Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen

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

500ml Stubby $3.69 Binny’s Orland When I’m in the mood for a Rauchbier I usually reach for Schlenkerla’s Marzen. Pours a beautiful chestnut brown with ribbons of mahogany when backlit. Tiny streams of carbonation rise to the surface as there’s tiny sediment suspended throughout. A one finger beige head formed on the pour and rather quickly fell to a solid cap. No lacing was left after the head fell but each sip did leave some decent lacing. The aroma is that of a good hardwood smoked bacon. There’s a strong presence of smoke once your nose is stuck in the glass but there is a solid caramel and fresh grain base that reminds you you’re smelling beer and not breakfast. While the smokiness is certainly there and in your face it’s tastefully done without being overwhelming. The initial flavor of smoked bacon is upfront but quickly levels out to include a caramel sweetness mid-palate and a a clean graininess toward the finish. It’s hard to believe but this beer, even with all the smoke, is fragile. All the flavors come together without one outdoing the other. I do really enjoy the mouthfeel of this beer. Seems to have a moderate body but the carbonation creates an incredibly smooth creamy finish. This beer just glides through my mouth effortlessly. This is a beer I find myself in the mood for every now and then but it’s best enjoyed with certain types of food. Smoked salmon is a great choice. That said one in a sitting is enough for me but that one bottle goes down pretty easy. Like I said earlier, if I’m in the mood for something a little off the beaten path this is what I pick up. One of the world class rauchbiers. 2/1/08

Clear, dark brown pour with tan head. Campfire on the nose. Medium bodied and well balanced. Complex flavor with notable hints of peat, oak, bacon, sausage, leather and a lingering campfire finish.

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.

Pours a hazed blackish brown hue with no head or lacing. Smells are burnt wood and earth. The tastes are in-your-face, yet incredibly enigmatic. This beer made me feel I was eating liquid Bar-B-Que with campfire ashes mixed in. Apparent carbonation fills the mouth out with good intentions. This is great to try to spice things up in the middle of a drinking session with other more typical brews. Gotta try this with steak next time.

Smells mesquite. Flavor of pig roast and smoke from campfire wood, So good and a true mans brew.

500 ml bottle. Pours a nice dark brown, with an off white head that slowly fades. Aroma is very strong with smoke and roasted malts. Flavor is very smoke forward, there is a character of smoked kielbasa, bacon, coffee and some earthy notes. Hops are well integrated and barely noticeable. Mouthfeel is silky but thin. Finish is long with more smoke flavor. Overall I really like this beer, it has big bold flavors.

Boom! I feel like a kipper. I am smoked out. This is lovely. Intense and dark. Of course it is smokey and all the better for it. So many mental connections with meats like sausages and smoked hams. It has something of a honey glaze about it. Huge sweetness involved. Amazingly interesting and amazingly delicious.

Appearance was very dark maroon with a thin white head and great lacing. Smell was modern ashtray and oak. Taste was subtle smoke, much more subtle than the bottled version (which is difficult to finish). Much more drinkable than the bottled version, this one is fairly complex and definitely unique. If you’re going to try a rauchbier, it has to be one from Bamberg.