German Beer Appreciation 2025

Enjoying an easy drinker from Schlenkerla. This has a nice cherry vibe from the smoke that goes well with the caramel malt base.
Cheers!
Tom

 

"This has a nice cherry vibe from the smoke..."



Prost!

 

The Weichsal was so mild. I know you smoke meats and i have used cherry wood for that purpose and found the smoke impartation very light there. Generally, i find the other Schlenkerla beers to be very strong and it requires about a third of the container to be consumed before the palate says ah, ich mag diesen geräucherten Käse. The occasional smoked beers found in the wild are not as heavy with the smoked malt bill and relatively easier to recalibrate to.
Cheers!
Tom

 

Drinking Ungespundetes Lagerbier from brauerei Wagner of Merkendorf. 5.3% abv. I've had this beer once before 10 years ago when I ordered a mixed beer box online from Bayerische Biere. So I was excited to see this beer become available as a limited release here and be able to try it once more. The bottles are quite fresh too. As per the brewery the 09.03.2026 best before date means that the beer was bottled on September 9th.

The beer has a straight up golden color in the glass. It looks quite attractive. The aroma is fresh and malty with a slight yeast note, combined with an aromatic hop note that is herbal, not bright, yet fresh. In the taste the hops are in the foreground with a fresh herbal hop taste that is quite tasty and refreshing, it also has a hop bitterness that is distinct and which certainly must be around 30 IBUs. The elevated original gravity of 12.7% in a 5.3% abv beer is evident in the mouthfeel of the beer, which is quite full and round for the strenght. The malt flavor is not so distinct as one would perhaps expect with the higher original gravity. I imagine there is at least some Munich malt in this beer to give it that deeper golden color, I don't pick up on any roasted malt flavor although a small amount would not be possible to rule out. The hops are definitely in the foreground here. The beer is dry despite the ratio of abv to original gravity which also hints at the generous hopping of this beer. When it comes to the beer being ungespundet and lower than normal in carbonation I don't really pick up on that too much, although I am drinking this at room temperature where the carbonation will be softer anyway. It certainly foams and forms a head just as any normal beer does.

I would call this a beer that has great character and heft with a good balance of flavor. It tastes rustic, in a good way, which I appreciate coming from a small brewery. I would certainly be interested in trying the other beers of this brewery.

 

Patrik, I thought that you might enjoy watching Peter's video review of this beer.

Prost!

 

While they have recently become very rare, I usually love the in-yo-face smoked beers, and occasionally find the same beer difficult to consume even a few sips. Might be the food pairing or something to do with mood or personal physical condition, which I have come to recognize before opening a bottle. The same can be said for the intensely sour beers. The beer’s balance can be way-off if my personal balance is sound, otherwise they don’t work well.

The subtle smoke is great too, but so different as to be worthy of a style distinction, enter Groziskie or several others. For me it’s variety of experiences, and feelings of the moment.

 

The first Rauchbier I ever tried was Kaiserdom back in 1984 or 1985. It was probably the only Rauchbier imported to the U.S. at the time -- by Merchant du Vin (not coincidentally, my taste was at a sampling sponsored by MdV).

I found it horrendous. So when a traveling acquaintance wanted to take a jaunt to Bamberg some years later, I was intrigued by the number of breweries in Franconia, but intimidated by the Rauchbier.

Pleasantly surprised I was at how non-horrendous the beer was from that imported Kaiserdom. We hit just about every tasting room in Bamberg and I was a fan from the first Krug.

Fresh Rauchbier compared to aged import bottles makes a difference. Smooth, malty -- yet still carrying that smoked character. Unique and delicious.

 

For sure. I have a local here that dabbles in Rauchbier often and they have really hit the sweet spot with all of them.

 

Next Lenten season I urge the Rauchbier curious to try Aecht Schlenkerla Fastenbier (Lentbeer). It’s my favorite beer from Schkenkeria as it has a bit more malty flavor and body. If you have trouble finding it, then DM me and I’ll send you a couple (or more).

Somewhat locally Wooly Pig Farm Brewery makes a Rauchbier that is like a liquid ham sandwich. Very delicious.

 

Don’t quite understand the mixed reviews on this one. It’s pretty delightful. Whisp of smoke, malt sugars, a little sour note. Quaffable.

 

Spent a few days in Bamberg and only deviated from Rauchbier a couple times (St Georgan Keller and Guinness -- yeah, stumbled on an Irish pub). No palate fatigue at all.

 

That sour note (no matter how slight) would turn me off.

That said, is this a true Steinbier?

 

Yes, it is brewed by inserting stones that were heated over a wood fire directly into the wort.

The brewery is in far Upper Franconia north of Bamberg and Bayreuth.