Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock

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

500ml. the color is tawny red brown. short lived off white head. robust smoke aroma was anticipated, but caramel malt is also noticed. just a hint of sweetness in the back. not as smokey as the marzen. excellent balance. just the right amount of biiteness to keep the sweet malt in check, smoke is present but not detracting. good stuff.

(draught, at the Schlenkerla, Bamberg) darkest ruby colour with a bubbly off-white head. aroma of smoked meat, roasted malts, with light notes of oak and herbal hops. flavour is mostly strong grainy malts and smoked meat, with notes of caramel, oak and herbal hops. strong, semi-sweet, lightly alcoholic and almost chewy body, with smooth carbonation and a light roasted-bitter finish.

Pours medium amber with a soft white head. Smoke carries this whole beer, the base has a soft caramel note, but plays out a bit watery under the smoke. I do really enjoy these beers, they pull of a woody dry smoke that is meaty and natural, almost cigar like at times. Overall enjoyable, but the kind of beer you have to plan for, might not pair well with everything.

Bottle. Moderate molasses smell for the malt, light resin and leather for the hops and yeast, strong smell of smoke, toffee, pot roast and a German deli. Head is small, creamy white, with fair lacing and is mostly diminishing. Color is clear dark brown. Flavor starts moderately sweet and lightly acidic, then finishes moderately acidic and lightly bitter. Palate is medium, watery but almost creamy, and has a lively carbonation. The smoke puts this beer over the top, although i didin’t get a whole lot of Urbock out of it.

Bottle. Poured a deep brown color with some deep red highlights and a moderate off-white head that faded to a bubbly layer and left some spotty lacing. Aroma of bacon, smoked malt, charred wood, and some light brown sugar. Smooth, light entry with some lightly sweet brown sugar undertones that lead into a meaty, smoky middle with some dry burnt wood and a touch of sweetness on the finish. Low carbonation. Smooth on the palate, but a bit thin.

Sample @ Coles Octoberfest 2008, Buffalo NY. Pours a ruby brown color. Aromas of sausages, jerky, smoked meats, smoke. burning wood. Taste is heavily smoky, malts, smoked meats. My favorite of the 3 I had that day

Amazing Pure roasty smokey spiced ham nose. Flavor is smoked ham. This certainly gives the marzen a run for its money! I’ll have to do a side-by-side to figure out which one I prefer. It’s a shame that they are both so pricey...

16.9 oz bottle. Clear orange brown with a beige head. Nose is smoked bratwurst, rubber and light lagery lemon. Oily medium light with a tingle. Taste is sweet smoke, malt and apple. Dry pithy finish. This absolutely screams for a nice sausage platter. Beautiful use of smoke.