Terrapin Side Project Roggenrauchbier

Brewed by Terrapin Beer Company
Style: Smoked
Athens, Georgia USA

12/19/2008: Terrapin Side Project [Volume 2] RoggenRauchBier... Appearance: Frothy off-white head; hazy golden amber brown color; generous carbonation. Aroma: Sweet meaty smokiness; hints of caramel and fruity rye; applewood smoke; even more smoke would be good! Flavor: A good bittersweet,spicy, fruity blend; rye in mid-palate, tangy spice and dryness; dry, slightly bitter and char/ash aftertaste; sticks in the back of the throat; smoke is somewhat ashy and only on the surface; needs mor deep, meaty-like smokiness. Palate: Medium-light to medium body; mostly smooth. Overall: Very similar to Iron Hill Rauchbier but with obvious rye qualities and therefore not as sweet or caramelly; more dry and spicy from the rye. Other Thoughts: No obviously beechwood-smoked malt; the rye and smoke malts work well together; coffee-ish and creamy yeast undertones toward the backend; Good attempt that has promise, but needs refinement...

1 pt. 6 fl. oz. bottle from illinismitty via trade. Thanks Sean! Rating #140 for this beer.

Pours a lacing beige head and a copper-amber body. Smells of smoke, some caramel sweetness, Same flavor. Easy drinking.

Color is clear amber, thin white head. Aroma is slight bacon and caramel with slight citrus. Taste is the same. Thin body and medium carbonation. Finishes with a slight bitterness.

22 oz bomber shared by Gregis. Pour is brown ruby with a one inch off white head. No lacing as the head falls. Aroma of camp fire gone out (I suppose extinguished would be the word), nicely smoked yet still tame enough to allow the malt to shine through. Caramel sweet malt behind that, even some rye peeking through. Interesting and complex nose. Taste is the roasty, smoky and bright hoppy maltiness, with an interesting blast of rye bread. The caramel sweetness is a lot less pronounced in the taste which really helped the rye and smoke play together. Palate is lighter bodied, medium carbonation. Clean and really drinkable. Often times smoked beers will get a bit overly one dimensional for me, this one was nice and complex. It reminded me a bit of Aecht Schlenkerla Fastenbier in the way that smoke was present but not dominant. Thanks for sharing this one Greg.

Bouteille de 22 oz partagée lors d’une dégustation Ratebeer Montréal chez Glouglouburp. Arôme: Odeur de fumée avec une pointe caramélisée. Apparence: Odeur de fumée avec une pointe caramélisée. Saveur: Goût de fumée avec une pointe de caramel fruité. Durée moyenne de l’arrière goût. Palette: Le corps est mince avec une texture légèrement huileuse. Faible effervescence en bouche. Arrière goût légèrement fumée. (Rating #2494)

In short: A light session beer with moderate rye and moderate smoke. Easy to drink, easy to forget.
How: Bottle 22oz. Consumed relatively fresh a few months after the beer release. Tasting session with Montreal crew.
The look: Clear amber body topped by an off-white ring of foam
In long: Light smoke one nose. Taste is smooth, this is not an intense beer. Moderate smoke. Rye is apparent but really not over the top. Based on the rye beers that I knew the % if rye I’d say this one is about 30% rye. Typical spicy juicy rye beer sensation. A bit toasted with faint caramel notes. Body is a bit oily. Overall sensation of oily bread crust. Very drinkable but nothing exciting here. The combination of rye and smoke is more interesting/intriguing than successful, I don’t think there will ever be a great rye based smoked beer. Description is educative to increase your german vocabulary. This was my rating on this DurchschnittRoggenrauchbier.

Bomber from JCB who, as we all know, kicks major ass. Hazy coppery amber (kinda) with an off white head. Nose is sweet smoke and earth over a spicy caramel. Flavor is all about the smoke, earth, some toasty bread and rye. Pretty good.

220z bottle. Pours a hazed orange with a creamy beige head. Aromas of light malts, and grain barely any smoke. Grainy malt flavors with a light smoke. Decent, but I’d prefer a barrage of smoke in my smoked beers.