Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen

Brewed by Brauerei Heller
Style: Smoked
Bamberg, Bayern, Germany

Bottle: pours a clear, reddish-brown with a frothy white head, strong smokey bacon aroma, taste is malty, some smoke flavor, a touch of sweetness, a little watery of a mouthfeel but that could be because I just finished a stout.

When I was growing up, there was a point where we had an outside smoker at home. It was great. We would smoke a small turkey during thanksgiving, and year-round we would smoke fresh caught fish. I also grew up deep sea fishing and certain fish were simply divine when smoked versus cooked. Add to that my love of smoked salmon, cheese, and a variety of other things, to know there was a smoked beer style; I simple had to find me one to try.
The Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Marzen is one of the most classic examples of a rauchbier, aka, a smoked beer. With great anticipation and love, I pour her dark soil brown body into my glass. Slightly opaque yet clear enough for light to shine through and show off her beautifully rich smoky brown curves. A soft head fades into a thin ring around my glass as I lift her up for a whiff of the nose. Rich, woodsy, sweet and smoky, like I had just stepped outside to check on our smoker and the delectable contents within. As I swirl and quaff my Schlenkerla Rauchbier, fine trails of Brussels lace trickle down the side. For such delicate smoke intensity in the palate, the body is refreshingly light and does not weight the beer down at all. Later on I detect a hint of caramel malts in with the still woodsy aroma and palate reminiscent of cedar. A bit of a bite in the back reminds me that there are still hops present in this beer as they also add a slightly resinous oily texture to the overall body. I finish my Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Marzen with a flourish of smoky campfire and woodsy aromas and flavor.
I couldn’t be more pleased or impressed with this stellar example of a Rauchbier. Granted it is the first I have had the privilege to try, but it will most certainly not be the last. Anyone who is a fan of anything smoked will love this beer.

Bottled. Very dark brown to amber colour. Nice, very creamy head is medium sized, white in colour and long lasting. Aroma has heavily smoked malts with some tar. Perhaps a hint of some dark berries? Almost no hops in this one. Slavor is sweet and malty, very distinctive wit this style. Palate is very smooth, soft carbonated and slic. A "warm" and smooth beer for slow sipping.

Pours a beautiful clear dark amber brown with medium layer of froathy offwhite head. Aroma reminds me a lot of hickory smoked beef jerky with a little extra brown sugar and honey on it. Mouthfeel is surprisingly light. Flavor nice sweet light flavor then comes a big meaty smoked flavor and a slight roasted bitter finish. Overall, excellent beer.

(Bottle). Intense smoked Italian ham aroma. Color a gorgeous dark reddish brown. Flavor a symphony of smoke, malt, and hops,without undo bitterness until the finish when a slight smoky bitterness emerges. Fantastic stuff.

My first foray into smoked beer and with pure luck. Extremely flavoursome, distinctive smell of a strong peaty whiskey lwith a flavour like a cross between smoking tobacco and pipe tobacco but without being bitter. Excellent beer, one i will be recommending.

Bottle. Haven’t tried too many smoked or marzen beers. But this one seems to be pretty high quality. Looks great, with a dark red color and a thick tan head. Aroma is intense, smokey campfire. Nice smoked woody malt flavors. Lots of character, but not my favorite style. I can appreciate it for what it is though.

Oily smoky nose, some brown sugar notes. Color was dark brown with a hint of red, the head was large and tan. Taste is malty sugar and smoke, not sure if the bitterness comes from hops or the smokiness, but felt very well balanced in its flavor. Had decent carbonation, medium mouth feel, and a long smooth finish. This is a very unique and tasty beer. The smokiness is not overwhelming, it plays with the other flavors well and has complexity. Would pair excellently with the right foods such as BBQ, any smoked meat, and I would guess maybe chocolate? Worth a try for sure!