Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen
Schlenkerla (Heller-Bräu Trum GmbH)

Sharp smokey notes surround a sweet malt character. Interesting and unique. Not for the faint of heart!

"A truly unique smoky beer experience" indeed. My 4th of this brewer's beers and a delicious one. I do wish there was perhaps a bit more sweet to the malt presence. I was recently fortunate to have a 2012 bottle of their doppelbock, so the bar is set silly high. Another very tasty beer here.

 

Poured cola dark brown with a good tan head that dissipated slowly.
Covid has mostly robbed me of my smelling ability so nothing here, I assume it's pretty good!
The taste was barbecued marzen - smoked malt somehow evokes barbecue sauce and to top that, it works astoundingly well in this beer. No bitterness, but there are undertones of grassy flavors (none of this sounds good to non beer drinkers, does it) The bready malts are reminiscent of rye bread, and all of it together makes for a really good flavor, I mean, they cram a metric ton of flavor into the 5.1 ABV.
The feel was excellent, sufficiently viscous to carry the taste with just enough carbonation to keep it lively and without harshing the mellow.
I can see why some people really love the style. I don’t know if I will ever love the style but I certainly appreciate more than I did. Good beer

Great brew, nice subtle flavor. Nice hints of smoky

Son in Law had this and we both split one.
LOOK: Pours a deep mahogany brown in color with a tan head. Retention is at best average, side glass lace in minimal.
AROMA: Molasses burnt coffee, burt toast.
TASTE: Very smokey, more burnt coffee and molasses
The fmmouthfeel here is very drying and overall not in my wheelhouse. to much smoke.

 

L: Pours a deep amber color with very good clarity. The pour yields 3 fingers of khaki head with pretty good retention leaving a nice ringed and spotty lacing on the glass.

S: Beechwood smoked malt is prominent complemented by a rich bready malt character, notes of caramel malt and brown sugar, a hint of dark fruits, and a minimal hint of herbal noble hop character bleeding through all the malty goodness.

T: Big notes of smoked beechwood, a bit of toasted malt, rich bready malt character, hints of dark fruit (I am getting fig), notes of fresh cut hay and earthy noble hop spice on the backend and finish.

F: Medium to medium-full body with medium carbonation. The mouth feel is nice and smooth with a light dryness on the finish.

O: Another great beer from Schlenkerla. While this is not my favorite beer from them this one is still a winner presenting a wonderful smoked malt character with rich bready malt. The hop bill contributes a subtle noble character that complements the malt bill perfectly. Recommended!

or all the beer whisperers out there, this brew will have you smelling smoke like a bloodhound on a brisket hunt, and while you can't quite put your finger on the exact smoke flavor, you know it's good enough to make a Texan proud.

But hold on to your taste buds, because this beer is about to take you on a wild ride. It's sweet, it's bitter, it's smoky, it's smooth - it's like a roller coaster of flavors! And just when you think it's all over, bam! The smoke flavor hits you on the way out like a ninja in the night.

This beer is like a full-bodied lover - it covers you completely and leaves you feeling satisfied, and while it may not be as smoky as you expected, it's still a smokin' good time. So go ahead and give it a try - your taste buds will thank you.

Appearance: Pours a clear chestnut color with a one finger beige head; excellent retention and a wall of lacing

Smell: Bread and caramel balanced by an ashy character

Taste: Bread and caramel forward with a hint of molasses underneath; through the middle, the ashy aspect develops and leads to a balanced finish between the sweetness and the smoke

Mouthfeel: Medium body with moderate carbonation

Overall: Not as ashy as the others from this brewery I have tasted but the balance is excellent

 

 

Dark brown near black color with just a bit of red rust when held at the light. Just whiter than cappuccino head that leaves thick lacing on the glass. Nose is bonfire, beef jerky, raisin, fig jam, smoke, more smoke, wood, log cabin in the woods. Taste is smoke and dry at the beginning, with some sweet malt towards the middle and then finishes on burnt wood, meats, molasses, ham. Feel is light to medium bodied. This feels like it should be had with food, and I didn't... so I guess I have to go get more.

 

 

Can from Schaller and Weber on the UES NYC. Pours a clear very dark amber brown with a finger of creamy off-white head that sticks around, nice lacing; smell is smoke, charcoal, burnt wood, chopped wood, hint of biscuity brown bread malts; taste follows the nose with smoke, burnt wood, biscuity malts, brown bread malts, molasses, and caramel; feel is is light, creamy carbonation, dry finish. An excellent smokey, malty, barn burner.

 

 

Appearance: Pours a clear, dark ruby to brown color with a moderate tan head. SRM of 18. (3.75)

Aroma: Strong and smokey aromas of smoked leather, ham, with some dusty cocoa notes. (3.50)

Flavor: Strong and smokey flavors of ham, leather, some dried meat and cocoa powder. Lots of smoke going on here. Relatively dry and clean. (3.75)

Feel: Medium-bodied, strong carbonation. Lots of smoke lingering on the palate, relatively dry and clean. (3.75)

Overall: One of my first Rauchbiers. Tons of smoke going on here. Lots of smoked ham, bread malt, some dried oak, leather, and cocoa powder. Clean and dry with a lot fo smokiness lingerine. This one would be perfect for around a fire, but otherwise the smoke aroma here is a bit overpowering. Perhaps this style/flavor needs to grow on me. (Rating: 3.59)

A classic smoked beer!!! Schlenkerla beers and Alaskan Smoked Porter are among my favorite beers of all time, The smokiness and rich malts are done wonderfully!!!! The Rauchbier Marzen was poured from a 500 ml bottle into a pint glass, It featured a dense mahogany color with a lot of reddish light coming through. The head was big and frothy...lots of "nooks and crannies" like an English muffin. Head retention is excellent and there were thick bands of frothy lacing on the glass, The aroma was very good, rich bready malt and smokiness, but not as good or complex as the taste. The flavor was wonderful, smokiness, bready malt and a "meat" aspect, sort of like roast beef!!! Many people say this beer should be paired with smoked meats, I venture to say it tastes a bit like smoked meats!!!! The maltiness was done just right, not too much sweetness to take away from the smokiness. Mouthfeel, again, is wonderful. Rich and smooth, no negative alcohol presence and the smoke is great on the tongue. A classic, I had it with a lamb dinner and it was a perfect pairing with a meat dish.

 

Pours a dark reddish brown with thick, tan head.

Smell is malty and smoky with some sweet hints. Notes of brown bread, smoked ham, leather and citrus peel.

Taste is malty, bready and smoky. Notes of peat, heather, brown bread, smked ham, leather and a solid bitterness. Slightly mineral on the finish.

Mouthfeel is medium, smooth and well carbonated.

Overall, a masterfully balanced smoked lager, powerful but not overpowering.

 

 

 

 

A classic smoked German Marzen. First time I had this was in Garmisch Germany and was delighted to find it in the USA at Total Wine and More. Looks a dark amber color Marzen. Smells like a evening next to a smoldering fire. Tastes just the same with almost a hint of smoked almonds. The smoked scent is carried from initial smell to first sip. Was well balanced throughout and highly recommended with smoked red meat.

 

 

Look: dark brown with a cream head

Smell: smokey malty some hops

Taste: smoke charcol, malt

Feel small bubbles prickly

 

An easy pour from a 500ml bottle is all it takes to reach a fat finger of tan creamy foam with many large bubbles. Average retention with drooping streaks of lacing. Clear dark reddish brown with ruby highlights. Beautiful in front of flame.

Light smokey BBQ smell with caramel malt and floral hops greets the nose. Baked pitted fruits in the rear.

Rich caramel malt is ahead of smoked ham during the semi-sweet and mildly bitter taste. As in the smell some baked fruit shines through, the hop flavor is bold yet balanced by smoke. The finish dries a bit and becomes neutral, meaty smoke and a more pronounced hop bite linger a while.

Medium light bodied with ample carbonation to the end. Alcohol is hidden behind the smoke and hops. Under the smoke is a fantastic Marzen, malty rich and well balanced. This is my second Bier from Schlenkerla, not as big as the Urbock, maybe a bit more balance from this one.

 

Review Date: 25 Sep, 2022
500 ml bottle
Glassware: 0.5 L Festmug
Temp at Pour: 51.8 F
ABV: 5.1 %

Look:
Clear chestnut brown that becomes red-tinted mahogany when held to a light. 2+ finger creamy tan head slowly dissolves into a thin but consistent cover after I had to take a sip to keep from overflowing the glass. Good lacing is left on the sides of the glass.

Smell:
Bready malts and a deep, fairly intense smokiness. The smokiness brings to mind a well-used fireplace or a smokehouse, and also smoked cheese and smoked meats. Faint scents of dry hay can barely be detected in the background. As time goes on, notes of toasted bread and toasted caramel emerge.

Taste:
Smoke leads the parade (of course) and is present throughout the sip. Toasted bready malts jump right in and join the party. Then some earthy bitterness shows up and starts to quickly dry things out. Things finish on a dry, toasty, and (surprise!) smokey note. A lightly sweet toasted caramel flavor comes thru as the beer warms. As does an interesting faint chocolate note.

Feel:
Very smooth and somewhat creamy. Body is medium-light.


Overall:
An excellent Rauchbier that is pretty much the benchmark for the style. Nice and heavily smoked, but yet quite drinkable.



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Review Date: 23 May, 2022
0.5 L Bottle
Glassware: 0.5 L Willibecher
Serving Temp: mid 50s F


Look:
Clear chestnut brown that becomes red-tinted mahogany when held to a light. Big 3-finger creamy tan head that lasts and lasts. And lasts. When it finally does begin to dissipate, the glass is covered by the lacing.

Smell:
Bready malts and smoke. Wonderful deep smokiness that bring to mind a well-used fireplace, a smokehouse, smoked cheese, and for some reason, smoked Lebanon Bologna (it’s a PA thing). As the beer warms, a toasted caramel sweetness emerges.

Taste:
Fantastic. The aforementioned smoke leads the parade and is present throughout the sip. The bready malts make themselves known shortly afterwards but this time they are toasted. Then some bitterness shows up and helps dry the sip out. Things finish on a dry and toasty note. Just like the nose, a sweet toasted caramel flavor comes thru as the beer warms.

Feel:
Very smooth and somewhat creamy. Body is medium-light.

Overall:
An excellent Rauchbier that is pretty much the benchmark for the style.

 

Purchased by @ozzylizard directly at the brewery in Germany. Appearance is a reddish brown that is semi-translucent. My pour was pretty neutral, but resulted in loads and loads of dense, khaki colored head with outstanding retention and lacing. Even 5 minutes after pouring this I almost don't want to disturb it it looks so wonderful.

Before I get into the aroma, full disclosure that I love smoky beers. With that said, holy crap I love how this beer smells. It's all campfire smoke but in the best possible way. It's one dimensional in that it's all smoke, but there's a lot of complexity within that smoke. Between the appearance and the aroma, I'm practically salivating in anticipation of what this will taste like.

The taste does not disappoint. It's smoky malts up front, but less smoky than the aroma. There are some really nice malt notes mid-palate, then all kinds of different campfire notes over an extraordinarily long finish. There's a peaty, Islay scotch vibe going on, which I love. Very tasty beer. Medium feel and smooth going down.

Overall, this is outstanding. If I had enough skill to rate purely to style, I'd have to think this is close to perfection. As it is, rating more to taste, this is one of the best beers I've had in quite some time.