch head, clear, orange-brown in color, moderate carbonation

Smell: smoked malt

Taste: smoked malt, grass, small hops, and honey

Mouthfeel: medium/light bodied, semi-sweet with small bitter stretches, boozy, high carbonation

Drinkability: This one drinks like a smoked amber. It is super easy to drink even with the high carbonation. The smoke is strong and pleasant. I could have several.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2010 15:53:31 | More by tigg924

morebeergood

Massachusetts

3.95/5  rDev +7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Deep Ellum, Allston. Served in a 0.4l German mug. Dark amber color. Fizzy white head that faded quickly. Slight smell of smoke in the nose. Nice peaty and smoky flavor, but not as intense as a typical rauchbier. Since this is a lager, I feel that the brewer wanted to tone that aspect down a bit so that it retained some of the drinkability of a lager. That is the quality that I liked the most: it had that smoky flavor, but was easy to drink in a big German beer mug. Light enough body, but had just enough malt behind it to make it a sturdy brew. A nice beer for smoked beer lovers, and a nice beer for lager drinkers - best of both worlds. Paired nicely with my pasta with sage and pumpkin cream sauce.

Serving type: on-tap

02-27-2010 03:26:20 | More by morebeergood

bob3701

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured into an English style pint glass. Hazy gold/amber color with a big bubbled head that very slowly disapates into a thin film with almost no lacing. Slight smokey aroma. Very little smoke in taste but I thought this was a very good German lager. I like the stronge smokey beers which this is not yet I still enjoyed this beer. I have a friend that is not crazy about rauchbiers but I think he would enjoy this. Very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2010 23:57:00 | More by bob3701

twiggamortis420

Texas

3.93/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

500 mL brown bottle with a freshness code of 18.11.08. Pours a fairly hazy, dark orange/amber color with a large-bubbled tan foam. Dissipates rapidly and does not leave much lacing.

Smell is like smoked black olives. Little bit of burnt wood and grainy malt. Dunkel lager? I can see that. Slight roast and a touch of sweet malt.

Taste is surprisingly not overly smoky. There is a bit here and there, but the flavor profile overall is very much in line with a Munich dunkel...a good dunkel at that and the hints of smoke make it that much more enjoyable. Good beer, but needs more smoke - of course that is coming from someone who could use more smoke in the Skerlenka Urbock! This would be a good intro into the world of Bamburg produced rauchbiers.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2010 18:58:31 | More by twiggamortis420

erz316

Indiana

3.55/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

bottle into Maß. appearance is not bad, but doesnt inspire particular hope either. not much smoker taste either, real disappointing. the feel is ok, but the body isnt carbonated enough. the colour is like a light coke. the head is slightly brown. overall I am quite disappointed with this beer, compared to the schlenkerla urbock and regular.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2010 02:51:16 | More by erz316

ppoitras

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

500ml bottle purchased somewhere localish, I'm sure.

Poured into an imperial pint glass, formed a 1/4" off-white head over the cloudy orangey amber brew. Head is quickly down to an uneven layer of bubbles, leggy, with average lacing. Aroma is sweet, leathery, smokey, with a touch of citrus. Taste is very sweet to start, countered some by bitterness starting in the late middle, with the smoke blowing through but not dominant. Mouthfeel is smooth, possibly due to low carbonation, and drinkability is alright. Okay amount of smoke in an okay beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2010 23:00:56 | More by ppoitras

hustlesworth

Ohio

2.42/5  rDev -34.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

after a review of an unnamed danish pachyderm beer left me completely dissatisfied, i cracked open a smoker i've had for a few weeks. prost to hopefulness.

A- deep clear rusty amber with many floating particles. foam is nice and creamy and beige with thick lace blanketing the inside of the glass.

S- hardly any smoke in the aroma, just the faintest touch, and overall it smells like an oktoberfest. something i definitely don't mind, but not what i had expected. mineral water, slightly metallic, sweet caramel malts, and underlying toasty aromas. floral spicy hops.

T- some very very mild cocoa, coffee, and roasted flavors, very toasty, but sadly not much smoke. pretty much a plain malty lager for me. some caramel sweetness and noble hop flavor in the finish.

MF- light carbonation and a powdery feel. ample body.

D- must be a bad day for beer in my world. 2 disappointments in a row and i'm about to just call it a night. maybe this bottle is old. i can't find a freshness date.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2009 04:28:57 | More by hustlesworth

gueuzeonhigh

Maine

3.6/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a cloudy red-amber. A diminutive tightly knit head with a hair of lacing of the glass.

Next to no nose. After a hearty inhale I sense a note of hickory smoke-- or is it smoked ham? Not much else.

Flavor was a rather average lager type profile. I could detect the smoke element, but maybe it is because of the low alcohol content or some other aspect of the brewing but where's the beef? I'm not asking for a Russian Imperial Stout-- but I am asking for the flavor elements of a quality lager beer. Not here.

Mouthfeel was cordial, but nothing that excited my palate.

Drinkability is superior-- the comparatively low alcohol content makes this beer a good candidate for a summer time cold beer refresher. Unfortunately the price per bottle that I pad means there are lots of potential competitors with a far more satisfying flavor profile.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2009 03:10:25 | More by gueuzeonhigh

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I picked this up at Cape Wine & Spirits in Lewes, DE. Poured chilled from the 1/2 liter bottle into a mug.

A - A pleasant looking hazy medium amber w/ a 2 finger bone white head w/ tiny beading

S - The nose is mildly smoky w/ a caramel malt back and slightly bready yeast aroma

M- The creaminess is very nice w/ malt coming in w/ moderate carbonation and accent of smoke w/ sweet caramel finish

T - The flavor has a very toasted bready malt that leads to hints of woody smoke which adds to the malt flavors but doesn't quite give a meaty taste, more like sweet smoked nuts. The malt doesn't let the balance shift to a smoky menace, rather it is refreshing w/ a smooth caramel and light lager yeast flavor. The finish is semi-dry w/ a light smokiness

D - I wish this had more smoke, but was pleased overall since the smoothness of the lager makes it very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

09-24-2009 16:19:03 | More by Slatetank

steveh

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Haven't had this since a long ago trip to Bamberg. Scored a bottle locally at Binny's.

A -- Clear, deep gold bordering on amber with a firm, off-white head that settles slowly.

S -- Nice smokiness reminiscent of a fireplace or camp fire. Not heavy, very pleasant, if not a little light.

T -- Hmm. A very mellow smokey flavor, same character as the aroma -- more wood smoke in character than smoked meat. Smooth with a bready background and finishing lightly spicy bitter. I can see age giving this an astringent character, glad this bottle is fresh.

M -- Soft mouthfeel with a light medium body.

D -- I could drink this all night, in fact -- I did in Bamberg!

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2009 20:56:23 | More by steveh

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I've actually enjoyed some of the smoked beers that I've had so I thought it was time to try one of the versions from Germany. It was pretty good, but I didn't find the smoke notes as pronounced as much as some of those from the US. (Left Hand & Rogue)

Poured with a scant slightly off white head that seemed to fade rather quickly. A nice Amber color that was straight down the middle. No lacing to speak of.

The aroma was of an amber with some typical caramel notes and of sweet malt. Only the slightest smoke hint in the aroma.

The flavor was nice and again had lots of light caramel malt flavors. Very toasty and just slightly sweet. There was only a hint again of the smoke flavor. I was expecting a bit more punch here. Nice, just not as complex as I had hoped.

Medium Light body with a tingle of carbonation.

Nicely drinkable and did go well with some food. (Pork) It just wasn't as exciting as I had hoped. Frankly, I'd reach for a Rogue Smoke Beer long before trying this again.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2009 01:00:56 | More by Reagan1984

Rayek

Colorado

3.28/5  rDev -11.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A: Slightly hazy amber with active carbonation. A pillow-like beige head has great retention. Bits of lace are left behind.

S: Grass and straw dominate. Aromas of smoked meats are there, but extremely subdued.

T: Again, the smoked quality is very subtle. The taste of raw barley dominates. A lemon and grass bitterness provides balance. Finishes relatively clean.

M: The medium light body is dry and has the right level of carbonation.

D: This is an OK, but not great Rauchbier. There are better examples of this style to be found. Mild smokiness just seemed way too subtle to me.

Serving type: bottle

08-29-2009 03:37:55 | More by Rayek

Proteus93

Virginia

2.75/5  rDev -25.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A: Slightly hazy dark amber. White head, modest, with essentially no lacing to be seen.

S + T + M: Sadly, both aspects here are a little disappointing. The smokiness is there, but it's very, very light. The nose could perhaps stretch it into being a 'delicate peat,' but the flavour verges on being outright watery. Body performs a little better, but barely... it doesn't have that big 'meatiness' that can be associated with the style, both in body and in flavour!

D: It's a reasonable quaffer as far as alcohol content goes, but it ends there. It was all unfortunate, as the style can be incredibly good and I had really hoped for a more assertive and robust beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2009 02:32:25 | More by Proteus93

botham

Illinois

2.78/5  rDev -24.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

pint bottle poured into a snifter. pours a drab amber color with a minimal eggshell head that is quickly reduced to a soapy rim. poor retention and moderate lacings.

aroma is of meaty smoke up front, with a light funky note that almost resembles wet hay. not much else registers in the nose.

taste is lightly sweet and malty with a very restrained smoke character. everything good about the aroma falls apart on the palate, with only a bit of caramel malt and earthy smoke on the back end. could be much more potent in character, as a good rauchbier is.

mouthfeel is medium bodied and watery in texture, with a light finish of residual bready malt.

drinkability is poor. for a rauchbier, this brew is not impressive. the smoked character is almost non-existant on the palate, even though the aroma is quite promising. this one is easily passed up for a Schlenkerla. not recommended.

Serving type: bottle

07-24-2009 03:33:00 | More by botham

engisch

New Jersey

3.25/5  rDev -11.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Note: The bottle I have, is Bauerei-Spezial Lager from Bamberg, but the alcohol by volume is 4,6% (substitute a '.' for those on my side of the lake). So I'm not sure if this was a typo in this beer listing or not, but otherwise it looks to be the same brew.

Hmm... Interesting. I've had other Rauchbiers before, but this one is strange. The lightness of the lager enhances the smokey flavor, although the smokey flavor seems to be lighter than some other Rauchs that I have tried.

The pour has a nice head that disipitates with a smokey aroma. It can best be described as smelling like sweet & nutty with a smoked meat like twist. I always enjoy having a Rauchbier now and then, as they are so intriguing. This Rauch was a bit lighter than some others that I have tried in Marzen and Boch styles.

This was a refreshing beer with an interesting smokey flavor. At first I didn't care for the taste of this beer, but after having a few sips it started to grow on me. I would recommend trying a Rauchbier if you have never had one! They aren't for everyone, but who knows you might be in for a treat.

Serving type: bottle

06-30-2009 21:15:51 | More by engisch

Natural510

Ohio

4.18/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Half-liter bottle, produced 18-11-08.

Pours an opaque, light amber with lagerish head which leaves a decent lacing on the glass.
Smells like a lager; sweet malts with zesty yeast and a noticeable hop note. Somewhat fruity, and not what I expected.
Sweet malts to the forefront; apple and honey mix with a subtle smokiness. The meaty-bacon quality of a rauchbier is apparent, but subdued and the fruit note balances it quite well. Dryness from the yeast makes its way toward the end and the hops, while not very noticeable in the flavor, reverberate well in the mouth at the finish.

This one surprised me. The smoked quality was balanced well by the sweet notes, and none of the ingredients outshined the other.
Not an everyday beer, but if you're interested in the style, this is what I recommend.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2009 00:20:04 | More by Natural510

Absumaster

Netherlands

3.93/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

An orange, copper beer with a small head.

Smell is a bit smoky on a base of malt with notes of nuts. Some bandaids, but not horrible. Some sausage smell.

Taste is malty with some smoke. Not the like a bonfire smokiness, but battling with the malt for first place. The malt is sweet and has some biscuity and honey notes. Although smoked beers are not widespread, this beer has a typical German character. A clean, well brewed beer with a bottom fermented taste. Aftertaste is smokey and a little dry. It seems like the bitterness also comes from the smoked malt.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2009 20:21:30 | More by Absumaster

theboozecruise

Louisiana

3.7/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured a copper color, light head that lingered at about half a finger. The smell is unexpected, interesting, and makes me want to dive in. Malty for the most part, the smoke can be picked up as well.

I'm liking the taste... it's a lot more complex that I expected, with the smokiness, a caramel maltiness, very nice.

Not too strong on the alcohol at all. I could drink a few of these no problem.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2009 01:53:29 | More by theboozecruise

ThirstyBird

Germany

3.53/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a 500ML bottle into a imperial pint glass.
A - Pours a slightly hazy deep amber color with a full tan head that slowly falls to a skim.
S - Some grain sweetness...maybe caramel, subtle smokiness and fruit
T - Toasted malt, a good dose of smoke, slightly nutty and lightly bitter on the back end.
M/F - It's medium in body, it is smooth in texture yet it still has a carbonation prickle. Pretty nice that way.
D - This one is decent though by no means the best rauchbier that I've tasted.

Serving type: bottle

04-15-2009 03:25:01 | More by ThirstyBird

tai4ji2x

Massachusetts

3.93/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

500ml with a "best by" of 18.11.08, tasted in mid-march 2009. but i'm keeping this review because it still turned out to be decent despite the age.

slow gusher. clear copper with amber tones. lots of foamy, off-white head, fades to thin, wispy layer. eventually just a ring. lots of splotchy lacing.

malty aroma with only a touch of smokiness. trace of hops, trace of phenols. ...also a touch of fruity esters?

malty on the palate too, with caramel and toffee, and a bit more smokey than the aroma was, melding with the noble hops and the mild to moderate bitterness. clean finish with a nice subtle touch of smoke.

smooth, light to medium body, with touch of astringency near the finish. crisp carbonation, complementary.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2009 11:06:04 | More by tai4ji2x

Mebuzzard

Colorado

2.83/5  rDev -23.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 4

Ok, for a Rauchbier this simply falls short. While a good beer without style distinction, this is not a good example of a rauchbier, IMO.

Copper color body with a filmy/soapy head. Smell may hint on smokiness, but only if you're looking for it. Some tame sweet malt, and slight caramel. Overall this beer is semi ordinary. A slight hint at smokiness comes through. Perhaps I'm being overly critical, but I've had better rauchbiers for sure.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2009 22:39:05 | More by Mebuzzard

Gmann

New York

3.5/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly hazy iced tea color, with a smallish off white head. The aroma is very doughy, like a helles lager, sweet with honey. I can't really pick up much smoke in the nose. The taste is of munich malt, doughy and sweet. There is a very light metal flavor as well as a meaty smoke flavor. The smoke is subtle and not over the top. Picture a helles dunkel with a touch of smoke. The feel is light with prickly carbonation, sweet overall, a bit of a meaty aftertaste. A fairly easy drinking brew, nice munich malt flavor with a touch of smoke. Everything is kept in check.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2009 04:10:50 | More by Gmann

brc

Michigan

3.7/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Served from the barrel in their taproom. I think it's a real cask and not a tap ornament.

Clear amber with a white head. The taste is malty, grainy, bready, with some smoke in the aftertaste. The smokiness is very subdued, like sitting a few tables away from the beef jerky instead of having it shoved in your face. Great beer, if not the best in town. The mouthfeel and taste were lighter than I expected, quite drinkable.

Serving type: cask

03-28-2009 16:45:54 | More by brc

WilliamD

Minnesota

2.9/5  rDev -21.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Poured into a pint glass. Hazy light amber color with white head that dissolves quickly.
Very little smokiness detectable in the smell. Smell is mostly watery malts.
Taste was an even bigger letdown. As with the smell, rather watery with malt presence. Slightly sweet aftertaste.
Mouthfeel is rather flat. Perhaps a tiny bit of carbonation. No hint of spice that is present in the good rauchbiers I've had.
Quite frankly, too bland for me to ever want to drink again.

Serving type: bottle

03-28-2009 03:34:43 | More by WilliamD