When I signed up for Beer Appreciation, I knew I would have some interesting experiences. I have no problem trying new beers, but I generally stick with the same styles – lagers, ales, pilsners and IPAs. I tend to forego something totally new.

This experience, however, would not afford me that luxury. I paid for these beers so I would have to try them. Thank God for that mentality because then I would not know the glory of the smoke beer.

The sixth beer in the series was Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier, a German brew which is exposed to “the intense, aromatic smoke of burning beech-wood logs” during the brewing process. I didn’t quite know what to expect when I opened the bottle, but I found something I will never forget.

The smell of the beer almost made me stop before I had a taste. I’m glad I got over that quickly because the smooth taste made me forget that i was drinking something which smelled like a grill that hadn’t been cleaned for a while. After six beers, this one clearly stands out as my favorite. This is exactly why I decided to join Beer Appreciation – I found something I want to tell everyone about.

The previous two beers were Sam Adams’ Boston Ale and Kenzinger’s Ale. I found the Sam – which I hadn’t had before even though I thought I had – a little too creamy for my taste. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t want another when I finished. The Kenzinger was a good beer, something I would definitely grab if I saw it for sale when I wanted something different. The retro cheap-beer packaging shouludn’t fool you – this is a solid beer.

Now we move onto some porters and stouts. I don’t usually like these style, but the smoke beer has opened my mind. Plus, beer number nine is Sierra Nevada’s Celebration Ale, one of my favorite beers. I have a six-pack in the fridge for our annual Christmas party tonight. So I can definitely work on these next two with that anticipation in mind.