Aecht Schlenkerla Eiche
Schlenkerla (Heller-Bräu Trum)

Aecht Schlenkerla EicheAecht Schlenkerla Eiche
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From:
Schlenkerla (Heller-Bräu Trum)
 
Germany
Style:
Rauchbier
Ranked #26
ABV:
8%
Score:
91
Ranked #7,418
Avg:
4.07 | pDev: 12.53%
Reviews:
519
Ratings:
1,106
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 10, 2024
Added:
Dec 13, 2009
Wants:
  92
Gots:
  107
Facts on Aecht Schlenkerla Eiche:

While for the classic Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier traditionally beech has been — and still is — used, the malt for Schlenkerla Oak Smoke is kilned with oak wood. The resulting Schlenkerla Oak Smokemalt has a smoother and more multilayered smoky note than the intensely aromatic beech smokemalt. The hence complex smokiness in this double bock is paired with the multifaceted bitterness of finest Hallertau aroma hops. With 8% alcohol and amber color it matures for months in the 14th century brewery cellars into a special treat for smoke beer lovers. As one of the last traditionally made smoked beers, Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier is a passenger in the „Ark of Taste” by SlowFood®.

Brewed with 100% Schlenkerla Oak Smoke Malt
40 IBU from finest aroma hops
Bernstein (amber) color
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by UrbanCaveman:
Photo of UrbanCaveman
Reviewed by UrbanCaveman from Ohio

2.51/5  rDev -38.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5
1 pint .9 oz bottle, poured into a mug at approximately 40 degrees F.

Appearance: Pours a clear golden red, almost orange-tinted, and forms quite a thick pale beige head that leaves crazy amounts of lacing as it slowly recedes. Bubbles line the bottom of the glass, and rocket upwards sporadically rather than in columns.

Smell: Dark, dank smoke swirls out of the glass, redolent with scents that remind me of a pork shoulder going in my smoker on a spring afternoon. There's a sweetness underlying the smoke, like caramel. The smoke scent itself, while allegedly oak, reminds me more of burning a mix of peat and hickory.

Taste: Oh my, that is a smooth-drinking beverage. The taste opens with a sweet caramel malt that seems to have been aged in oak barrels, which is suddenly overtaken in the middle by the taste of fire-blackened pork still dripping with fat. As it progresses, the meaty essence gives way first to charred and ashy wood, and by the finish, to a peaty soot. While there are allegedly Hallertau hops present, I can find no hop character to this beer (which is a plus for me), beyond the slight earthy-peaty tone to some of the smoke. There is no indication at all that this contains alcohol, just sweetness and smoke.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and quite drinkable, this feels like silk along the palate.

Overall: My first encounter with a Schlenkerla, and assuredly not my last. I'd call this more of a rauchbier than a doppelbock, as the primary characteristic is the smoke - there's nowhere near the level of bready, toffee, caramel, nutty, or dark fruit flavors I would associate with a doppelbock, nor the sticky mouthfeel. I greatly enjoy this beer, but I am forced to rate it as a doppelbock because that's how it's classified, and therefore that's the style-specific ranking it will appear in. Were this lumped in as a rauchbier, use of oak instead of beech notwithstanding, my rating would be far higher - easily over a 4 in every category.
Feb 10, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of TheDoctor
Reviewed by TheDoctor from Canada (QC)

4.27/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Serving: Bottle
Best before: Sept-2024
Consumed: Mar-8-2024

Pours a gorgeous crystal clear ruby red in the glass with a bountiful tan head of miniscule bubbles. The aroma is sticky smoke tar, smoked salmon, red fruits, and an overarching mineraliness. The flavor follows suit with a generally sweet malt flavor, a hard water thinness to the middle, a whiff of astringency and a lingering woody finish. It has medium carbonation, a medium body and a woody-smoky finish. An excellent smoked beer.

There is definitely a much different character here than in their other beers due to the use of oak smoke, but since it's also a different base style it's hard to put your finger on exactly what it brings. To me it comes across as more astringent (without being astringent with a capital A), sharper, and more "food-y" I think. This one really reminded me of smoked salmon more than the other, lower ABV ones remind me of smoked food. Like the others, though, this is a beer that needs to be tucked in to to fully appreciate. After you get accustomed it's great.

Whether that's cause you start to feel it or because your senses get beaten into submission is beside the point!

4.5...4.25... 4.25...4.25...4.25
Mar 10, 2024
Photo of FRANKHAZE
Rated by FRANKHAZE from Florida

4.1/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Smokeyyy
Feb 25, 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 amber color, slightly unfiltered appearance in the glass, with a full, creamy tan head that provides some lacing and a nice little cap on the beer. Beautiful beer.

The nose is very smoky, as expected, but not the smoked meats I got in my previous beers from this magnificent brew, but a true kilned smoky aroma that is wonderful and accompanied by some stone fruit and wheat bread notes. I am literally slobbering.

The taste precisely mirrors the nose, with that oaky smoke accentuating the dark cherry stone fruit flavors and the substantial wheat bread flavor at the back of the palate. This is so smooth and rich - luxurious is a very apt descriptor.

The mouthfeel is medium and slightly creamy, perfect for this beer. I am a HUUUUUGE fan of this brewery and their smoked beers. They are truly a treat for anyone that enjoys the rauchbier style, IMHO.
Feb 24, 2024
Photo of Saluki
Reviewed by Saluki from Florida

4.58/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Recommended by a fellow peruser of European singles at the local Total Wine. In a chilled glass, beautiful bright color, keeps a light head, smells incredible. Can definitely taste the smoked malt. Rich thick malts as expected. Delicious mouth feel with the malts and just the right abv. The abv does come through, which is OK for me. Will complement the smoked turkey for dinner very nicely. Not my lane right now, but will definitely try another highly ranked Schlenkerla asap.
Jan 29, 2024
 
Rated: 4 by Dethark from England

Dec 26, 2023
 
Rated: 4.25 by FLBeerGuy from Florida

Dec 26, 2023
Photo of KomodoDragon
Reviewed by KomodoDragon from Virginia

4.23/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours dark amber, big of white head, decent lacing. Earthy wood smokiness prevalent, dominating most other scents. Toasted malt forward up front with hefty and complex mouthfeel. Crisp robust middle, with alcohol warmth. Some sweetness towards the end. Some burnt breadiness lingers well past the finish. Nice raunchier.
Dec 25, 2023
Photo of KP7
Reviewed by KP7 from Massachusetts

4.48/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Pours deep amber. Tons of oak smoke aroma with ham, bacon, and cured meats. The smoke moderates on the palate with a nice balance of roast, char, molasses, some dark fruit, and bitter chocolate. Really nice rauchbier.
Dec 24, 2023
Photo of dcotom
Reviewed by dcotom from Iowa

4.48/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Poured from 500ml bottle into a Willi Becher glass. Deep, clear reddish brown, with orange highlights and a thick off-white head. Excellent retention and lacing. Big aroma of smoke bursts forth upon opening the bottle, but it's not pungent or overpowering. (Think hardwood fire on a cool autumn evening.) Mild smoke on the palate, mild hop bitterness, and notes of umami and smoke lingering on the finish. I paired this with beef hot dogs, and it performed amazingly well. Overall, an outstanding beer.
Dec 19, 2023
Photo of JamFuel
Reviewed by JamFuel from Sweden

4.55/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Pours a dark reddish brown with soft, soapy head.

Smell is smoky, malty and sweet. Notes of smoked sausage, brown bread, leather and rye.

Taste is rich, malty, sweet and smoky. Notes of cured meat, rye bread, leather and caramel with a solid bitterness.

Mouthfeel is medium to full, smooth and sticky with good carbonation.

Overall, a fantastic smoked beer, rich and bold.
Dec 16, 2023
Photo of muchloveforhops3
Reviewed by muchloveforhops3 from Montana

4.23/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
single 500ml bottle courtesy of my cousin; split with my brother into two Sisu ipa-style glasses

Pours a beautiful deep chestnut with a small light tan head; a huge smoky nose leads to a balanced yet robust profile; plenty of baker's chocolate, roast, and light smoke; hearty, satisfying mouthfeel; unique and very well-executed doppelbock; would absolutely have again

review date: 06.04.22
bottle date: not captured
Dec 10, 2023
Photo of BJB13
Reviewed by BJB13 from Maryland

4.79/5  rDev +17.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
500 ml bottle poured into a Spiegelau wheat beer glass.

L: Clear dark amber, 2 finger khaki head, foam is dense, persistent and leaves lace, lively in the glass.
S: Big smoked malt aroma, smoked meat and spicy hops, bread malt.
T: Malty and medium sweet with a smokey tang, dark bread, spicy and woody hops, dark fruit, finishing with light char and medium hop bitterness, alcohol is well hidden,
F: Medium-body, creamy over crisp with a finishing bite, mostly clean finish.
O: Outstanding depth of flavor, nice mouthfeel, a real treat.
Dec 01, 2023
Photo of Nass
Reviewed by Nass from Florida

4.15/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
The pour is umber brown with an adequate amount of carbonation. The body is medium to full. The taste is smoked barley malt, dark pumpernickel bread, cigar char, dark chocolate, molasses, & figs. In addition to, the 8% abv is well hidden. Overall, this was another winner from the A class German brewery Aecht Schlenkerla. Cheers! A-
Nov 27, 2023
 
Rated: 4.22 by SFNC from North Carolina

Nov 04, 2023
 
Rated: 4.24 by Roberto11232 from New York

Aug 24, 2023
 
Rated: 4.36 by ummswimmin from New Jersey

Aug 18, 2023
Photo of SudsMcE
Reviewed by SudsMcE

4.77/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
8/12/2023 Helen, GA. Purchased at at restaurant in Helen Ga to follow my meal which consisted Wurst Platter with a Dunkle. Was a little surprised by the intense Smokey smell and flavor even though our server said that it was “very Smokey”, he wasn’t wrong. I enjoy Smokey Scotch, Bocks and DoppleBocks so this flavor was familiar just didn’t expect it from a beer. I really enjoyed the drink and it was perfect as dessert beverage. I will certainly buy again.
Aug 13, 2023
Photo of tobelerone
Reviewed by tobelerone from New Jersey

4.16/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Medium to slightly thin body for the style, lovely chestnut brown body with a smallish off white head that fades quickly but a small ring of foam persists. The color of the beer is very close to the color of the bottle!

For me this beer really shines on the palate and it’s surprisingly deft mouthfeel. At first glance and sip I anticipated a letdown as I’d hoped for a hefty burly kind of darker dopplebock. Instead this medium weight beer is packed with flavor and almost refreshing in character. The smooth smokiness marries with a dark bread and bitter chocolate malt note beautifully. Medium length aftertaste with some bitterness that tidies it all up and has you back for another sip. Nice beer and a terrific change of pace.
Aug 07, 2023
 
Rated: 4.04 by alexsergio from New York

Jun 25, 2023
Aecht Schlenkerla Eiche from Schlenkerla (Heller-Bräu Trum)
Beer rating: 91 out of 100 with 1106 ratings