Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen
Schlenkerla (Heller-Bräu Trum)

Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier MärzenAecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen
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From:
Schlenkerla (Heller-Bräu Trum)
 
Germany
Style:
Rauchbier
Ranked #24
ABV:
5.1%
Score:
91
Ranked #7,387
Avg:
4.07 | pDev: 14.25%
Reviews:
1,266
Ratings:
2,632
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 06, 2024
Added:
Jul 11, 2001
Wants:
  217
Gots:
  386
ABV may vary slightly year to year.

Aecht Original Schlenkerla Maerzen Smokebeer, considered the classic example in its category, has been brewed for centuries in the baroque town of Bamberg in Franconia (Bavaria/Germany). Following the most ancient malting traditions, all its select barley malts are kilned over a fire of beech wood logs at the Schlenkerla maltings. Brewed in classic copper vessels and matured for months in 14th century cellars, Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier is a truly unique smoky beer experience.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by JaredWolgemuth:
Photo of JaredWolgemuth
Reviewed by JaredWolgemuth from Pennsylvania

4.84/5  rDev +18.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
Among the 6 other taste testers on the beer in my group, I was the only one that enjoyed it: and boy did I ever- ranked as one of my all time favorites it has an outstanding smell, the initial taste is an earth shaker. If you like smoky flavor- please don't die before you sample this. Outstanding from start to finish- I can't rain enough accolades on this gem.
Dec 25, 2010
More User Ratings:
Photo of milkshakebeersucks
Reviewed by milkshakebeersucks from Maryland

4.16/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Dark brown appearance with a trace of red; average size beige head left good lacing. Intense, woodsy aroma that hinted of pepperoni. Smooth, roasted malt taste with modest bitterness. Medium-to-full bodied moderately carbonated mouthfeel. Long lasting finish that starts to show some balance.
Mar 06, 2024
Photo of Lexluthor33
Reviewed by Lexluthor33 from New York

4/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Beige colored head in glass with a small lace.
Aroma of what else , but smoked ham and malts with meaty pork.
Taste was smoky with malts, lingering pork, meat with a feel that was medium in body and a dry finish.
The carbonation was also medium.
Masterpiece beer.
Feb 28, 2024
Photo of WickedBeer
Reviewed by WickedBeer from Alabama

4.14/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Can't believe I'm just now having this for the first time. Smoked meat on the nose; breakfast bacon. Palate is malty & mildly sweet. Subdued smoke but definitely still present. Clear märzen influence. Very solid, an absolute classic.
Feb 27, 2024
Photo of Steve555
Reviewed by Steve555 from Wales

4.06/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Tan head on a dark brown red body. Smells of fried bacon. Taste is a mild smoke with some bitterness but surprisingly not sickly or over powering but smooth and balanced. Drinkability is pretty high for such an unusual brew. Pleasant. Have drunk numerous times before.
Feb 21, 2024
 
Rated: 4.17 by Kost97

Feb 12, 2024
Photo of beer456
Rated by beer456 from New York

3.91/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Novelty beer but did it for what is
Feb 09, 2024
Photo of JZH1000
Reviewed by JZH1000 from Colorado

3.88/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
500mL bottle

On the pour, 2.5 fingers of light tan, foamy head, form on top of a dark brown body that reveals a deep ruby red when held to light. Head does gradually recede, but not past 1cm.

The aroma is intensely smoky, and does indeed resemble a smoked meat. The malt also brings a sweet molasses lime aroma as well, which is almost necessary to balance the huge and lingering smoke.

The flavor, to me at least, is much more approachable than the smell implies. There is a slight dark dry fruit flavor after the sweet malt and molasses that is right up front fades, then a roasted coffee note that slightly resembles a stout comes up in the finish. Throughout, the smoke flavor is present, but less violently intense and meaty. There is a slight maple bacon thing going on in the background but it is pleasant. The bitterness is present but mellow.

The feel is much more full than the ABV suggests, but again more resembles a stout, but woth a very long and dry finish. As it first hits the palate however it is easy to put down and continue drinking. The smoke makes itself more known in the finish than during the sip.

I'll admit that at first this beer scared me, being my first smoked beer, and the sheer strength of the aroma, but the flavor of this beer is much more balanced, while still rich. Being someone who prefers dark roasted coffee, this is actually up my alley, while being lighter than most super dark tasting stouts.
Feb 06, 2024
Photo of JuanPn
Reviewed by JuanPn from Louisiana

4.22/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
it smells like smoked meat.. kind of like bacon, or sausage,
but the aftertaste, instead of bitter, in the normal sense, it's like getting a face full of wood smoke
Jan 09, 2024
Photo of paylstep
Rated by paylstep from Canada (ON)

1.58/5  rDev -61.2%
look: 1.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 1.75
smokey.
Jan 04, 2024
Photo of ovaltine
Reviewed by ovaltine from Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a rich brown color with a flossy tan head that provides significant lacing. Gorgeous rauchbier. The nose features caramel and nutty aromas, some wheat bread, and lots of savory smoke, similar to what you get in a smokehouse for cured meats. Wow.

That smokehouse flavor is most prominent on the taste, and resides on all phases of the palate, with a residual smokiness at the very back of the palate, with the caramel, nuts, and wheat bread primarily mid-palate. Absolutely delicious stuff

This manages to be savory and clean at the same time, with a medium, crisp mouthfeel making this extraordinarily drinkable. World class beer, IMHO.
Dec 30, 2023
Photo of MrOH
Reviewed by MrOH from Maryland

4.43/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Clear ruby-brown, thick, dense khaki head, excellent retention, thick bands of lace
Hammy smoke over bready malt aroma
Tastes like it smells, smoke first and throughout with malty sweetness towards to finish
Medium bodied and appropriately carbonated
There's a reason it's the benchmark
Dec 28, 2023
 
Rated: 4.06 by Taenim from Maine

Dec 01, 2023
Photo of RozzieBoy
Reviewed by RozzieBoy from Rhode Island

4.48/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
L - poured deep brown with a solid two-finger, puffy tan head. Good lacing.
S - roasty, smoky (and more smoky), nutty. Smell continually lingered. GOOD.
T - follows the nose for sure. Is it possible to taste smoke? Because I did. Wow.
F - medium/full mouthfeel. Fairly smooth. Mild dry finish.
O - OMG. I think I’m in love. Can says it’s a marzen, but I’ve not had a smoky marzen before. That said, I really liked this beer, regardless. Felt like I was drinking this near my fire pit, but I was in my living room. Must have this again.
Nov 04, 2023
Photo of Ernald_Elbertson
Reviewed by Ernald_Elbertson from Delaware

3.9/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Interesting beer to say the least. Supposedly a Marzen but honestly it's much darker than you'd expect for that, reminds me more of a Bock. Obviously the focal point is the smoked character though, and it definitely delivers. It's not entirely overwhelming, but it is very prevalent. Taste is a lot more balanced than the aroma (which is almost like liquid smoke), you're still getting some roasty dark malt flavor that accentuates the smokiness very well. This would probably go very well with Barbecue, smoked cheeses, around a bonfire, etc. Certainly something I will return to now and again, especially in these colder months.
Nov 03, 2023
Photo of stortore
Reviewed by stortore from Illinois

4.18/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
500 ml bottle into a pilsner glass. Had 9/18/23.

Pours a fairly clear darker brown color, with a two and a half inch head of creamy foam with great retention and lots of foamy lacing. Aromas of caramel, smoke- like campfire smoke, malt, spices- clove, for one. Flavors of caramel, malt, smoke- less than the nose, spices, a hint of chocolate, a little bit of a sweet note. Smooth, a good lighter medium body, well carbonated.

This isn’t as smoldering as others from them, nor as meaty, but it’s every bit as good. Like the interplay between the malt sweetness and the campfire smoke, it’s very well balanced. Have to grab another one, it’s very enjoyable.
Oct 30, 2023
Photo of kflorence
Reviewed by kflorence from Texas

3.76/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 3.75
Pours a deep, smokey reddish amber in color with a finger of off-white head on top that slowly dissipates to a thin layer of lacing. A bit of lacing on the glass as you drink, most of it slides back down to meet the beer. Carbonation looks average. About what I expected it to look like, certainly looks inviting during the fall/winter months.

Aroma is heavily dominated by burnt wood and smoke, not unlike a campfire. Intense. If you try to get behind that, there is some toasty malt notes and perhaps some dark fruits in there. Honestly upon the pour my body gave me a bit of an 'is this safe to drink?' vibe. Definitely not an aroma I'm used to and I don't find it that inviting, but it's certainly unique.

Taste is similar to the aroma. Highly dominated by a smokey flavor. It's honestly hard to move past those notes as they not only dominate on the tongue but also after the swallow. Think lots of burnt stuff. Overcooked caramel, burnt brown sugar, molasses, burnt ends (brisket). I do detect some hoppiness, maybe a bit of pine and floralness. Some dark fruits might be lurking in the background. I keep sipping more, hoping to find some more depth, but I think my tastebuds are a bit overwhelmed at the smokiness. The aftertaste is just all smoke.

Quite a nice mouthfeel. Medium bodied with soft, velvety carbonation and a hint of chewiness. It's actually a bit lighter than I expected, which does lend a bit to it's drinkability.

Well, this was interesting. If you've ever wondered what a campfire would taste like if it were a beer, here you go. I appreciate the uniqueness, and the quality, but I'm really struggling just to finish off this one bottle. It's very intense, I could use a bit more to balance out the smoke, although I suppose that is what some people like about the beer. Prost!
Oct 22, 2023
 
Rated: 4.26 by LA2ED7

Oct 15, 2023
 
Rated: 3.94 by TheIPAHunter from California

Oct 13, 2023
Photo of SlowPourInSlough
Reviewed by SlowPourInSlough

3.73/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
get brown bread malt foundation, burnt caramel, charred barrel staves and general smokiness, which particularly shows up in the nose on the exhale after each sip.

L: very dark orangey brown

S: burnt notes, lots of smoke

T: intensely smoky, burnt sugar, rye bread, maybe a hint of bacon?

M: soft carbonation

O: a well-made beer and definitely interesting but I wouldn't personally want more than a tasting glass.
Oct 10, 2023
Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen from Schlenkerla (Heller-Bräu Trum)
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 2632 ratings