Terrapin Roggenrauchbier, Terrapin Beer Co., Athens

• $5.99 / 22-ounce bottle at metro beverage stores

Terrapin Beer Co. (ENLARGE)

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• Profile: Because it's brewed with rye and smoked malt, you might expect Terrapin's latest Side Project experiment, Roggenrauchbier, to be pretty intense. In fact, an early tasting from the tank at Terrapin's new Athens brewery was quite smoky. But since then, the beer has mellowed. And the flavors of the specialty malts brewer Brian "Spike" Buckowski used to sweeten the mix are much more pronounced. In short, even traditional German-style Rauchbier (smoke beer) haters may like this surprisingly crisp, slightly spicy lager. Note: Roggenrauchbier is No. 2 in Terrapin's series of one-time, limited-edition beers so, naturally, it will be a quick sellout.

• Pair with: The smoky/spicy/sweet qualities of Terrapin Roggenrauchbier make it a natural match for barbecue — especially baby back ribs or pulled pork shoulder with hot sauce. But it could also be an interesting pairing with smoked cheeses, such as Rogue Creamery's Smoky Blue, a sharp, sweet blue cheese smoked over hazelnut shells.