Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Weizen - Brauerei Heller-Trum / Schlenkerla

mmmbirra

Italy

3.88/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Very nice looking burnt sienna. Almost completely opaque with a frothy head that billows over the rim of the glass. After a bit it dies down somewhat but maintains a solid inch of foam for the duration.

The aroma starts off with the standard Schlenkerla beechwood smoke, though it's not nearly as pungent as their marzen, and has a pleasant hefe weizen yeast spiciness that lingers in the background. I didn't think this combo would work out as nicely as it does.

The taste again has smoke and wood right up front, and perhaps some slight roast, with the hefe weizen creaminess and spiciness in the background. It's hard to believe just how well the smoke and banana esters work together. A slight tingle on my tongue from the carbonation keeps it light and eminently drinkable.

Full-bodied for the style, but goes down quite easily compared to other weizens. A little smoke lingers in the back of my throat after swallowing, giving this one an abnormally and wonderfully long finish.

Definitely up there as one of my favorites hefes, though it's really more of a dunkel weiss and as such more of a cold weather beer.

Edit: after having a few more bottles over a couple of weeks, I've put this beer into perspective. A solid wheat beer, with a nice smoky element, but nothing oustanding.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 17:58:26 | More by mmmbirra

Liquoric3

Germany

3.65/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Agressive pour, nice 3 finger head that lasted quite long time. Colour is brown almost like a Dunkelweizen. High carbonation typical for Hefeweizen.

First smell you get is smoked malts like in all the the other Schlenkerla beers. Bacon comes to my mind but there no typical flavours like banana or clove.

Little banana in the taste, spicy more like pepper and a slightly bitter finish which I don`t like in my Hefeweizens. You don`t get so much smoke in the taste like the smell indicated.

Then there is a medium lasting smoke flavour on the palate.

It is not bad, but I l prefer other flavours im my Hefeweizens and I also think the smoke goes better with their Urbock or the Märzen version.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 21:48:33 | More by Liquoric3

Robalypse

4.08/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance:
Caramel color with a huge head that leaves heavy lacing on the glass.

Smell:
Campfire, smoked meats, the woods on a cool, fall night. This is most definitely one of the most unique, but pleasent smelling beers I've encountered so far.

Taste:
As promised by the smell, there’s a taste of smoked bratwurst up front which might not sound that appealing in a beer, but works surprisingly well. The aftertaste bears a bit of a smoky, maple syrup taste. The alcohol in this beer seems imperceivable which is in line with the relatively mild alcohol content.

Mouthfeel:
Medium bodied, light carbonation, quite smooth with just a bit of a fizzy sensation going down.

Overall:
This is definitely a tasty and distinct beer. I gulped a pint down in a matter of minutes, which speaks to its smoothness and drinkability. Despite the strong smoke overtones, it has a refreshing quality. Still not something I’d want to have frequenting my glass because of the distinct flavor, but it could definitely enter into my beer rotation. Would go amazingly well at a barbeque on a summer night, due to the smokey taste and refreshing quality. Considering the price point isn't too harsh, it's certainly worth checking out.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2012 01:15:33 | More by Robalypse

OF001

4.35/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

500mL btl. poured into a tulip.

Dark earthy pour with light ruby tones and a massive, thick, stable and long lasting head that is absolutely amazing. The head comes is a dense as a nitrogen stout, with uber tight bubbles. Good tan lacing.

Smells of smoke and light wheat sweetness. Not overwhelming but I would have liked a little more depth, but for a smoked beer its what I expect, I have been a little stuffed up so that doesn't help.

smoke, lightly wooded but more oily BBQ smoke, like from meats and bacon fats. Smooth with a medium bitter hopping on the finish. Mild sweetness and hints of spice. Chocolate and over roasted dry coffee; french blend.

Smooth to start, thinner than I expected, with a high crisp note (mainly of the roasted coffee, reminiscent of caffeine in a dry espresso roast bean) just past the middle and a dry CO2/hop dryness on a short zesty and tight fizzy finish.

As I said, more on the nose but it may be the fault of my nose, but I still would top it out at 4.75. I would like more creaminess and more body, on the mouth feel, but I guess it is a marzen so stylistically it is correct. In the taste profile more wood and a little less oil, but that is a personal preference, I love wood smoke. Its an intro rauchbier, the marzen is a waste for me, give me more body and more smoke and more smoke and more smoke and body...and smoke. The 4.35 average it gets is generous considering my tastes it would only be about a 3.8-3.95

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 10:25:16 | More by OF001

MattSweatshirt

Texas

4.13/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Took a one beer break from the Märzen at Schlenkerla with this.

It has a big fluffy white head on a super cloudy and dark bodied beer. Laces wonderfully. Proper.

Sweet banana and clove seems to battle with the smoke with being the dominate aroma until you taste i. It seems the smoky/meaty flavor dominates the banana and clove in the taste.

There is a lively carbonation and medium body.

This was lovely. There's a good Weissbier base working here and the added smokiness just ups it.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 07:27:32 | More by MattSweatshirt

udouche

4.75/5  rDev +21.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

16.9 oz bottle in 16 oz Weizen Glass

A - Pours rich sweet potato colors. Stays cloudy after settling. Solid inch and a half lite weight head. Minimal lacing.

S - Pungent smoke at obnoxiously delicious levels. Bacon, Wood, Dry Aged Meats. Some sweet accents of malt and carmel.

T - Camp fire as you take it in opens up with dark fruits and hint of sour apple. As it sits on your tongue you really taste the grassiness of the wheat that lightens it. Washes dry with a subtle nuttiness you swore you tasted on the tip of your tongue.

M - Very lite and crisp. Carbonation resonates under your tongue with an slight effervescence.

O - Of the three (Marzen, Urbock, & Weizen) Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbiers this is the most balanced and approachable to a rauchbier novice in my opinion. I could session drink this one, where the other two are tasting beers.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2012 02:38:52 | More by udouche

BEERMILER12

Maine

4.05/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a slightly hazy dark amber color with 3 fingers of head

S: Starts off with a good deal of smoked malt, with some wheat as well. A light fruitiness comes through, but the smoke steals the show

T: Much more mellow than the nose, with quite a bit more wheat than in the nose. The smoke is toned down a bit, but is still the most prominent factor. Wheat to start, followed by swift smokey tones that lasts well into the finish

M: Medium bodied with moderate-high carbonation

O: As usual with this brewery, a solid smoke beer. I think this style is a little too light to really utilize the smoked barley, but it's still good nonetheless. I prefer the marzen and urbock, but this is still recommended if you like rauchbier

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 04:14:12 | More by BEERMILER12

acevenom

Louisiana

4.23/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Samuel Adams perfect pint glass. Pours dark toffee brown like a dunkel with a thick white head. It appears to be well carbonated. The aroma is of light smoke and wheat malt. I don't get any expected weizen notes like banana and clove. The taste is more reflective of a weizen with notes of the smoked malt. I get some of the banana and clove pairing with the mild smokiness of the malts. There are some chocolate notes as well. The body is light with moderate carbonation. The finish is smooth and clean. The drinkability is high. This is an excellent beer.

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 04:35:37 | More by acevenom

seanyfo

United Kingdom (Scotland)

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

50cl bottle poured into a standard weissbier glass at Kachelofen,Bamberg

A - Dunkel chocolate body with a 4 finger tan creamy head. Lacing/head retention is good.

S - Light bacon note, lots of milk chocolate. No obvious classic weissbier notes.

T - More familiar notes here. Banana/clove backbone with chocolate notes coming through. Hint of bacon lingers but very subtle. Its sweet overall. Clean refreshing finish.

M - Medium carbonation/body

D - This was very tasty. Classic weissbier flavours with a nice chocolate/smoked mix of side notes. Was very tasty with my "lumberjack" pork fillet.

Serving type: bottle

10-15-2012 18:34:20 | More by seanyfo

LiquidAmber

Washington

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a Celebrator pokal. Pours a rich orange amber with massive carbonation strings rising through the glass. Three finger fine off white head that continued to slowly build until settling into a long lasting cap with massive lacing. Nice smoked aroma with hint of smoked meat and malt. Very faint wheat. Flavor is light wheat with complex smoky wood elements, finishes somewhat dry and smokey. The smoke dominates the light wheat and malt flavors, but is still pleasant; the maltier styles seem to blend their character with the smoke a little better than this and I miss the weizen flavors. Still a pleasant smoked beer from a great brewery. Nice medium body with a hint of creaminess.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2012 04:27:42 | More by LiquidAmber

Bung

North Carolina

4.03/5  rDev +3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

500ml. Kind of an orangy/tan with a billowing off white head. Almost looks like some Belgian pour

Aroma, smoked beach wood dominates. Smoked pork, grainy malt, some buttery toffee.

Taste, very woody up front, with the smoke as well. I think the clove accentuates the woodiness. Some toffee and a hint of chocolate even. Less meaty than the other versions.

Lighter bodied than the others from Schenkerla, more carbonation as well. Definetely the easiest drinking though. A slightly more refreshing Rauchbier.

Put this one off till last because I assumed it would have more wheat beer characteristics that I don't care for as much. That was a mistake as this easily stands up with the others. Though Urbock is my favorite now.

More similar to some of the Scandanavian smoked beers.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2012 01:52:04 | More by Bung

Dave1999

Virginia

4.13/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a dark red with a yellow hue when you hold it up to the light. There was a big white head which died to almost nothing in seconds.

The smell is smoked meat, this really powerful.

The taste is smokiness, then the wheat and lemon of the Weizen. Smokey and sweet.

The mouthfeel is medium bodied with medium carbonation.

This is a very good beer I've tried all the rauchbiers from brewery and they're all great.

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2012 00:19:38 | More by Dave1999

Misanthropy_Sipping

Nebraska

4.5/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

It's rare that I openly say that I love any particular style of beer. But smoked/rauch.... I love them. This smoked weizen was pleasant surprise.

The smell is dominated by the smokiness. I believe beechwood. It isn't stinking with smoke and doesn't overpower or waft over the entire room. It is light, but it is pretty much all smoke. Which for me is no problem. I really enjoy that smell a lot. Very woodsy.

Unlike other weizens the colour of this is deep for a wheat ale. Amber gold edges, but a nice reddish brown colour in depth. Very nice to look at.

On the weizen the smoke dominates the tastes as well. It just bears down on all of the common wheat beer flavors until the end where the twang of weizen pulls through nicely to remind you that you are not simply drinking a boatload of smoke. There is a tad grassiness that seems to wander and weave through the entire beer which is also very nice. A small amount of very delicate banana wants to pull through but it is stomped on by the smoke. the grass and banana hints liven things up a bit among the smoke though. But like I said, the smoke dominates this beer... clearly.

The bubbles are not over the top but it is definitely well carbonated, maybe slightly more than the average wheat beer.

Overall, another great beer from Schlenkerla. If you are looking for huge smoke in a lighter package, this is it. If you are looking for rauch in general, Schlenkerla is forever a great decision. If you do not like smoke in your beer, do not even think about touching this to your lips.

Serving type: bottle

09-18-2012 02:56:56 | More by Misanthropy_Sipping

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.95/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A: Pours a hazy medium brown in color with some garnet red highlights when held up to the light and some moderate amounts of visible carbonation. The beer has a foamy three finger tall beige head that reduces to a medium sized patch of extremely thin film and a thin ring at the edges of the glass. Light amounts of lacing are observed.

S: Moderate smokey aromas are present in this beer, though it smells like there might be a couple of different woods used in the smoking process. Very light hints of iodine.

T: There is a light presence of wheat underneath the flavors from the smoke - there are the flavors of a couple of different woods used in the smoking process as well as a light hint of iodine flavors. Not as intense in smoky flavors as many of the other beers in the style which makes it a little easier to enjoy.

M: Light to medium bodied with moderate amounts of carbonation. Smooth.

O: Easy to drink and enjoyable - this would pair exceptionally well with any kinds of smoked meat (great complementary flavors) like BBQ or bacon. I enjoyed this beer shortly after enjoying a grilled hot dog and burger and that matched very well. I like the fact that the smokiness in this beer is not overwhelming.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2012 01:49:03 | More by dbrauneis

Gatch

Massachusetts

4.28/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A: Deep amber-brown in color with a tall, fizzy, off-white head that settles quickly into no lace and little retention.

S: Roasted, smoked malt, smoked meat, earth. The wheat gives this beer a noticeable difference from the Marzen. Not as smoky/roasty as that beer, either.

T: Smoky, meaty, earthy, salty, woody, heavily roasted malt dominates, as expected. Like the nose, the wheat stands out and makes this is bit more mellow. Much lighter on the smoke than the Marzen so this might be a great introduction to the style for someone who hasn't had this type of beer before.

M: Super smooth, massive flavor, and the right amount of carbonation. A pleasure to drink.

O: Not complex but highly enjoyable. This is one of the beers in the style that can convert people and make them drinkers of Rauchbier. I certainly am now.

Serving type: bottle

09-03-2012 23:26:26 | More by Gatch

TheRealBigC

Nevada

3.55/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours a murky brown. Smoke is big on the nose and the taste. The wheat properties peer through, but in a lot of regards it's hard to distinguish from its Marzen brother. I can tell that this one isn't as thick, but the smoke character, which is a major part of the beer, is almost identical. I'm overstating this a bit, I know. Overall I do like the Marzen better and this one doesn't seem to be a necessary try for all, but it's still an exemplary rauchbier.

Serving type: bottle

08-25-2012 17:58:21 | More by TheRealBigC

devilben02

North Carolina

4.08/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a murky chestnut brown color with a dense but foamy beige head. The aroma is a robust combination of smoked meat, earth, crusty bread, and only a whisper of a wheaty tang. The flavor similarly features a rich, smokey complexity, and yet rather than being overpowering, it provides more of a soft, comforting woodiness. With the smoke largely dominating the flavor, the wheat is not featured, but merely provides a light, dry cereal sweetness. The texture is light on the tongue without being watery, and a fine, prickly carbonation cuts through the meaty substance. Overall, the smoked characteristic is apparent up front, but it is well controlled, making this a beer that I would be happy to have again.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2012 14:20:55 | More by devilben02

NightINgale

Quebec (Canada)

4.23/5  rDev +8.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

500ml bottle poured into a tall hefeweizen glass...

A - Pours like a slightly darker version of a dunkelweizen: cloudy brown body, with a rich and dense beige head. Okay head retention.

S - On the nose, you get a pretty powerful meaty smoke aroma (bacon, smoked meat, sausage), as well as some banana, caramel, and a bit of clove. The smokiness isn't as intense as in their Marzen, though.

T - Mm, this tastes like a good dunkel weissbier that has an additional meaty smoky layer to it. I'm getting sweet overripe bananas, some caramel, a hint of dark chocolate, and some slight clove spiciness. All the while, it still tastes smoky, with hints of smoked pork sausage or lap sang tea. Very bready and meaty in the finish.

M - Light-to-medium body to it. Moderate carbonation, no taste of alcohol. The beer leaves a slight smoked meat sensation on the palate.

O - I really liked this one! It's not as smoke-forward as their Marzen and still tastes like a good (probably dunkel) weissbier.

Serving type: bottle

06-03-2012 02:17:27 | More by NightINgale

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Jeez-bejeez! This beer likes to suds-up and spill out all over the glass and onto my gym shorts! Quick pause to grab paper towels, dammit!

Pours a cloudy chestnut/mahogany color with the most dense fucking head on a beer that's not from a nitro-bottle. The head is beige and creamy looking. This mug did me well (except for the wet shorts!!!!). 4.0

Woah! Like a campfire weizenbock! Smells like cured sausages, bonfire, banana, mild clove, and light vanilla. Smells amazing! 4.5

More smoke than anything, just like a rauchbier proper. A little more interesting than the standard Schlenkerla offering. Backdrop banana, clove, and toffee compete with the thick layers of bacon-y smoke. Smoked caramel and browned bananas. Exceptional! 4.0

Pretty much a medium body with some nice bubble-action. Drinks with a Heavyweight Belt. 4.0

I already love the Märzen and this one might top it (need to do a Heller-Trum side-by-side-by-side-by-side soon). Such a fascinating brew! Will pick this up next time I see it, for sure. 4.0

Serving type: bottle

05-31-2012 03:51:59 | More by thecheapies

Hopfenpeter

Maryland

4.45/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The color is a cloudy, brownish gold, with a off white creamy head building about two fingers high. It dissipates slow, leaving spotted lacing.
The smell is smoked bacon, and some fruit background, like orange.
The mild smokey flavors are up front, sweetened by orange notes in the background. Yeast flavors take the middle, while the finish is a mild combination of everything.
Nice medium to light bodied Hefeweizen with exceptional flavor!

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2012 03:03:26 | More by Hopfenpeter

secondtooth

Indiana

4.4/5  rDev +12.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Cloudy rusty amber, with a huge and slowly dissipating head of off-white carbonation. Lace is spotty.

Nose is definitely smoky, no question. I get a salty bacon character up front. Very unique and somehow appealing.

Taste is sweet and smoky, like a mix of open pit barbecue woodiness, with some fruit in there somewhere. Odd but very nice. Seems light in body, but most certainly heavy on flavor. There's a sharpness in texture, too, suggesting the wheat making its presence known among the smoky-delicious malts. This is a unique and delicious beer!

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2012 15:15:45 | More by secondtooth

HalfFull

California

3.38/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

500 ml. bottle poured into a pint glass. Pours a copper amber with a bit of haze and with a decent cap of foam. Offers firm retention and more so lacing through the pint.

Aroma is intriguing as wheat and smoke combine. Smoked notes are less than otherwise experienced with this brewery, yet matching the style within a style rather well.

Flavor has wheat and citrus up front, finishing with a good dose of smoked malts on the finish. Overall I would say that this style of beer is a bit less conducive to the smoked malts vs. the other offerings by the brewery. The wheat/banana and smokiness don't clash per se, yet they aren't the natural mates that smoke and doppel might be for example.

Overall an interesting Weizen but still an average Rauchbier. Or at least an average style to attack with smoke.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2012 02:08:39 | More by HalfFull

bluHatter

Michigan

4.63/5  rDev +18.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A: A nice deepcopper brown, just slightly cloudy (smoky?) with an exceptionally large head. The bubbles pour into the beer and make for a really milky, delicious looking pour. Be careful because the bubbles don't stop rising... easy to over pour this beer as I nearly experienced. The head is big bubbled and foamy. The head stops shrinking when it reaches about one finger. That last bit lingers much longer. Interesting character to behold.

S: Musty oak, burnt lumber, old wood, a crackling campfire. Really amazing depth here.

T: A lot of burnt character comes through, like burnt oak or a slight bit of burnt pine, smoked malts, lots of different woods come to mind. Really interesting.

M: Really excellent fine carbonation, which makes it feel a little milky and full bodied.

O: This is an exceptional bier. I've never had anything quite like it, but now that I know what I'm in for, I look forward to trying more in this line.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2012 03:36:36 | More by bluHatter

UCLABrewN84

California

3.85/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a slightly murky dark honey orange with a 2 inch foamy light tan head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace slowly drip into the remaining beer on the drink down. Smell is of smoked grain, smoked meat, smoked cheese, and some slight band-aid aromas. Taste is of smoked meat/cheese up front with a definite wheat presence in the middle and finishing with a smoked wheat aftertaste. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good rauchbier that still allows the wheat used to come across in the flavor.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2012 01:20:05 | More by UCLABrewN84

tony223366

California

4/5  rDev +2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Color is a dark amber/caramel color. The beer itself is fairly cloudy, which should be expected from a wheat beer. Lots of action from the carbonation and of course an amazing head. In my weizen glass it stands proud, tall and resilient.

S: Huge smokey aromas and some lighter aromas from the wheat come across too. Man that smoke/bacon aroma smells good with the richer, dark barley malts. Some grains are present too.

T: This is the first time I've had Schlenkerla's wheat rauchbier and it's great! I love the more faded smoke flavoring in conjunction with the slightly acidic/sour flavors that come naturally in the wheat beer. It ends up feeling much lighter on your palate than some of their heavier offerings. Not quite as sweet as it smelled (which is a good thing). I do get some light caramelization but it's more so just that char.

M: Light and refreshing with lots of carbonation. Fantastic!

O: It was no surprise to me that I love this because I love all of their beers. I'm dying to try this with a warm bbq soon! Actually what I really want it with is a bbq chicken pizza!

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2012 18:13:10 | More by tony223366