What's the most "interesting" beer you've ever tasted?

[chewse]

This past summer, my wife and I took an absolutely wonderful river cruise through the heart of Germany. The boat traveled along several major rivers and we stopped at the many small villages along the route where, as you might suspect, we sampled the local beers and wines. Each village had its own, unique special brew.

The most interesting beer we had on the trip was categorized as Smokebeer from the town of Bamberg. The color was fairly dark but not like a Guinness stout but the flavor tasted like bacon. The first few tastes were a little had to take; it was like drinking a thicker ale with slices of cooked bacon in it. However, once we finished the first stein, we order a second, and then a third. The taste really got better has we drank more. Hummm, that kind of works for all different kinds of beer!

[gary meakin]

Used to drink this back in the 70s.
Beer was forgetable but I loved the can.

[azwildcat96]

Used to drink this back in the 70s.
Beer was forgetable but I loved the can.

I bet she looked better after about 12 cans...

[CDNSushi]

The most interesting beer we had on the trip was categorized as Smokebeer from the town of Bamberg. The color was fairly dark but not like a Guinness stout but the flavor tasted like bacon.

The more technical term for a smoked beer is sometimes called Rauch or Rauchbier. It is made by smoking (or drying the grain) with an open fire prior to the brewing process.

One of our local microbreweries makes an international award-winning Rauch. Last winter, our "Good Beer Club" got a tour from the brewmaster (who is also a member of the club) and he took us to the storeroom where they kept the bags of grain used for brewing. He gave us a few of the smoked grains and they did indeed smell like they came off a BBQ.

I prefer smoked beers when I'm eating something similarly flavored -- like sausages, or beef jerkey, or other cured meats.

But I certainly agree -- Rauch qualifies as one of the most interesting beers on the spectrum.

[Lyle1]

The most interesting beer we had on the trip was categorized as Smokebeer ..The taste really got better has we drank more. Hummm, that kind of works for all different kinds of beer!

Smoked beer would be my most interesting beer, also. Partially because the taste was a complete surprise, and the fact that it just kept getting better, and partially because it was served with the first course at a pairing of German food and wines.

[vmac3205]

http://brewpublic.com/wp-content/upl...7071973876.jpg

They don't say "keep Portland weird" for nothing!

[chrisupyonder]

Wychwood
Dogs Bollocks

Real Ale, 5.2 percent Alcohol
Brewed in UK since ?.

For the hair of the dog,
There is no better cure
No pedigree, this ale, just
Golden and Pure
This hooch is no pooch
Just sup it and see
Like a hound with two
tails a wagging you'll be!

A full bodied hoppy, golden coloured brew. Stygian hops from Slovenia are combined with wheat to give this beer a burst of fruit flavours.

Chris.

[azwildcat96]

I would say that the most unusual that I have had would be the chocolate infused ones. Youngs Double Chocolate Stout works pretty well, as does Sonoran White Chocolate Ale. Can't really drink more than one, but is is a nice change to have one every now and again.

I recently had a Wychwood Hobgoblin Dark English Ale...It was fantastic!!! They have a pretty neat website here too, updated for Halloween.

[Dave G]

Found "Old Leghumper" to be surprisingly good. Bit of a chocolate/coffee taste with an appealing dark rick color.

[xman]

I've been thinking about this thread a lot. As a beer enthusiast for almost thirty years I have tasted many, many of them quite interesting. I also have trouble choosing favourites at any time, but I thought I should give a shout out to a Québec beer brewed in the Trappist style. Maudite is full flavoured and strong. I'm including a pretty high res picture so you can enjoy the label. There is a French Canadian folk tale about some voyageurs who make a deal with the devil to get home for the holidays depicted there.