The Beer Snob's Beer Reviews

Today’s beer review is another brought to you by Aleksey’s Imports.  I knew going into this that it was a smoke beer, but tried it anyway.    The only other smoke beer I’ve really had was Rogue’s Smoke Ale, and I hated it.  I’m talking drain-pouringly awful.  I thought it was like drinking smoked pork…bacon in a glass, perhaps?  So I approached this beer with some trepidation, to say the least.

The Pour
This pours to a two and a half finger thick dark caramel head consisting of loose bubbles.  The head crowns a very dark beer with ruby undertones visible when held up in front of the light.  The head dissipates quickly, leaving the remaining head airy and lacy.  It pours a little thick.

The Nose
Lots of smoke in this nose, with sweet malt and…bacon?  A very light hint of chocolate is there as well, but the smoked pork in a bottle impression is strong as well.

The Taste
There are definitely smoke and bacon flavors in this beer, but with a slight bitterness as well, that comes in on the edge and also rounds out the finish.  This is a very full bodied and rich beer, almost chewy.

Scoring Breakdown

Appearance: Good colors, nice head.
8 points out of 10.

Nose: Personally don’t like the nose of a smoke beer, but it was very representative of what was to come, and not a one-note nose.
13 points out of 15.

Taste: I really really don’t like smoke beers.  They taste like liquid bacon to me.  The taste showed the beer to be well crafted, but not a flavor I like.
30  points out of 55.

Style: For a rauchbier, it doesn’t really get any more fundamental and representative than this.
20 points out of 20.

Total rating: 71 points out of 100

In a nutshell: I can appreciate that this is a well crafted rauchbier but I really don’t like smoke beers.  If you do, this is definitely one to try.