Rauch Tater

Rauch Tater — Imperial Märzen 8.2% // 100% Virginia Grain

We partnered with our farming neighbors and friends, Moutoux Orchard, to create this Imperial Märzen made with smoked sweet potatoes, local sage, and brown sugar. Moutoux Orchard is a third generation family farm committed to sustainable, whole-diet agriculture.

With a wink to northern Bavarian Rauchbier, we opted for a subtle smoke component — more earthy than smokey— as a guidepost for the flavors to meet. Instead of smoked grain, the sustainably-grown sweet potatoes from Moutoux Orchard were smoked at our farm with local apple and cherry wood. The sweet potatoes were then put in the 100% Virginia grain mash with local sage. Once transferred to the boil kettle, we added brown sugar.

Post fermentation, the Imperial Märzen rested in oak puncheons at 35F for three months before bottle conditioning for another two months. The result is a flavorful beer with complexity from ingredients that have had time to get to know each other. Rauch Tater has a lush base from the malt and molasses sweetness from the brown sugar. The waft of smoke provides an earthy taste that connects the malt and molasses with a velvety mouthfeel from the sweet potatoes. This is capped with a savory and dry finish at the top, thanks to the sage. Aged in oak puncheons. Show Less