Spezial Rauchbier Lager - Brauerei Spezial

crookedhalo

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Turbid orange based gold color with nice thicket of white head. Smoky nose to some extent, definitely not overwhelming. Smells more of a quality lager with a slight smoky nose. Almost as how one's clothes smell the day after being around a campfire (minus, of course, the humanly stenches of day-old clothing :^) I feel some smoked beers can be a little taxing in the drinkability department, but this one has the sublty to send it's drinkability sky high. A plethora of culinary delights could be paired with this beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2003 09:04:49 | More by crookedhalo

dmarch

Pennsylvania

2.93/5  rDev -20.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Orange-copper in appearance with a nice size head. A bit of caramel in the aroma, smokiness is very mild. Smoke is a little more prevalent in the taste, but still very mild. A slight metallic taste as well. Although this is a lager, it reminds me of an amber ale. I was looking for a more intense smokey flavor. A somewhat enjoyable beer, but it doesn't compare to some of the other rauchbiers i've had.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2003 19:21:10 | More by dmarch

Gueuzedude

Arizona

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

Sampled from bottle in AZ:
A nice copper color pours with a good cream/ tan colored head. First aroma is of a hoppy spiciness (a bit surprising, in a good way), but then a background smokiness kicks in, and soon becomes all you can smell. Good amount of body to this brew, nice solid malt presence accompanied by a bit of malt sweetness, very nice. Finishes with a smoky finish, that soon infuses the whole taste of the beer from start to finish. The smoke is reasonably subdued though. Not quite as good and hearty as when sampled fresh at the brewery, but if this is all you can get don't miss it.

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2003 22:24:05 | More by Gueuzedude

stcules

Italy

3.65/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Clear amber colour,foam not so compact, and a with a little persistence. Smell of smoked (soot?), of a warm fireside... particular, but very pleasant (family, home, and stuff like that...).
Taste clean, smoked, grilled wurstel, but maybe too marked and invedent; you can only feel a light note of malt and hops. Light body, too, but with a great drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2003 10:35:37 | More by stcules

marc77

California

4.15/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Clear bronze hue w/ copious flecks of yeast aggregates. Thick, slowly disappating off - white head. Beechwood smoke aroma is surprisingly mild compared to other rauchbiers and is well integrated in the aroma-- toasty Vienna and /or Munich malt is discernible & light crystal malt sweetness is there as well. Although expectedly smoky in flavor, the smoke is well calculated & isn't overbearing. Rich, nutty, perhaps decocted malt aren't hidden and since the body is light this rauchbier is quite drinkable. The smokiness almost seems to dissapate, and malt flavors become more assertive as I drink this brew. Hop bitterness is moderate and pleasant, while the hop flavor is herbal Hallertauer. Finishes, clean and crisp, w/ a mellow and fading smokiness. This is the most drinkable rauchbier I've had-- it wet my appetite for smoked food. I will now comb the pantry.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2002 07:00:21 | More by marc77