Recipe: What style are smoked beers?
When a homebrewer considers making a smoked beer, also known as rauchbier, they may feel a bit lost when it comes to defining the style. Although the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) lists rauchbier as a style belonging to the German tradition (which is 100% true), there are also other ways to brew smoked beer outside the Teutonic path.
Throughout history, most roasted malts were also smoked to a greater or lesser degree. Before the invention of the rotating drum, which was also used to roast coffee, the procedure for obtaining specialty malts was direct smoking. Maltsters placed the germinated grain over flames from firewood (continental Europe) or peat (United Kingdom). Indirectly, this process helped smoke the malt and impart certain properties to it. We therefore understand that smoked beer is not a style in itself, but depends on the addition of these specialty malts to a base style. It is a technique that was widely used during the Middle Ages.
On the one hand, the historical origin of German Rauchbier is found in the city of Bamberg. In this location, breweries still produce and use smoked malts to this day. But which styles do they brew? In principle, these German specialties are all lagers (bottom-fermented). The original Rauchbiers were brewed around a Märzenbier recipe. However, we can also find Helles, Dunkel, Bock, Schwarzbier, and Weissbier among other basic styles. The key, in any case, is the beechwood-smoked malt. One standout is the Schlenkerla brewery, whose Rauchbiers recall bacon and enjoy great popularity.
On the other hand, we also find smoky-style beers in the British Isles. It is true that this was more of a side effect of kilning than a sought-after characteristic. In fact, brewers tried to avoid flavors coming from smoke. Nevertheless, the reality is that malting gave this distinctive flavor to British porters and stouts. The smoky notes in English beer disappeared as malting techniques improved, while new pale malts emerged and blond beers came into fashion.
Whichever style you choose, remember how important it is to select a quality smoked malt. Among the most coveted by homebrewers are those from Weyerman. Give them a try! Their smoky notes won’t leave you indifferent.
