Cicerone Certified Beer Server Practice Exam

Which beer is distinguished by having its malted barley smoked before brewing?

1. Amber beer

2. Rauchbier

3. Pale ale

4. Brown beer

The correct answer is: Rauchbier

Rauchbier is a style of beer that is specifically characterized by the use of malted barley that has been smoked before the brewing process. The smoking of the barley imparts a distinct smoky flavor to the beer, which is a hallmark of rauchbier. This style originated in Germany, with the most famous representations coming from the Bamberg region. The other options do not involve smoked malted barley in their traditional brewing processes. For instance, amber beer and brown beer typically rely on caramel and roasted malts for their flavors but are not smoked. Pale ales are predominantly made with pale malts, emphasizing hop bitterness and flavor without the addition of any smoky characteristics. Thus, rauchbier stands out in this context due to its unique malt preparation method.