Victory Scarlet Fire Rauchbier

Brewed by Victory Brewing Company
Style: Smoked
Downingtown, Pennsylvania USA

Serve in Dimpled mug, Lager glass, Stein

Victory does it again. the nice thing here is that while its a rauchbier, its not nearly as overpoweringly smoky as some that ive had. the only complaint that i have is that between the sip and the aftertaste there is an odd metallic/chemical aftertaste, but that might have been the lines at the bar i was at. otherwise, a great smoked beer.

Powerful smoke, bacon, salted ham, biscuit malts, too. A fairly clean beer, meaning the not overly caramel, molasses, or fruity flavors, just biscuit malts and smoked malt. I wish I had been in the mood for a smoked because it is a very nice rauch but since I wasn’t it made a full pint nearly impossible. Good brew though. Very good.

Clear amber pour with a white head. Smokey malts, hickory, smoked salmon, and campfire complete the nose, while a nice caramel biscuit coming in with the first sip. Fruity smokiness, and smoked meats follow. Very full bodied given the appearance, with low carbonation.

On tap at Georgetown Pizza Paradiso. Clear amber pour with a small frothy head. Nose of campfire, hickory, fruity, tree bark, and some salinity. Really good rauch characteristics, drinkable, and surprisingly full bodied. A yummy brew.

Draught from the greatly improved JC’s. Nose is intensely smoked malt, nice and woody. Rich amber and a fizzy beige head. Medium body is smoky long into the aftertaste, woody with low sweetness and low bitterness. Very low citrus and fruit but there is a good basic ale beneath the smoke, and this is about as repeatable as smoked beers come (statement made after 64 oz!). Mellow and memorable. I’m a sucker for this style, so rating with a grain of salt, but I really enjoyed it.

$6 pint, draught at Moan & Dove. Clear medium amber with a one finger off-white jead, down to a thick ring before long. Just got done camping, and this smells like my jacket--lotsa campfire, touch of breast yeast following. Flavor is again pretty smoky, some toasted malt behind, not too much caramel sweetness. Semi-dry, earthy bitterness peaks at a 3-3.5. Light to medium body with light prickly carbonation. I liked this year’s batch--last year was too sweet and not all that smoky.

On draft at brewery. As description says “mild larger” it is mild, but the smoked flavor does make this beer an enjoyable “treat”. Aroma is excellent, has that smoked fire smell with ham or bacon. Taste also has that smoked flavor, but again mild. Smooth, roasted balance, with dry finish. Would love to try this smoked taste with a darker beer or porter beer base.

18 July 2011, tap at the brewery. yellow w/ some orange hints, clear, some steady bubbles. huge smoky sausage nose. actually, more of a smoked deli meat. can’t really say it smells of sausage. thin/med body and faintly fizzy. tastes of smoked deli meat. maybe cheap smoked sausage that is prepackaged. it’s a really good rauchbier but i still prefer schlenkerla.