Football fans visiting Gillette Stadium for New England Patriots games for 2010 will get to experience one very interesting beer: a smoked brew.

That's the Samuel Adams Patriot Homebrew choice of the Boston Beer Co., Jim Koch and a team of judges for the competition that results in the beer to be served and sold at Gillette Stadium during the upcoming Patriots season.

Manchester, N.H., homebrewer Rob North triumphed over nearly 200 other entrants to win the third annual Samuel Adams Patriot Homebrew contest. His Rauchbier, meaning "smoke beer" in German, won over four other homebrews: Altbier, Oktoberfest, IPA and Weissbier.

The origin of Rauchbiers dates back to the 1500s in the town of Bamberg, Germany.

"Rob's Rauchbier is well balanced and has a perfect blend of smoke and malt, reminding me of the traditional Rauchbiers I've enjoyed while visiting Germany every year during hops selection," said Koch, founder and brewer of Samuel Adams. "Its sweet and smoky aroma and flavor will make this beer a perfect complement to the sausages and bold, full-flavored grilled fare that people love during football season."

It tastes like bacon, if you ask me. And I was a judge, along with Wally Brine, Salty's son and co-host of the WROR-FM morning show; Mike Adams of Planet Mikey on WEEI-AM and FM; Jason and Todd Alström, founders of the Beer Advocate; Carolyn Faye Fox of The Improper Bostonian; Dan Hausle of WHDH-TV; Norman Miller of the MetroWest Daily News; and David Rosenbaum, winner of the 2008 Patriot Homebrew Contest. He made a fabulous Oatmeal Stout that we called "Breakfast Beer."

The contest allows Sam Adams Co. to introduce thousands of football fans to interesting styles of craft beer. The first year it was a hoppy Double IPA.

Rob's prize includes the opportunity to come to the Samuel Adams Boston Brewery and brew his winning beer. The beer will be served alongside the traditional Samuel Adams beers at the Samuel Adams Brewhouse in Gillette Stadium during the entire 2010-2011 football season.

Rob has been actively homebrewing for the past three years.

"It is such an amazing feeling to know that my Rauchbier will be served at Gillette Stadium this year. Rauchbiers are not a common beer style, and I'm excited to have the opportunity to put a beer like this in front of people who haven't tried it before and open up their eyes to something different."