Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock
Schlenkerla (Heller-Bräu Trum)

Re-visited November 30th, 2019

Original ratings: 4.0 5.0 5.0 4.0 5.0

The appearance rating goes up if only because the head exudes density, richness, and lasting largeness. The smell is just the classic woody smoke that it is. I have yet to experience such a rich and alluring smoked beer aroma than what Aecht Schlenkerla offers, so easily a world class, 5-point epitome rating in the smell category. The same reasoning applies and retains my feelings for the taste. The feel maintains Fits top-notch rating, too.

The intensity and balance of this niche style of bock beer is beyond reproach. There is something to be said to develop a unique styling of beer, and better still is to be able to maintain its level of quality and appeal throughout the years. This beer is a truly unique classic.

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Clear, dark reddish-brown body with a nice head. Heavenly aroma (for a smoked beer): charred wood; charcoal; deeply smoked sausage. Outstanding oily smoked flavors infused with a richly roasted malt character; nice bitterness and sweetness throughout, too. Medium-heavy body; rich and chewy.

I'm a big fan of smoked beers, and this beer is one of the premier examples of what a strongly smoked beer can be. The beauty of this particular beer is that the undeniably smokey flavor and smell can be so well-tamed and balanced with the other malt and hop notes (primarily the malt). Yes, it is definitely about the "rauch", but there is so much more with this beer, and so you get some honest balance and complexity with the style. A deservedly prime example of the best of this type of beer and well-worth the experience.

 

 

bottle into glass
Healthy and ample looking ivory colored head. Deep, chestnut/auburn colored brew. Smelling like heavily smoked cheese and a bit of apple wood smoked bacon with some dark roasted grains and wooded caramel underlying, for the aroma. Much smoke, nearly burnt wood and nearly burnt barley malt with a bit of caramel, makes up the taste. Plenty of nearly burnt smokey wood, for the finish.

 

 

One pint bottle. Pour an impenetrable red brown with a tan head and lacing. Big smoke and malt smells. The flavor layers of smoke and sweet are unique and marvelous contrasts in a single mouthful. Rich slightly sticky mouthfeel. Excellent beer.

Dark as the night. First taste is malty. Then the smokiness comes in.
Maybe it’s me. Maybe it’s the beer.
But never tasted the smokiness likes this. Very, very good. Different but still very good.
And the smokiness. Well, I feel it into the night. And then next day.
Oh, when does a beer feel like this.
Not much, not often. But happy I can be with the smoke tonight. Doesn’t happen like this often.
I repeating myself right? Oh well. It’s good

No date on bottle, into a Barrique tall pils glass.

Pours a deep brown, almost black, with fantastic off white foam. Aroma is beechwood smoke, smoked deli meats, and rich malts. Flavor is similar, very smoky and heavily roasted malt, but with little bitterness or sweetness. It's all in the interplay between the savory smoke and softly sweet malts. I really enjoy the base beer under the smoke, which seems to be an amber lager with lots of brown bread and honey. The smoke of course colors this beer heavily, presenting heavily upfront and on the finish, but never obscuring the sweetness and richness of the beer underneath. Feel is great, not very lively, which helps with the perception of the beer below the smoke. Body is low, it's very easy to drink, and I found that the complex/difficult flavors weren't hampered by a lack of drinkability.

Overall, a legendary beer that I was fortunate to find close to home, when I had originally thought Schlenkerla didn't make it to Tennessee. I enjoy rauchbier, and this one feels like an exceptionally potent example. I've had Schlenkerla before, but never enjoyed it this much.

 

500ml bottle.

Pours dark chestnut with a short-lived head of off-white. Smoky and malty in the nose. Medium bodied with a tacky mouthfeel. Toffee-laced malt on the palate with plenty of smoldering oak. Finishes malty and smoky.

 

I truly love this German beer - it was a great experience. As far as smoked beers are concerned, it was simply one of the best if not the best I have had to date. Great dark looking brew with frothy head and lacing. The smell was smoky and sweet to go along with a similar experience on the tongue. The mouthfeel was smooth, surprisingly smooth yet crisp. A truly great smoked beer...

 

RB transfer

A phenomenal dark brew that checks every box. Alcohol flavor is not pervasive by any means. A refreshing beer for any climate, any time of the year. A dense, dark, delicious, dynamic doozie that is a must try for any fans for Germans. Excellent brew. No wonder the brewery has existed since the 14th century. It a fucking goodass beer.

 

Dark brown color; medium-sized, dense, beige head. Aroma of smoked ham hits you from the start, with malty notes in the background. Taste follows the aroma, however, malt is more obvious. I like this strange style, but it is certainly not an everyday beer.