This Week in Rauchbier 2026

About this episode

This episode focuses on the collaborative release of a Rauch Märzen beer and features insights from industry experts.

Welcome to This Week in Rauchbier for April 1, 2026. Our Rauchbier spotlight is on the Pacific Northwest where eight breweries have come together to release Smoke Break , a collaborative Rauch Märzen built around a simple idea: Rauchbier is great, and more people should be drinking it. "The project brings together Cloudburst Brewing, Obelisk Beer Co, Varietal Beer Company, Ladd & Lass Brewing, Ravenna Brewing Company, Urban Family Brewing Co., Human People Beer, and Single Hill Brewing (who hosted the collaboration.) It is a larger-than-usual collaboration centered on a style that does not often get this kind of spotlight," reads a press release. " Smoke Break is a mid strength Rauch Märzen brewed with beechwood-smoked barley, and a touch of oak-smoked wheat. The result is a malt-forward lager with notes of caramel and cocoa, backed by a firm but clean smoky finish that lingers without overwhelming." Then Bart Watson the President and CEO of the Brewers Association joins us to share the latest growth and success of Rauchbier in the marketplace. Finally, we hear from Brian Shirley at Time & Materials Beer talks about his cask rauchbier. Enjoy these audio smoky delights…

People in this episode

Host: John Holl

Guests: Bart Watson, Brian Shirley

Topics covered

• Rauchbier
• craft beer
• collaboration
• brewing
• beer styles

Keywords

• Rauchbier
• craft beer
• Smoke Break
• brewing collaboration
• beer styles

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Brewers Association, Cloudburst Brewing, Obelisk Beer Co, Varietal Beer Company, Ladd & Lass Brewing, Ravenna Brewing Company, Urban Family Brewing Co., Human People Beer, Single Hill Brewing

Products: Smoke Break, Rauch Märzen

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