Smoke it up

First off...let me apologize for the lapse in posts over the last few weeks.  I have been on the road for work and there just wasn't the time to dedicate to a proper post.  In each city I set out to try some new beers, but I have to report back that what I found didn't impress me.  But now I am back home and have made another $100 trip to the beer store.  I have several new beers in the queue and should be able to start pumping out reviews....as soon as I kick the cold I caught traveling.  I went to the fridge tonight and pulled out a bottle (Mom stop reading here!) and decided to power through and taste a beer anyways.  Then I remembered that cold medicines make it very hard to assess a beer's aroma and thus also its flavor.  So I put the beer back, cried a quick tear, and decided to reminisce on a beer from the weekend.  It was one worth some reflection.

Rauchbier is a German beer style and literally means "Smoke Beer".  Yes...I realize that this may seem very strange but I can assure you that it is quite tasty and pairs well with food.  The smoked flavors in Smoke Ale by Rogue come from two grains that have been smoked as part of the malting process: Chuck's Alderwood Smoked Munich and Bamberg Beechwood Smoked malts.  But fear not, this beer is not completely dominated by the smoke flavors and is supported by sweet, nutty malt flavors and a healthy dose of hops.  Rather than power through as a dominant flavor, the smoked flavors becomes more apparent as the beer finishes on your tongue.  Of course you won't be surprised by the smoke as the aroma hits you long before the first sip crosses your lips.

Now comes the exciting part...pairing it with food.  It was Cinco de Mayo and I wanted something with either Tex-Mex or Southwestern flavors.  After some searching I found a recipe for a Lime-Cumin-Cilantro dressing by Bobby Flay that sounded like a perfect fit.  I grilled up some chicken and tossed it on a salad with jicama root, black beans, green onions, and a mixture of Mexican cheeses.  I could not have imagined a better flavor combination as I washed down bites with the Smoke Ale.  This Rogue beer combined especially well with the black beans (think smoked bacon and beans...yum!) while contrasting nicely with the honey, vinegar and lime flavors in the dressing.  Another good choice for this dish would have been Rogue's Chipotle Ale which provides both the smoked flavors and the heat of the jalapeno.  With beers like this out there, why settle for a skunked Corona with a lime?!?!?