British
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Tasting Notes
This is described as a Rauchbier, so expect pronounced wood-smoke and cured meat aromas upfront, derived from beechwood-smoked malt. The flavor follows with bacon-like smokiness layered over a firm malt backbone — toasty, slightly sweet, with restrained hop bitterness that keeps things balanced rather than sharp. Body tends toward medium-full with a smooth, lingering smoky finish. The unusual name pairing of 'British' with a traditionally German style suggests possible hybrid character, but without specific notes on this exact beer, the Rauchbier profile is the reliable guide here.
About the Brewery
Night Shift Brewing is based in Everett, Massachusetts, founded around 2012, and has grown into one of the more prominent craft operations in the Greater Boston area. They're known for an adventurous, rotating lineup that spans lagers, IPAs, and experimental styles, alongside a solid core range. Their taproom presence and distribution footprint across New England have made them a recognizable name in the regional scene.
Food Pairings
Smoked meats are the natural anchor here — pulled pork or brisket mirrors the beer's beechwood smoke without competing with it. Aged Gouda works well because its caramel nuttiness plays against the savory malt. A hearty lentil soup with smoked sausage finds common ground with the beer's roasted depth. Grilled mushrooms offer an earthy, umami bridge that softens the smoke. Sharp cheddar on dark rye bread rounds things out, letting the bread's toasty character echo the malt base.
Style Guide
Rauchbier is a German smoked lager originating in Bamberg, Bavaria, where the Schlenkerla brewery has been its most celebrated standard-bearer for centuries. The defining characteristic is malt that has been kilned over open beechwood flames, producing flavors ranging from subtle woodsmoke to full-on campfire or cured meat depending on the proportion used. It shares the clean fermentation character and moderate body of a Märzen or Munich lager, which distinguishes it from smoked porters or ales that layer smoke over roasted or dark-fruit complexity. ABV typically runs in the 4.5–6% range, making this example slightly fuller than the traditional norm.