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Schwarzer Rauch

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Beechwood smoke leads here, mingling with roasted malt flavor and layers of darker malts, braced by noble hop character. Schwarzer Rauch means Black Smoke, and this smoked black lager is fermented cold and clean with German lager yeast. It's a winter beer on draft, with cans exclusive to the taproom.

ABV
4.8%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter30 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark30
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
smokyroastedmalty
smoky
roasted
malty
noble hop
clean
dark fruit
Aroma
Beechwood smoke dominates the nose, leading with a woodsmoke character that sits comfortably alongside roasted malt undertones.
also:coffee
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,spicy

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Schwarzer Rauch

◎ Appearance

Deep black color with minimal transparency, presenting a dense and opaque body. A modest tan head forms and fades to a thin collar with restrained lacing around the glass. Carbonation is gentle and measured, consistent with the lager's cool fermentation.

deep blackopaquefine tan headsoft carbonation

◌ Aroma

Beechwood smoke dominates the nose, leading with a woodsmoke character that sits comfortably alongside roasted malt undertones. Noble hops contribute a subtle herbal and spicy counterpoint, while the clean lager yeast keeps the profile precise and dry. Layers of dark roast emerge beneath, without astringency.

beechwood smokeroasted maltnoble hopsclean fermentation

◐ Taste

Smoky richness opens the palate, delivering beechwood character that mingles with coffee and roasted grain notes. The mid-palate reveals layers of darker malts—a touch of dark fruit complexity—balanced by restrained bittering from noble hops at 30 IBU. The body remains smooth and clean, never heavy, with a crisp backbone that prevents flatness.

smoky, richroasted grain, coffeedark fruitnoble bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and moderately short, with smoke and roast lingering softly on the palate. A clean, crisp fade leaves no harshness, reinforcing the beer's cool, balanced character.

dry finishsmoke lingersclean aftertaste
80
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
81
Appearance
78
Finish
77
Serve at 7–9°C

Serve at 7–9°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 Schwarzer Rauch

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About Schwarzbier

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Schwarzbier?

Schwarzbier 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 Schwarzbier

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

Compare with another beer →Explore all Schwarzbier beers in hopIQ →Browse United States beers →