Classic Rauchbier
Classic Rauchbier is a smoke flavored beer unique to the town of Bamberg Germany. The smoked flavor comes from Vienna malt that has been smoked over embers.
History
Prior to the modern era, malted barley was often dried by placing wet malt over an open flame, which resulted in a smoked flavor. Gradually this method was replaced by kiln drying in the 18th and 19th centuries. Two tavern breweries in Bamberg Germany (the Schlenkerla and Spezial) maintained the old tradition, and produced Rauchbier by drying their malt over fires made with beechwood logs. With the recent Craft Beer explosion in the United States, additional breweries such as the Alaskan Brewing Company as well as homebrewers started making smoked beers.
Description
Medium to full body. Malty, sweet flavor with distinctive smoke flavor and aroma. Low to medium hop flavor and aroma. Amber to brown color. Medium to med-high carbonation. Smoke flavored beer unique to Bamberg Germany. Vienna/Oktoberfest style made with malt that has been "smoked" over embers to create a smoky aroma and flavor.
Characteristics
- Color Range: 14.0-22.0 SRM
- Original Gravity Range: 1.050-1.056 SG
- Final Gravity Range: 1.012-1.016 SG
- Bitterness Range: 20.0-30.0 IBU
- Alcohol by Volume Range: 4.8-6.0 %
- Carbonation Range: 2.4-2.8 vols
- BJCP Style Number: 22 A
Ingredients
- German Rauchmaltz (smoked Vienna malt) makes up 20-100% of the bill with the remainder being Munich and Vienna malt
- Sometimes roasted malt for color
- Noble German or Czech hops
- German lager yeast.
Examples
- Schlenkerta Rauchbier Marzen, Kaiserdom Rauchbier
