Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen

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

Obviously the aroma is very Smokey and covers any other smells that might be there. The appearance is dark brown and the head is persistent. The flavor is also very Smokey and somewhat like beef jerky. The palate was not as thick as I wanted but still its not thin. A very unique beer that’s a must try like it or not.

50 cl bottle. No yeast in bottom. Reddish brown colour. Aroma of great smokness. Nice light flavour of malt and some smokeness. A really great smoke beer.

(Draught at Akkurat, Stockholm) Dark brown colour with ruby notes, off-white rocky head. Malty, smokey, almost tarry, nose with notes of smoked ham or bacon and a hint of Ardbeg Islay whisky. Malty, smokey taste with a balanced bitterness, dark bread, dried fruit and smoked ham. More smoke in the nose than in the flavour. More complex, and fairly well balanced, taste with a nice bittersweet finish. Easier to drink than expected. Nice one. (7/4/7/4/13=3.5) Rerate: (Draught, unfiltered, by gravity at Akkurat, 26 Sep 2007) Dark brown colour with ruby notes, frothy pale brown head. Smokey, malty nose with notes of smoked ham or sausages and burning fires. Smokey, malty taste with full flavours of smoked ham or sausages, tar, hints of chocolate and discreet notes of spicy hops in a fairly dry finish. A lot better unfiltered, more of everything and still better balance.

(500 ml bottle: $3.50 at Holiday Wine Cellar in Escondido, CA) With the powerful aroma of smoked meats, especially ham, you know exactly what this beer is going to be about just on one quick sniff. I can’t pick up anything else in the nose, but then again, I don’t have the most sensitive sense of smell. While the flavor is most certainly very smoky, the lightly sweet and caramely malt is there initially, but tends to get lost very quickly because the smoke really picks up and finishes very strongly. So the only chance to really taste the malt is immediately after sipping the beer, and only when the beer warms up. Otherwise, it’s lightly roasty, somewhat bitter, and the smokiness makes for a slight harshness in the finish (but in a good way). Body is medium, but just seems thin for how much flavor this beer is packing. Carbonation is about average for beer, but keeps the smokiness from weighing down the palate. Deep amber in color with excellent clarity. Over an inch of light tan head forms on the pour, gradually settling to a thin but complete layer, leaving patchy lacing behind in the process. All in all, very enjoyable, especially the lingering smokiness on the palate. Although I think I enjoyed the flavor of the Märzen a bit more than the Weizen, the Weizen had more complexity. The smoke and caramely malts of the Märzen seem to go hand in hand, but the wheat offered more of a counterpoint to the smoke.

Bottle: Pours a deep brown with an amber hue in the light and a great dense tan head that lasts throughout. The aroma of this stuff is like being out in the woods with an open fire, burning freshly chopped wood, smoked ham. It captures an open fire character with such accuracy. Amazing malt depth is evident in the smoky layers of meaty & chewy flavors. The Smokiness of this is a bit less pronounced than the Ur Bock, but it’s presence is perfect. Robust wood character smothers the malt the entire way through. Smoky beef jerky , hickory rub, and tons of beechwood smoke. Perfectly balanced and creamy. An unbelievably great beer!

Pours a beautiful deep clear garnet, the head is frothy, long lasting, the lace clings to the glass in sheets. The nose is ’SMOKIN’ Like Hams from the Hills of Virginia, malt, caramel. Front is sweet, the top medium, the finish is lightly acidic, a tad dry, nicely hopped, and quite pleasant. Thanks Herbjones - Do me a favor and tell your dad: ’This Dinky Dau Squid is going snoopin and poopin at zero dark thirty, on Friday once the Eagle Shits, found a place that has ba mui ba and ham and mothers, owned by a retired gunny cannon cocker, see if he want’s any? Ranks #219 on my current 1000 master beer list.

Smells like an old creosoted telephone pole or the inside of my granny’s smokehouse. Dry, smokey, maybe a little almond -- beyond that my taster is overwhelmed. Palate went a bit watery, but it did have a bit of dark chocolate and chicory.

Very smokey, hickory bacon aroma. Like huffing a charcoal grill. Works well for the aroma but a little too much in the taste. Certainly unique but really you taste nothing more than the intense smokiness.