<b>Date:</b> 08/09/2008<br /> <b>Mode:</b> Draft<br /> <b>Source:</b> Brewfest, Great Taste<br /> <br /> <b>Appearance:</b> clear amber, frothy beige head, <br /> <b>Aroma:</b> sweet caramel aroma with lots of woody smoke, <br /> <b>Flavor:</b> rich sweet caramel malt flavor, lots of smoke to balance it without taking over, light bitterness, <br /> <br /> <b>Aroma:</b> 7/10; <b>Appearance:</b> 7/10; <b>Flavor:</b> 7/10; <b>Palate:</b> 7/10; <b>Overall:</b> 15/20<br /> <b>Rating:</b> 3.7/5.0<br /><b>Drinkability:</b> 8/10<br /> <b>Score:</b> **4<br />

On tap at the 2007 GABF: Pours a transparent amber bronze with a frothy ring of white head. Aroma has a decent amount of smoke and grainy crystal malt. Body starts with a light malty sweetness and good carbonation with a drier, earthy smoke flavor toward a smooth, smoky finish. A pretty good rauchbier.

&#40;Draught&#41; Pours a clear amber body with a small off-white head. Aroma of wet leaves, mildewed clothing, smoke, grilled meat, and dates. Flavor of smoked sausage, toffee, and tobacco.

GABF 2007: Poured a light golden amber color with an off-white head. The aroma had smooth but strong smoke. Not over the top. The flavor was malty with caramel and nutty notes. Nice amount of smoke. Light to medium body.

<i>Draft</i>: Eclipsed yellow. Loose foam ring. Mixture of fig leaves, diacetyl, dates, and smoked meat in the aroma. Minuscule, but brisk, carbonation. Punctually smoky right off the bat with lush bready malt textures coating the palate and prolonging the Rauch character. Medicinal whispers along with a cedary tinge of alcohol. Short-lived chalkiness succumbs to the soft, bready malt frame. Hints of maple, diacetyl, and dates caress the perfectly sharp prosciutto backing as it finishes dryly chalky, yet thickly malted, with toffee and spicy tobacco overtones. Diacetyl kills the aroma, but the smoky flavor is beyond adequate.