Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen

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

I was pretty excited to find this at Acland Cellars only about a month after I was drinking the stuff at the pub in Bamberg. Ahh... the memories... I actually didn’t really like the bottled version when I had it in Sweden but this one didn’t disappoint. I love the colour of this stuff - dark ruby-brown, beautiful. Head retention’s only OK. Aroma is beautifully woody and smoky, with a nice maltiness and some vanilla in behind it. This is the one smoked beer that doesn’t smell or taste like meat to me. First time I had this I was surprised at how light-bodied it was, but in a lot of ways this is a real feature of the beer. Taste starts quite woody, malt is there but it’s not thick at all like some others. Nicely dry with a fair bitterness at the end which really works. I really like how it’s not sweet at all (which was my main problem with the Spezial beers). It’s a stupid cliche but this is one beer that really does get better the more you drink of it.
RR: I think I’ve spent enough time there now to say that this is the best beer in Bamberg, which is really annoying because I can buy it at home in pretty good nick, but obviously it’s not the same as drinking it at the brewery tap. I’ve tried a bunch of rauchbiers now and still haven’t found anything as good as this. Absolutely classic.

Bottle. Deep brown colour. Upon opening bottle immediate whiff of smoke. Upon puring masses of smoky aromas, campfirs cured meats and smoky bacon crisps. Once your sense adjust to the smoke dark malty caramel aromas appear. Initially drinking it was almost unpleasant with the smokiness overpowering everything. As I adjusted the smoke faded away leaving a slightly sweet brew with a full body. Bizarre but after a few mouthfulls excellent. A beer to spend an evening over.

From A Bottle.Auburn in colour,medium head,aroma is of smoked bbq snorkers and malt,taste places me on bonfire night with burnt wood and fireworks and that felt good. I also found smoked meats and hops,very smooth with a bitter finish.Take me to Bamberg and let me session this from the cask,I hope I manage that one day.It just goes down so well and quick.This is ebeneezer goode.

Like it’s brother the Urbock, this beer screams smoke from the top of its lungs. It’s incredible to smell, and while it might be a bit much for some people it head dead center for me. Truly, a rauchbier for rauchbier lovers. The bottle alone reminds you of some dark cool evening walking thru the German town of Bamberg, soaking in all the goodness that is there. The beer pours out a medium brown color, one finger thick off-white foamy head, which had some staying power. Held up to the light, you could see some garnet and a touch of brown. Aroma is smoke. Pure and simple. Campfire smoke, meat smoking over s grill, burning paper. Mouthfeel is creamy and smoooth. Flavor is more smoke, but its not overly done. Just right. Reminds me of a very well done smoked black forrest ham. Underneath it all are some sweet malts which really binds it all together and makes this beer really a treat to have. Outstanding beer.

Looks great in the glass with a medium head. Aroma is rich and smokey. This beer has some character.

This unusual beer is excellent for grilling, and nearly as good for drinking. It takes a few sips to become fully acquainted with this beer, but it quickly grows on you.

From the 1 pt. 09 fl. oz. bottle with no noticeable brew/expiration date or lot number. It pours a rich but slightly cloudy brown with a tremendous two finger tan head. It remains puffy and foamy nearly to te end. The aroma is an amazing scent of smoked cheddar cheese and nothing quite like anything I have had before. Decent to bold mouthfeel. The taste is just as smoky as the aroma and incredibly unique. Malts and hops are hard to find but the smoky taste is satisfying. What a fabulous Weizen!

Aaaah rating 500.. Here goes... ~Pours a dark brown with creamy tan head. Nice lacing ~Scent of smoked ham and malts, and woodsy tobacco. ~Smoked malty wood flavor. Malts are toasty. Malts and smoke compliment each other. Neither is very aggressive. Light hops. ~Light bodied, very smooth. Smokey sweet malt finish. ~This is a damn good brew. Wasn’t real sure what to expect. It could stand to be a bit thicker. I bet this is excellent straight from the cask. I love the smoked malt and wood flavor. I wish it had a bit more ooompf, but then it might be overkill. Excellent brew. Glad It is easy to find around here. Right on the mark for its style. This is a mans brew that should be eaten with red meat!