Schlenkerla Krausen released in the US

I used to sell the B-United portfolio. Schneider and Einbecker stood out for my drinking. But Aecht Schlenkerla was what taught me that German beer was not a monolithic entity.

 

I've only seen the Schlenkerla Helles cans and it was in two places: Liquor Outlet in Boonton and Decicco & Sons in Armonk NY. Liquor Outlet got one order of the Helles over the summer and it was the April 2018 canning. Those same cans are still on the shelf. I bought them a couple of times, the last being around July and it was still tasting great. Seven months later it's possible they still might be good but at $13+ for a 4-pack I'm not rolling the dice to find out.

 

I’ll be on the lookout for this.

 

My mistake! Well I’m like 10 minutes from Philly so this might not be very helpful for you:

Roger Wilco in Pennsauken
Joe Canal’s in Marlton

Cheers

 

So it's just the kräusen then? A little confusing that they called it a Helles-Märzen-Kräusen blend.

Yes it's served in the summer in Schlenkerla. To be honest it's not my favourite, it's quite brash and bitter for my taste. I've drunk the Helles quite a lot from draft and it's much better. The Fastenbier which they serve during Lent is very good. Hopefully that stays here - some things should remain a privilege and a challenge - drinking Schlenkerla in the brewery tavern is one of the world's most satisfying experiences.

 

Fastenbier is available in the states.

 

B. United is not a distributor, they are an importer. In New Jersey their brands are distributed statewide by Hunterdon.

 

On draft? From wooden barrels? In a tavern that's over 500 years old? In one of the most beautiful cities in the world?

Some things remain sacred.

 

No I was just replying to your comment. Who pissed in your rauchbier this morning?

 

What did you think of the canned Helles? Personally I wasn't a fan of it, too smoky compared to what I've had in bottles/draft.

I recall it was unfiltered in the can as opposed to filtered in the bottle/draft that we used to receive here. This has me wondering if the Krausen will also taste different than the bottled version (obviously we don't receive the bottled version).

It's lunch time over there.

Also, what's wrong with piss in your Rauchbier? How do you think they make the Krausen?

 

That's overrun with tourists? Who said that?

Sorry, just matching snark for snark -- I love Bamberg, but I enjoy all of the places I visit, even my local taverns -- especially the ones that bring in wooden casks now and again.

 

I actually never got a chance to try it. Only one store in Denver got any and it might as well have been on the other side of the planet from me. I have friends that claimed it was good, but I don't know if they have the same reference points.

With this one, my local pub (the Bull & Bush in Glendale) is likely to get it. They get kegs from Mahr's, Uerige, Schneider, and Schlenkerla regularly so I know it will be served properly and it'll be fresh when it's on. It could be different and I'm sure freshness and the lack of atmosphere will play a role, but I'm still eager to try it. The B&B did a weekly Franconian gravity keg line-up 7-8 years ago that was as close to the real thing as I've had in the US.

 

Thanks for the clarification. I inaccurately referred to them as a distributor of imported beer.

I’m curious about the distinction though; if they import the product and sell it to distributors around the country, isn’t that in and of itself a form of product distribution? I know “beer distributors” are the local guys with the trucks who actually deliver it to liquor stores but isn’t importing a product then selling it to other distributors a form of product distribution? Not trying to be snarky, genuinely curious.

 

It's a legal definition via the TTB, which licenses brewers, importers, wholesalers ( aka "[wholesale] distributors") and retailers.

Some importers DO also hold wholesale distributor licenses in certain states but, in the case of B. United in NJ, their wholesale distributor is Hunterdon.

And, that's my point, the concept that only a few NJ retailers get the beers in question and people have to drive long distances is crazy. Any retailer carrying Hunterdon brands like Stone, Dogfish Head, Lagunitas, etc., (so, most any liquor store frequented by BA's) can also order the Schlenkerla beers and other B. United brands.

 

I drank the Krausen at Schlenkerla in Bamberg in September and it was good, but I liked the regular Helles better. I'll still grab some when I see it because it is good, unique for the US market, and I know it will be relatively fresh [for US distribution].

 

That's a good point, but this one is also a pretty pricey case if you ordered it from a local shop.

 

Anyone notice the Smoke from Oak brew on their website. That is a new one to me. On the look out. Would like to have some of that for the holidays

 

It's the Eiche Doppelbock. Been around for a few years now. Very enjoyable and a different kind of smoke character than their other offerings.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/263/54731/

 

You're on Long Island, right? Total Wine would be a good place to check; they tend to carry the whole lineup.