Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Weizen - Brauerei Heller-Trum / Schlenkerla

86MonteSS

Connecticut

4.9/5  rDev +25.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

"Listen! You smell something?"

With the advent of beeradvocate.com, it's been exceedingly difficult to buy beers on blind faith. This often takes the surprise out of tasting great beers. Fortunately, I had never read a review of this beer prior to tasting it.

I was completely overwhelmed by Schlenkerla's taste. Take the best smoked meat you've ever tasted and ferment it... that's what this is like. Never in a million years would I have thought you could successfully brew such a wonderful smoke beer.

If made a top 5 beer list, this would certainly be on it. It's just too unique to overlook. From the first whiff you take, you're captivated. That's all I can say.

You really ought to try this one. It must be one of the beer community's best kept secrets.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2003 00:07:46 | More by 86MonteSS

stcules

Italy

2.75/5  rDev -29.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Muddy colour, typical of a dunkel weizen, with foam not very compact and persistent, for a weizen beer. The smell is smoke, smoke and smoke. The smoked flavour of a "scamorza" (italian smoked cheese). Smoke of green wood. The typical flavour of a weizen is still present, even if a little difficult to feel in the abundancy of the smoke. At the taste the smoke is less predominant, and the weizen feeling is more perceptible, with a little of citric (lime). Aftertaste of smoke (ma va?)Unbalanced.

Serving type: bottle

05-29-2003 10:37:49 | More by stcules

BierReise

Florida

3.83/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Nice dark colored wheat beer with thick head. Head looked like a sponge through the side of the glass with it's large bubbles. Nice beachwood smoked malt flavor with emphasis on wheat and smoke flavor. Overall a great smoked wheat but I think I like the Rauchenfelser slightly better with the addition of hop extract which gives it a little more character.

Serving type: bottle

05-04-2003 15:02:40 | More by BierReise

PhantomVodoo

Ohio

3.2/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Dark brown in color with a tan head.
Aroma of campfire ashes and roasted malt.

Taste is too much like an ashtray for my liking. Smoke flavor dominated from start to finish. Good malt and wheat backbone that's well-balanced by the hops.

Good mouthfeel. Somewhat oily.
Too much ash presence for this beer to be drinkable for me.

This is a quality beer, but just not to my liking. I really enjoy how the smoke flavor accents Alaskan Smoked Porter and Stone Smoked Porter, but I got a whole different vibe from this beer. I'm obviously not as into the smoke flavor as some BA's.

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2003 19:55:48 | More by PhantomVodoo

jackndan

Illinois

1.78/5  rDev -54.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Rauchbier Weiss Beer: A weiss smoke beer, brown in color and definitely smoky in the aroma. Very little head, what there was dissipated quickly. WOW, I do NOT get this whole smoke beer concept. It tastes like an arson investigation. Consequently, I swirled the yeast at the bottom and added it to the glass. That’s better, it went from a felony to an aggravated misdemeanor. Really bad.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2003 18:19:38 | More by jackndan

goz

Massachusetts

3.43/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Pour is a cloudy medium brown, with a huge white head that leaves sheets of lace. Aroma is smoked meat (bacon, ham, salami) with some banana mixed in. Flavor is of bacon wrapped banana, with the banana becoming a bit more prominent towards the end. Body is medium, with some pretty strong carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2003 15:53:36 | More by goz

kunzbrew

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beers pours a hazy copper color with a creamy head that last for a little while. The smell of smoked is very very strong and tastes the same. Beef jerky lovers beer. The smoked flavor does not last very long as an after taste which is good. This by far is the best rauchbier I have ever had. I plan on brewing it my self.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2002 20:04:27 | More by kunzbrew

jtw5877

Ohio

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a murky light brown with a thick white head. Smells Like a smoky wheat beer with clove dominating the wheat. I have to admit that at first the smell seemed intense,this has been a totally different beer experience for me. I have never tasted a beer quite like this. Truly an enjoyable beer. Strong flavors, and intense smokiness. One hearty beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2002 17:41:46 | More by jtw5877

Todd

Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Presentation: 1pint 9fl oz short necked brown bottle. No freshness date.

Appearance: Pours a deep, dark tawny brown (same colour as the bottle almost), crowned with a frothy, tight, off-white cream lace with plenty of retention and substance. Exceptional.

Note: there is yeast sediment in the bottle.

Smell: Soft, but distinct and bold, smoke aromas -- reminds me of spicy cold kielbasa and a wood fire.

Taste & Mouthfeel: Fairly light-bodied, with a touch of smoothness upfront that eventually turns a bit coarse on the palate, going bitty and crisping up from the beer's carbonation and a smack of wheat astringency and light floral bitterness. Malt sweetness is low, but there's plenty of body under the crisp dry character. Smoke flavours are everywhere, leaving a smooth char flavour that blends perfectly with an edge of spicy clove, wood character and splash of grape juice. Lots of residual smoke flavours rock the dry finish, hints of yeast.

Notes & Drinkability: I just love a good rauchbier, and this is one of the best. It combines the pleasantries of a tasty wheat beer with old school flavours to create one helluva an exceptional brew!

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2002 18:45:37 | More by Todd

Jason

Massachusetts

4.1/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: 16.9 fl oz bottle with no freshness date, brewed According to the Reinheitsgebot 1516 on the label.

Appearance: Tawny reddish hue with a thin lacing after an ample froth. Clarity is good and retention is at least stable.

Smell: Intense but not overwhelming smoky aroma, fresh charred wood with a light maltiness are that make-up of the nose.

Taste: Moderate body, clean and crisp. Slap of the wheaty twang plus a faint clove hits the same time as a wall of soft smokiness blankets the palate. Lightly woody, soft smoke and a ghost like char flavour add subtle complexities. Maltiness is a great base with a touch of sweetness and fresh grain. Long faded smoky after taste that land semi-dry.

Notes: A simple yet deep smoked brew, quite drinkable and pairs best with lighter dishes like apple wood smoke chicken or a mildly smoked pork shoulder laced with BBQ sauce.

Serving type: bottle

10-08-2002 19:21:58 | More by Jason

beerluvr

New Jersey

4.9/5  rDev +25.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This beauty pours with a nice healthy beige colored head that settles atop effervescent reddish-brown liquid, turning a bit murky once the residual yeast sediment is swirled/poured into the glass. Nose..ahh the nose, light wheat malts enrobed in a blanket of wonderful smokiness...very appetizing to all the senses! Tasting reveals the light body from the proportion of malted wheat used, then wave upon wave of wonderful smoke flavors coat the palate. A very subtle hop presence is tasted after swallowing. Finishes smoky, then the "traditional" weizenbier flavors, (Banana & Clove) make a brief apperance, but the finish is not as intense or as long as in the Marzen & Urbock, but is still a wonder to behold. A nice, less in-your-face introduction to the style...truly one of the world's most distinctive beers, a must-try!

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2002 16:34:34 | More by beerluvr

NeroFiddled

Pennsylvania

4.8/5  rDev +23.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Brown in color with a dull mahogany glow when held to the light. You can see the effervescence that's present as billows of tiny bubbles rise to the surface supporting a thick, creamy ivory head. The head holds extremely well throughout the glass but leaves little lace. The body is medium with a very fine and effervescent carbonation that gives a creamy mouthfeel. The aroma is outstanding with a very rich, deep, Beechwood smokiness. The flavor starts with a lightly sweet, fruity, and gently tangy maltiness that reveals some soft caramel notes as it warms in the mouth, and then a burst of soft smokiness immediately following the swallow. The smokiness lingers for a few moments and then receeds (at least partially) from the palate. At this point much of the yeast character is noticeable with a gentle clove that works extremely well with the residual smoke character, as well as some vanilla, very light banana, and soft phenolic (plastic). Very nice! The smoke character is extremely well done - never overwhelming the palate, but with enough presence to be continually noticeable throughout the entire serving. Absolutely worth trying!

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2002 17:12:48 | More by NeroFiddled

yen157

New Jersey

4.38/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Brownish orange and hazy, this beer sported a fluffy offwhite head. With of whiff of this, nobdy could ever mistake this beer for a non-smoke one. Bigtime smoke aroma as well as a little malt. There was still immense smoke taste, but it wasn't as big as in the nose. I tasted the hearty wood smoke first, followed by mild wheat characteristics, mainly the body and mouthfeel, and the beer departed with a slight hop bitterness. It tasted a little like hickory smoke, but I've been told otherwise. It was much more balanced beer than one would expect from smell alone. A great beer for for when you're in the mood for something a little differnet. It's also fun to introduce others to a world beyond Bud with this one!

Serving type: bottle

09-27-2002 15:08:46 | More by yen157

inebrius

Michigan

4.3/5  rDev +10.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Perhaps not one of the prettiest Weissbiers I have seen, but certainly one of the tastiest. Nose of spice, smoke and tobacco. Medium body holds a zippy wheat flavor enhanced by phenols and, of course, smoked malt. The smoke flavor lingers a good long time beckoning you to taste again and assure yourself that you are truly tasting what you think you are. Conjures up all the good smoky experiences I've ever had. Good stuff!

Cheers to VENOM for the sample!

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2002 05:01:46 | More by inebrius

Bighuge

Minnesota

4.33/5  rDev +11%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer is a murky brown/orange/amber in color. A big fluffy beige head sits on top and sticks around for a while. Huge smoke on the nose of this one. Similar to a campfire. What a conglomeration of various tastes on the buds. Very interesting indeed. This beer may not be right for everybody, but it is growing on me. First, there is of course the smoke flavor. Fairly heavy but also rounded. Then there are the weizen characteristics: banana, cloves, vanilla, phenolic character and pepper. Body is about medium. And the carbonation is just about right. Nice mouthfeel. Unique beer worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2002 20:10:55 | More by Bighuge

aracauna

Georgia

3.88/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Interesting experience. I've has peat-smoked beers before, but using wood to smoke the malt makes for such a higher quality flavor and aroma. It's got a good estery dunkel weizen flavor going on underneath the smoke too. The way the smoke and ester flavors combine is's like it almost creates a feel of creamed smoke more than a new flavor. It went well with my wife's first attempt at a pot roast and I can only imagine how much better it would go with grilled or smoked pork or beef.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2002 10:41:26 | More by aracauna

marc77

California

4.25/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The turbid dark bronze hued brew is topped by a dense, very well retained, ivory white head with stiff, rocky peaks. It's akin to a dunkelweizen in appearance. Beechwood rauchmalt dominates the aroma, with only a hint of banana ester eeking in. Signature weizen esters are more assertive in the flavor profile, which is a melange of mild banana and mellow clove, lightly toasty Munich malt notes and slightly fruity melanoidins. Hop bitterness is a bit above the norm for a weizen, but provides contrast to the caramel sweetness and persistant rauchmalt smokiness. Moderate in body, w/ wheat proteins and dextrins lending a slick, smooth mouthfeel. Finishes with wheat tartness quickly fading and smokiness lingering. Flavorful to say the least. Although the rauchmalt overpowered many basemalt and wheat notes, esters were still discernible. The combination of smoke and typical weizen characteristics result in a very unique and highly drinkable rauchbier (provided that you're accustomed to rauchmalt).

Serving type: bottle

08-18-2002 18:24:56 | More by marc77

rastaman

United Kingdom (England)

4/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Liked it a lot. Very nice smoky campfire flavour, mixed in with a slightly tart flavour character in weissbiers. Not as thick and flavoursome as the marzen, but still very good.

Serving type: bottle

08-04-2002 11:06:09 | More by rastaman

Jdiddy

Rhode Island

4.03/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

You either love smoked beers or hate them. I have come to notice, especially with Schlenkerla, that once you have the smoked taste, it is hard to pick out the actual flavor of the beer you are drinking. (Marzen, Wheat, etc.)
I did like the Marzen a bit better but the wheat is much lighter and suitable for summer. Spicy Orange and Clove notes. Would also make a great beer in the Fall.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2002 05:22:53 | More by Jdiddy

Bierman9

New Hampshire

4.1/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

With Schlenkerla, you either love 'em or hate 'em. Personally, I love 'em! Have been very fortunate in that the "Powers that be" have allowed me to visit Schlenkerla a few times in my life! If you like their stuff, it's even better "vom Fass" at their brewpub! I like the Weizen, though it ranks third on my depth-chart. Nice cloudy, dark brown color; mousse-like head, and some sediment swirled into the glass. Nose is as-if you walked into the smokehouse! Lovely (again, if you like Rauchbier). Body and smoothness did nothing to diminish the experience. Roasted malt flavors and smoked-malt are all over you! Big, lingering, dry smoky finish, though not quite as pronounced as the Marzen or Urbock. As a baby step into smoked-bier, perhaps try Spezial, which is milder. If you're already into Schlenkerla Rauchs, start here, and go onwards and upwards! Zum Wohl!!

overall: 4.1
appearance: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | mouthfeel: 4 | drinkability: 4

175

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2002 13:26:33 | More by Bierman9

cokes

Wisconsin

4.47/5  rDev +14.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Nice foggy burnt orange/muddy brown in color. Hangs onto it's frothy head well.
Smells primarily of smoke...but more subtle than some.
Nice smokiness up front in the taste. Ends with a good 'n spicy weizen kick. Quite tasty.
NIcely effevescent in the mouth.
Something different, but a winner in my book.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2002 20:23:49 | More by cokes