Li'l Smoke Rauchbier

Review Date 2/16/2025 By John Staradumsky

Tucker Brewing Company! I finally made it to Tucker Brewing Company! I had just left the Taco Mac in Lawrenceville, Georgia where I met up with the one and only Beer Samurai (you can read more about that here). Dave had to head to Athens where he was spending the night, but after getting in the car with my son and grandson I said “Hey! Let’s go to Tucker Brewing!”. So we did. It was only 12 miles away, after all.

I perused the draft menu and as I did, Tucker Li'l Smoke Rauchbier caught my attention. My first beer at Tucker would be a Rauchbier! and so it was. We ordered some food as well (that's my grandson hiding behind the giant pretzel ($11) served with beer cheese and mustard). I highly recommend the Crispy Sauerkraut Bites ($12): cured ham, sauerkraut, and chives deep fried to golden brown perfection. Served with a horseradish cream sauce and in half of a Tuckersix-pack carton.

Tucker says about their Rauchbier:

Smokey beer? Yeah, it's not for everyone. A very unique beer-style indeed. This style originated in Bamberg, Germany when malthouses and breweries were under the same roof. o make the malt, barley was heated up from beechwood fire. Naturally, this process modified the barley into brewer's malt, but also imparted a strong flavor into the malt. This beer has a savory aroma/flavor that is ultra unique...dig it?

Tucker Li'l Smoke Rauchbier has an alcohol content of 5.3% by volume with 27 IBUS. I paid $8 for a 16-ounce glass at the brewery. I loved the glass so much I bought one.

My glass of Tucker Li'l Smoke Rauchbier arrived bright chestnut in color with a healthy head of foam and an inviting nose of light smoke. The smoke is there in the nose and the palate. The beer is medium in body and I get notes of hickory and green olive, toasty nutty malts, and a dry smoky finish.

A tasty lil Rauchbier that I would absolutely buy again.