Top 10 Smoked / Rauch Beers Brewed in America
This Top Ten List of Smoked/Racuh Beers is from the results of the U.S. Open Beer Championship, Great American Beer Festival, and World Beer Cup. These smoked beers, include the lager styles Helles, Marzen, and Bock, and the ale Weizen/Weiss styles. Smoke character is not harshly phenolic, but rather very smooth, almost rendering a perception of mild sweetness to this style of beer.
1. So long and thank’s for all the (smoked) fish! – The Sandlot Brewery – Colorado
2. Caldera Rauch Ur Bock – Caldera Brewing – Oregon
3. My Turn Series Nathan Smoked Dark Lager – Lakefront Brewery – Wisconsin
4. Smoke on the Lager – Chilly Water Brewing – Indiana
5. Burnt Fog – Track 7 Brewing – California
6. SmokeJumper Imperial Smoked Porter – Left Hand Brewing – Colorado
7. Croydon is Burning – Neshaminy Creek Brewing – Pennsylvania
8. Kissmeyer Holger Danske – Hill Farmstead Brewing – Vermont
9. Alaskan Smoked Porter – Alaskan Brewing – Alaska
10. Surly Smoke Lager – Surly Brewing – Minnesota
History of Smoked Beers
Smoked beers, or Rauchbier, trace their origins to Bamberg, Germany, where they emerged as a distinct style in the Middle Ages. The process of smoking malt over open fires, often using beechwood, imparted a unique smoky flavor to the beer, a byproduct of the kilning methods used before modern malting techniques. By the 16th century, Rauchbier became a regional specialty in Franconia, particularly at the Schlenkerla brewery, which has brewed its iconic Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier since at least 1678. These beers were not just a local quirk but a reflection of necessity, as wood-fired kilns were the primary means of drying malt, embedding smokiness into the brewing tradition until industrial advancements introduced cleaner, smoke-free malting in the 19th century.
The rise of modern brewing nearly pushed smoked beers into obscurity, as cleaner lagers and ales dominated global markets. However, Rauchbier persisted in Bamberg, preserved by traditionalists who valued its bold, campfire-like character. In the late 20th century, the craft beer revolution sparked renewed interest, with brewers in the U.S. and beyond experimenting with smoked malts to create porters, stouts, and even IPAs infused with smoky notes. Today, smoked beers remain a niche but celebrated style, with Bamberg’s classics like Schlenkerla serving as the gold standard, while innovative craft interpretations, such as Alaskan Brewing’s Smoked Porter, showcase the style’s versatility and enduring appeal.
Top 10 Beers in America – Ales Lagers Specialty Barrel Aged