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DonZa

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A bottom-fermented smoked lager that steps outside the purity law: peel of Calabrian oranges goes into the brew alongside pils and smoked malt. Smoke leads the aroma and the orange peel adds a citrus accent; Hersbrucker and Spalter Select keep the bitterness low at 17 IBU. The recipe began as a collaboration with another brewery.

ABV
5.3%
Bitterness
Lightly bitter17 IBU
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
amber12
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
smokycitrusyorange
smoky
citrusy
orange
malty
herbal
clean
Aroma
Smoke dominates the nose, appearing immediately and confidently without aggressive harshness—a gentle but unmistakable roasted character from the smoked malt.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,spicy

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for DonZa

◎ Appearance

DonZa presents a pale amber to light copper hue, clear and bright with good translucency. The head is modest but persistent, displaying fine white foam with solid lacing that clings to the glass as the beer is consumed. Carbonation is moderate and even, appropriate for a bottom-fermented lager.

pale amberclear and brightpersistent white head

◌ Aroma

Smoke dominates the nose, appearing immediately and confidently without aggressive harshness—a gentle but unmistakable roasted character from the smoked malt. The Calabrian orange peel emerges as a secondary layer, introducing bright citrus zest and faint candied orange notes. Subtle floral and herbal nuances from the Hersbrucker and Spalter Select hops round out the profile without asserting themselves.

smoked malt, gentleorange peel citrusherbal hop undertone

◐ Taste

The palate opens with the smoke character established in the aroma, melding with a smooth, slightly sweet malt base that avoids cloying excess. Orange peel contribution becomes more textural and zesty mid-palate, enhancing the lager's clean fermentation profile. Bitterness remains restrained at 17 IBU, allowing the smoke and citrus to take focus while maintaining refreshing balance and definition.

smoke-forwardcitrus brightnessbalanced, low bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is medium and clean, with smoke and orange lingering gently into the aftertaste. No harsh residue or astringency remains; the beer fades with a pleasant, dry-ish quality that invites another sip.

medium finishdry citrus fade
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
77
Appearance
75
Finish
76
Serve at 4–7°C

Serve at 4–7°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with DonZa

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About Rauchbier

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Rauchbier?

Rauchbier is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Rauchbier

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same smoky, citrusy, orange character as DonZa will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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