Aecht Schlenkerla Kräusen
Schlenkerla (Heller-Bräu Trum)

Aecht Schlenkerla KräusenAecht Schlenkerla Kräusen
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From:
Schlenkerla (Heller-Bräu Trum)
 
Germany
Style:
Rauchbier
Ranked #33
ABV:
4.55%
Score:
90
Ranked #10,341
Avg:
4.02 | pDev: 12.94%
Reviews:
40
Ratings:
69
Status:
Active
Rated:
Feb 02, 2024
Added:
Sep 24, 2011
Wants:
  13
Gots:
  0
Also known as Helles Märzen Kräusen Blend.

In the world of German brewing, Kräusen refers to the intense proliferation of bubbles and foam formed during fermentation of a young or “green” beer. And Aufkräusen (literally to kräusen it up), refers to a historic brewing technique in which some green beer is added to a fully-matured lager. This is a very old and very typically German tradition, and today even English-speaking brewers refer to this technique as krausening. Krausening brings the vibrant freshness of young beer to the more refined, austere flavors of a fully-matured lager.

Aecht Schlenkerla Kräusen starts out as normal Helles Schlenkerla Lager and matures for months in the old rock cellars underneath the brewery. Just before filling it is blended using the before mentioned "Kräusen" technique with classic Märzen Rauchbier. The result is an unfiltered, bottom fermented and amber color Märzen Lager hybrid with a vibrant and slightly smoky flavor.

IBU: 30
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Durge:
Photo of Durge
Rated by Durge from Connecticut

3.7/5  rDev -8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Mar 03, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of TheDoctor
Reviewed by TheDoctor from Canada (QC)

4.06/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Serving: Bottle
Best before: Sep-2024
Consumed: Feb-1-2024

Pale amber colour, fairly clear, good beige head. Aroma is smoky-sweet. As it warms and you warm to it it becomes smoked fish, toast, kinda sweetish/tangy cerealy character in the background. Flavor follows suit though the smoke character is less round and more astringent. The non-smoked malt character goes well with the beer as a while and is more present in the finish. There is a lingering smoke feel taste aroma but not as "present"/intense as it could be.

4...4.25...4...4...4
Feb 02, 2024
Photo of Derek
Reviewed by Derek from Canada (BC)

4.59/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
I can't believe this showed up at my local... The Helles & Marzen can be hit or miss this side of the pond, but this is spectacular! Very light & drinkable, but with a bit more maltiness from the Marzen.
Oct 18, 2023
Photo of Gatch
Reviewed by Gatch from Massachusetts

4.6/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
From a bottle at Proeflokaal 't Kelkje, likely the best bar in Amsterdam. Was surprised to see this bottle available as I’ve never even seen it in Germany! Just a stellar smoke beer. Easy drinking, massive malt flavor, pretty low ABV%. You really get the hybrid Helles and Marzen with the smoothness from aging. What a beer!
Oct 08, 2023
 
Rated: 4.18 by GedH from England

Aug 05, 2023
Photo of Rug
Reviewed by Rug from Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I honestly forgot that this particular Schlenkerla beer exists, so I was very thrown off when I saw it OEC. I actually thought it might have been a new one but alas, it is not. It’s pretty cool that this is a blend of two of different Rauchbiers. I imagine it will have quite the unique character because of this. Let’s get into it

Pours a lightly cloudy orange gold with 3 fingers of rocky off white head that slowly fades to a cap and leaves decent lacing

The nose is surprisingly meaty, but I really dig it. I’m picking up on aromas of smoked sausage, beechwood smoke, biscuity malt, earthy wheat, herbal hops, white pepper, grass, apples skin, black pepper, and light toffee

The smoke is a bit more subdued in taste, but that meaty character is still present. On the front end of the sip I’m tasting biscuity malt, smoked sausage, earthy hops, honey, black pepper, apple skin, light toffee, and a touch of oak. The swallow brings notes of smoked sausage, earthy wheat, biscuity malt, herbal hops, lemon zest, grass, black pepper, and toffee

A medium body pairs with gentle carbonation, resulting in a smooth yet biting beer. Finishes neutral with a balanced bitterness

This one is quite good. Not as smoky as most of their beers but that meaty character is unique for sure
Jul 25, 2023
 
Rated: 3.74 by SayBoom from Ukraine

Dec 06, 2022
 
Rated: 3.88 by TwiggyCZ from Czech Republic

Sep 28, 2021
 
Rated: 4.25 by steverx8 from England

Aug 15, 2021
Photo of aleigator
Reviewed by aleigator from Germany

5/5  rDev +24.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Pours a lighter, hazelnut brown color with a creamy, beige giant head.

Aromas are of rock sugar sweetened easter fire smoke, a light herbaceous tartness and wooden stairs among spelt grains and old flowers.

Drinks soft and creamy with a well nuanced, sparkling carbonation, resulting in a well balanced, easy drinking Lager.

Tastes of old, dusty wood among sweeter caramel and subtle, sour yeast, which establishes a unique, intriguing balance. Brings a little more toffee to the palate then, as well as a whiff of stale ground coffee and dried tobacco leaves. Finishes effervescent, smoky with just a hint of lingering salt, grain cookies and soft, yet noteable dry hops, which manage to stay on the palate for quite a while.

This is intense, not only for its rich smoke profile, but also for its world class depth of flavors, balance and soft mouthfeel. The beer leaves nothing to desire and adds a crisp tartness, which is just lovely.
Jul 25, 2021
Photo of JonnoWillsteed
Reviewed by JonnoWillsteed from England

3.88/5  rDev -3.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Blind-tasted except for the beer's name and brewery/country, zero reviews below read (yet!)...
L- Pours clear mid-amber with a nice looking 5Cm pillowy cream coloured head. ps@+10mins, the head looks like it will last forever...
S- A very fine smoke facet, fine as in much less bonfire, and more the refined smoke of a Bavarian smoked deli meat.
T- The smoke is clear and yet restrained, it leads into a toasty-dry middle and a little hoppy-dry lilt into the finish. Overall it's modestly to the dry side.
F- It feels quite light and for a beer with a smokey aspect is surprisingly refreshing. If new to the style and in any doubt about whether a smoked beer might work for you you might start it with a solid chill on it and as you slow-sip away note how it progressively opens up. Either way this is a notably easy-going example of the style.
O- A restrained and subtle smoked beer. I can imagine this going well with a plate of charcuterie + cheese.
Review1971/scoring all done, now the reveal, I get to read the lables to see what I missed!
500ml bottle BB: 02/2022 £2.85 Bought from TremblingMadness, York/UK as part of a large pick-your own consignment to London.
ps. Unusually the bottle is labelled in English as well as German. It's interesting how this is made. As a regular lager with the addition of portion of fresh or 'green' rauchbier prior to bottling. Hence it's mildly smokey and bottle-refermented.
Jul 22, 2021
Photo of StJamesGate
Reviewed by StJamesGate from New York

3.85/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Pale bright amber with clingy white legs; apple, honey + light smoke nose; slight toast + toffee, big phenolic hit, granola, yellow apples, spicy end; lively.

4 4 3.75 4 3.75

Phenols come across big on the nose - there’s ham but there’s also Band-Aids. With Helles for the base (and only krasuened with Marzen) there’s not the malt richness to balance the smoke, which ends up like German apple sauce. Gets smoother as it chills (in our sub-zero January weather.) Expiry in 10 weeks time may not be helping.

Well executed, and I love this brewery, but this is not their best.

*from notes
May 26, 2021
Photo of stcules
Reviewed by stcules from Italy

3.62/5  rDev -10%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Beautiful reddish color, with a good ivory colored foam.
Smell: the smoked noted, quite definite, is less intense than her sister marzen.
Taste: light smoed, like smodek chestnut.
More easy drinkable.
Still, a pleasant beer, without a strong characterization.
Mar 04, 2021
Photo of Sigmund
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway

3.28/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
500 ml bottle, from Vaaland, Bryne. ABV is 4.5%. Golden brown colour, large white head. Aroma of beech-smoked malts, notes of smoked sausages and burnt-out bonfires. The flavour is quite dry, moderate notes of smoked malts and sausages, moderate hops.
Jan 20, 2021
Photo of shambeano
Reviewed by shambeano from Australia

3.76/5  rDev -6.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
500ml bottle, best before 06/2021. Poured into a tulip.
Look: a bright coppery amber. About 3-4 cm of fluffy bubbly head that sticks around for a while, leaving some lacing as it subsided. Looks great.
Smell: there’s a pretty obvious smokiness throughout. Reminds me of smoky tea, deep heat and ham. A little caramel malt in there too.
Taste: malty, a little caramel, the smoke is less pronounced but there throughout and a still a main flavour, there is a little green/herbal hop at the end.
Feel: lighter than I was expecting, the carbonation is a little prickly.
Overall: quite enjoyable if a little restrained offering from Schlenkerla
Nov 20, 2020
 
Rated: 1.75 by koolkitty from England

Oct 24, 2020
Photo of TooManyGlasses
Reviewed by TooManyGlasses from Canada (AB)

4.34/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
500 ml bottle from Keg n Cork in Edmonton.
Bright slightly hazy caramel bronze pour with two fingers creamy cream coloured head (double creamy!).
Nose is smokey, ham note with underlying caramel malt and notes of rye bread.
Taste is malty, definitely smokey - smoked meat, caramel with a subtle but present hop bitterness.
Smooth and easy drinking - one drink a day limit for me, else I could certainly put a few of these back - medium bodied (fuller than expected) with nice carbonation, leaving with a lingering smokey smooth hop bite. Not sure Schlenkerla would know how to make a bad beer. (Unless you don't like smoked beer of course).
Aug 23, 2020
Photo of josanguapo
Reviewed by josanguapo from Spain

3.5/5  rDev -12.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
De Decervecitas. En copa hefe de Bavaria. Cenando (filetes de pavo) y luego jugando a Roblox con los niños (mega boob simulador) Ahumado menos agresivo de lo habitual en Schlenkerla, cosa que se agradece, no tapando el agradable fondo maltoso de la birra
Jul 29, 2020
Photo of Phyl21ca
Reviewed by Phyl21ca from Canada (QC)

4.41/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Bottle: Poured a light brown color beer with a large off-white foamy head with good retention and some lacing. Aroma of light caramelized malt notes with some smoked notes is pretty enticing. Taste is a mix of smoked malt notes with some light caramel malt and dry finish. Body is about average with good carbonation. Smoked is not as dominant as other beers for this brewery but the overall mix is great and highly drinkable.
Feb 01, 2020
Photo of drmeto
Reviewed by drmeto from Germany

3.8/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
L:
-pours a hazy amber with a big,frothy,offwhite head
-medium to high carbonation visible
S:
-sweet BBQ,bacon,nutty,malty
T:
-bready,spicy,smoky,malty,herbs with a clean finish
F:
-medium carbonation
-light to medium body
O:
Less smokey than the Märzen with a cleaner finish.
Really good stuff, as usual from Schlenkerla
Dec 10, 2019
Aecht Schlenkerla Kräusen from Schlenkerla (Heller-Bräu Trum)
Beer rating: 90 out of 100 with 69 ratings