Spezial Rauchbier Bock

Brewed by Brauerei Spezial
Style: Smoked
Bamberg, Oberfranken/Bayern, Germany

On tap at In de Wildeman. Dark reddish brown colour, thick creamy beige head. Aroma of ryebread, caramel, a hint of smoke, some molasses. Flavour is rather sweet, rye, caramel, molasses, very malty, and a soft subtle smoke flavour. Light bitter finish. Medium bodied, syrupy texture. Smooth and easy drinking. Nice one!

Tap @ in de Wildeman. Black colored brew. Smoky aroma. Flavor has got some smoke, malts, dark chocolate. Decent, but not outstanding.

From tap de wildeman. Pours dark brown with a dense and creamy white head. Quite malty and slight yeasty in aroma, light smoked note. Smoohroasted malty base flavour with a nice subdued sweetness. Complimented by a light meady smoked note. Nice bitterness following into the finish.

(1pt 9oz bottle) Frothy head diminishes fully. Beer is a deep copper. Aromas of burnt caramel or sorghum. Sweet, nutty malt w/ earthy notes. Finishes toasty and dry. Smokiness is extremely subdued.

(draught, at the Brauerei Spezial, Bamberg) dark ruby colour, creamy off-white head. aroma of roasted malts, coffee, light dark fruits and a whiff of smoke. solid flavour of grainy roasted malts and light smoke. medium carbonation and body with a light roasted-bitter finish.

Service Temperature, 40 degrees. Service Glassware, 12oz Tulip. Appearance is, deep copper & clear with a medium off white foam that recedes in volume and with a ridge of lace above the surface. Aroma, is subdued in the quantity of smokiness but makes up for it with honey, and some mild citrus. Sipping on this I initially notice the softened smokey hue, and then the mild citrus creeps across my tongue and finishes some minor roastedness. Overall, a mild to medium mouthfeel drink. Cheers

Bottle. Pours mahogny with a big beige head. Smoked, meaty aroma, some ash. Flavours combine mildening sweet malts with smoked meat. It oozes German beer- solid, well-made, not too sexy, but it all works.

Dark mahogany, not much head. Sweet malt and noble hops on the nose, with tiny hints of ash and beechwood-smoke. Starts out quite sweet & bready, then rapidly dries out, becoming nice & roasty with a good balance between hop, ash and malt-bitterness. Finishes nicely dry. Very subtle smokiness, especially compared to the other Bamberg smoked-malt bock. The comparison with Schlenkerla’s Ur-bock is tempting, but too be honest, it wouldn’t be a fair comparison - while Schlenkerla’s is more of a complex smoke powerhouse, like a young Islay whisky, this one seems more of a solid session-bock to me; quite simple, but well-crafted; dry, clean and roasty, quaffing.