Weihnachtstadt Rauchbock Released

January 29th, 2009

Fresh from the tanks we have a Brew Works “First”, a smoked strong lager. Rauchbock is a deep copper colored bock beer with a smokey flavor. Bamberg smoked malt imported from Germany gives this beer an almost bbq type flavor. The smoked malt undergoes kilning over a beechwood fire lending a slight grill flavor to the malt. 6.8% ABV (alcohol content) and a smooth malt flavor round out this wonderful brew.

The ever-innovative brewing team seems to have an endless supply of ideas. And they don’t lack a dark sense of humor either. After a suggestion by a Brew Works regular, they brewed up a smoked beer to “remember the fire.” Though the management team will be glad to put the memories of that behind us, we have to admit the Rauch Bock is superb, and now we wonder why we haven’t had one here before…(we can’t let the smartypants off easy). Come out and give this beer a try. You’re in for a special treat!
History of Rauch Bock (smoked beer)
Drying malt over an open flame imparts a smoky character to the malt. This character carries over to beers brewed with the smoked malt. Prior to the modern era, drying malted barley in direct sunlight was used in addition to drying over flames. It is known that beer made from malt dried over flame was common in England from the 16th to the 18th century.

Beginning in the 18th century, kiln drying of malt (using indirect heat) became progressively more common and, by the mid-19th century, had become the near-universal method for drying malted grain. Since the kiln method shunts the smoke away from the wet malt, a smoky flavor is not imparted to the grain, nor to the subsequent beer. As a result, smoke flavor in beer became less and less common, and eventually disappeared almost entirely from the brewing world.

There are a few breweries that still brew this traditional beer, and now the Brew Works can be added to the short list as well! For our beer, the brewing team chose not to go over the top with the smoke flavor.

Our brew gives lots of sweet toasted malt flavor with a smoky bacon afterglow. Sure to warm the coldest of hearts on a winter day at 6.8 ABV.