Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen

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

Pours to a clean red-hued brown body with a light beige head. The aroma is smoked black-pepper gouda cheese and burning paper. The flavor is sorta strange. It’s like it’s trying to be a smoked cheese but also is pretty light. Not really strong and smoky like I thought it would be. Still, pretty unique and definitely drinkable. The palate is lightly dry, smoky. I’m not likely to buy again, but would drink it again.

Deep smoky aroma, like smoked sausage or bologna or other fatty smoked meats. Brown to darkish red in color with small off-white head. Medium carb with medium oily palate. Sweetish start (like a light maerzen) with medium hops character. Sweet smoky fatty finish and after. One of the best smoked beers I’ve tried (though I haven’t tried many yet).

Very very smoky aroma - almost too much. This also tastes very very smoky. Hard to tell how its like a marzen, mostly this beer is just too much smoke. Still okay though.

[re-rate] Whao! Smokey nose, like a smoked ham. Guess what? - it takes like a smoked ham as well*. That’s about the only thing you can say about this brew. Definitely challenging and hard to get a handle on. Very tough to match with food - best with plain bland things, like a pretzel. I gave this good points because it is a well made beer: sophisticated for sure…but enjoyable? I’ve had more enjoyable smoked beers. I can see this being a beer you crave after you get used to it.

Deep amber and copper coloured body with a dense tan head - very nice looking. Aroma of potent smoked peat, smoked salmon, roasted malt, toffee and more smoked wood - crazy. Medium-bodied; Nice malty flavour with some toffee and nuts thrown into the largely smoked flavour that really stands out near the end. Aftertaste shows some complexity with a bit of oak and vanilla along for the ride with the smoked flavours. Overall, a nice and very potent flavoured beer - really true to the style, and practically a definition of the style. I sampled this 500 mL bottle purchased from German Gourmet in Arlington, Virginia a few days ago, sampled on 01-May-2009 on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

I’m a fan of big, smoky single malt whiskies, so this beer is right up my alley. A beautiful smoky aroma from the moment the bottle is opened. Pours into a gorgeous ruby-brown colour with a moderate head. More of that smoky smell - I could just sit and sniff it for hours. Inital crisp taste gives way to the smoke as it slides down your throat, and rolls into a nice, dry finish. I had some alongside a lunch of hearty borscht, smoked gouda and potato bread, and I was in heaven.

500 ml bottle. Pours a dark ruby with a brilliant glow when held to the light. Small beige fizzy head with decent retention due to the fairly active carbonation. Aroma is everything that you could ask for from an unapologetic smoke beer. Campfire smoke, beef boullion, toasted malt, and bacon. Summed up in one word- mouthwatering! I could just smell this beer and be happy for an hour. Flavor has alot of toasted malt, fairly dry at first taste. Then the smoked meat bomb that is the beauty of this beer hits you like a train on the finish. Minimal amount of alcohol on the finish that lingers around forever. Mouthfeel is medium bodied with very active, yet soft, carbonation yielding a fairly creamy texture. This is the tops as far as Smoked beers go. Truely amazing, everything you could want from a Smoke beer.

Pours copper color with a quarter inch tan creamy head. Aroma is of smoked meat, kielbasa, maybe even cheese. Smells great if I’m eating dinner but I must admit I’m a little hesitant to drink it. For the style though I would guess that this is the perfect aroma. Flavor is smoky of course yet malty compares to a porter yet lacks the sweetness of one but very full of roasted flavor. As you get deeper into the beer the strong smoke flavor seems to fade and the malts grow stronger. On the palate it is a little dry but very smooth. It is definitely a sipping beer but a good tasting experience as I had never even heard of this style. I liked it and I’m glad I gave it a try!