Rauchbier Special (8 Bit)

8-4-8-3-16 Can, ten months before bbd. Pours amber, with an enormous creamy head. Aroma is is smoked malts with bread crust with syrupy notes, toffee and honey, as well as earthy hops with herbal notes. Full body, with soft carbonation. Flavour is smoked malts with bread, caramel and heather, as well as earthy hops with herbal notes. Fairly dry finish. Mellow, balanced and moreish!

Appearance: Light brown, clear. Decent, off-white head. Aroma: Lots of fruits, sweet fruits. Light smoke and malt. Taste: Medium malt, medium fruits, followed by light smoke, not overpowering. Smooth, but would prefer more smoke. Bought: BrüW - Brewpub, 100 ml tap, CHF 2.50 Info: 18/4-2023

0.44 l can from 'Hoptimaal', best before February 2024. Slightly hazy, deep amber with a large, dense, almost stable, off-white head. Sweetish-malty, quite smoky, slightly fruity-grassy aroma of smoked ham, lemon peel and some fresh grass. Slightly sweet, moderately bitter, quite smoky and gently fruity-grassy taste of lemon peel, pineapple, toasted nuts, smoked ham and some fresh grass, followed by a medium long, gently bitter, quite dry finish. Medium body, fairly effervescent mouthfeel, average carbonation. Decent lager, fairly hoppy for a Rauchbier, not as smoky as expected, unusually dry as well.

Can. Color: Slightly hazy amber, off-white head. Aroma: Malty, subtle smoke and caramel. Taste: Malty, caramel notes, smoke. Light hints of smoked fish. Peppery hints. Dry-ish. Medium body, just below average carbonation. Light to moderate bitterness. Moderate sweet. Ok, but I expected more.