Phase Three P3 Smoked Vienna Lager 4Pk

Phase Three P3 Smoked Vienna Lager 4Pk is a 5.5% ABV smoked Vienna-style lager from Phase Three Brewing Company in Lake Zurich, Illinois, sold in a four-pack. What distinguishes this beer from a standard Vienna lager is the addition of cherry wood smoked barley to the malt bill, lending a restrained but unmistakable smoke character to a style typically defined purely by toasty malt sweetness. The beer holds an 85 on BeerAdvocate and a 3.8 out of 5 on Untappd across more than 560 ratings.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5.5%  |  Origin: Lake Zurich, Illinois  |  Style: Smoked Vienna Lager  |  Brewery: Phase Three Brewing Company

Production & Heritage

Phase Three Brewing Company, based in Lake Zurich, Illinois, has earned a devoted following for its boundary-pushing approach to classic beer styles. The P3 Smoked Vienna Lager starts with a traditional Vienna malt base — responsible for the biscuity, toasted-bread backbone the style is known for — and introduces a small portion of cherry wood smoked barley into the grain bill. That cherry wood smoking process is the defining production choice here: rather than overwhelming the beer with campfire intensity, it threads a delicate smoke note through the malt-forward profile, keeping the lager clean and highly drinkable.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Grain-forward on the nose, with sweet malt and a whisper of smoke rising underneath. The cherry wood component stays in the background, contributing a faintly fruity, woody undertone rather than an aggressive rauch character.

Taste: The entry is biscuity and lightly sweet, anchored by the Vienna malt's toasted-bread quality. Mid-palate, the cherry wood smoke emerges — subtle but present — alongside hints of preserved strawberry and gentle caramel. The non-smoked malt keeps things balanced, ensuring the sweetness never tips into cloying territory.

Finish: Smooth and medium in length, with a trailing note of caramel and soft smoke. The lager-clean fermentation profile keeps the close crisp, inviting another sip.

How to Drink P3 Smoked Vienna Lager

Pour this into a tall Pilsner glass or a handled stein at around 42–48°F to let the malt complexity and smoke nuance come through without muting them. At 5.5% ABV, it's sessionable enough to drink on its own over the course of an afternoon. For mixed-beer drinks, the smoke backbone makes it a strong candidate for a Michelada, where the savory elements complement the smoked malt; a Beer-a-Rita (lager, lime juice, and a salted rim), where the caramel sweetness plays well against citrus acidity; or a Shandy with fresh lemonade, which brightens the toasted grain character.

Best For

• Backyard grilling sessions where smoked meat and smoked beer belong together
• Introducing a craft-curious friend to smoked beer styles without overwhelming them
• Fall evenings when lighter stouts feel too heavy but pale lagers feel too thin
• Building a themed tasting flight of Illinois craft lagers

Frequently Asked Questions

What does P3 Smoked Vienna Lager taste like? It tastes like toasted bread and biscuit malt with a subtle cherry wood smoke thread running through it, finishing smooth with light caramel sweetness. The smoke is restrained — this is far closer to a Vienna lager than a German-style Rauchbier.

How does P3 Smoked Vienna Lager compare to Goldfinger Vienna Lager? Goldfinger Brewing's Vienna Lager, from Downers Grove, Illinois, is a more traditional take on the style with a copper hue and straightforward toasted malt and fresh bread character. Phase Three's version adds complexity through cherry wood smoked barley, making it a smokier, slightly more adventurous interpretation of the same Viennese malt backbone.

Is P3 Smoked Vienna Lager good for beginners? Yes — the smoke element is subtle enough that it won't alienate drinkers unfamiliar with smoked beers, while the 5.5% ABV and clean lager finish keep it approachable and easy to drink.

Where is P3 Smoked Vienna Lager made? It is brewed by Phase Three Brewing Company in Lake Zurich, Illinois, a suburb northwest of Chicago known for its growing craft beer scene.

What foods pair well with P3 Smoked Vienna Lager? Smoked sausages and bratwurst mirror the cherry wood smoke in the beer. Pretzels with whole-grain mustard echo the biscuity malt. Grilled pork chops with an apple glaze complement the subtle sweetness. Aged Gouda or smoked cheddar match the toasty, smoky notes. Pulled pork sandwiches with vinegar-based slaw provide an acidic counterpoint to the malt richness.

What sizes does P3 Smoked Vienna Lager come in? It is available as a four-pack of cans from Phase Three Brewing Company.

Is P3 Smoked Vienna Lager worth the price? It positions as a craft specialty lager — more niche than a standard Vienna lager but not priced at the extreme end of limited-release territory. The cherry wood smoking process adds a production step most Vienna lagers skip, and the result is a beer that justifies a modest premium over conventional lagers.

Why P3 Smoked Vienna Lager?

Smoked lagers occupy a narrow lane in American craft beer, and most producers lean heavily on the smoke, veering into Rauchbier territory. Phase Three takes a more measured route by integrating only a small portion of cherry wood smoked barley into a Vienna malt base, keeping the smoke suggestive rather than dominant. The result is a lager that retains the toasty, biscuity drinkability the Vienna style demands while offering something genuinely different. For drinkers who find traditional Vienna lagers one-note but classic Rauchbiers too intense, this beer fills a gap that very few breweries bother to address.