Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Weizen - Brauerei Heller-Trum / Schlenkerla

Adamthome1

Nebraska

4.55/5  rDev +16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

1 pint 9 ounce bottle

Pours nicely, frothy if poured too fast, good head throughout.

Aroma is smokey and sweet, smelling smoked campfire and some sweet malty.

Taste is classic, I've only had a few Rauchbier's but the flavor is great; the aftertaste is superb with accents of smoked baby mozzarella or cheddar or the like; Gouda maybe....the flavor upfront is sweet. Carbonation good.

Personally I don't want this beer often but with ribs, smoked meat, ribs, cheeses you just can't go wrong, give a try under these circumstances

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2011 06:57:03 | More by Adamthome1

Getinthevan

Illinois

4.58/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Had a bottle of this over Christmas and I was not disappointed.

Appearance was very black, almost motor oil like, with no head and minimal lacing on the sides of the glass. It resembled a dark chocolate brown with hints of amber colors.

Smell was very strong in hops and very smoky, almost like smelling an outdoor meat smoker. Very rich in aroma and definitely a crafty work of art.

Taste was delicious. The smoke flavors with the roasted hops made this an excellent brew. Very hearty too, this is definitely not for the light-hearted.

Mouthfeel was thick and satisfying. Again, definitely a relaxing and thick brew.

Drinkability is good. This is the first rauchbier I've tried and it's definitely a great one. Looking forward to trying more of this style in the future.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2010 20:32:45 | More by Getinthevan

Atron67

Wisconsin

4.6/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

P- pint glass with yellow and green label, all in german, picked this up at steves a week ago

A- poured a murky brown, almost dopplebock color, heavily yeasty, little yeast chunks settled quickly to the bottom of the glass, big head that slowly fell down, very tight knit bubbles,

S- huge woody smokey flavors all over, very strong, a slight tinge fof wheat underneath, but all and all the smoke is pretty overwhelming. well idk what level of smoke i was expecting but this really gave me a strong start on how smoked beers are. the yeast is also pretty strong.

T- starts off almost mellow, a slowly rising malt and wheat flavor which is really good builds steadily. the smoke is always there but starts off weak. almost at the end the smoke really hits strong and lingers forever, actually getting even stronger after the swallow than before. it is hugely lingering, with what feels like a chicory smoke being the majority of it. not much else is noticable after the smoked earth flavor sets in but the yeast and hops both seem pretty smooth and blended underneath after much drinking. the yeast right before the swallow is actually pretty nice and gains a lot of strength to struggle with the smoke during the end and gives it an awesome complexity

M- full, creamy, high carbonation, hugely lingering body

d- idk what i was expecting, i wouldnt say its highly drinkable because the smoke is so intense, but its awesome, and im really glad i got it, although drinking a bunch would be hard.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2008 03:09:51 | More by Atron67

nickfl

Florida

4.63/5  rDev +18.7%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

A - Pours with two fingers of light tan foam, resting on top of a very clear, medium brown body. The head collapses at a moderate pace and leaves light lace on the glass.

S - Dark, earthy smoke notes with clove, caramel, and banana notes in the background.

T - Soft, bready malt up front with a hint of toffee and some banana notes. More dark bread malt character in the middle with some spicy yeast and red apple. The smoke becomes more apparent in the finish with earthy, almost funky notes of smoky juniper and clove as well as lingering banana.

M - Medium-thick body, moderate carbonation, and a somewhat dry finish.

D - To paraphrase the Most Interesting Man in the World, I don't often drink Rauchbier, but when I do I prefer Schlenkerla. Schlenkerla is one of those beers that qualifies as a classic of classics and this particular one is as good as it gets. The smoke and weizen yeast work together masterfully and the malt character softens everything to the point that it is perfectly drinkable. The aroma really reminds me of an old barbecue restaurant or, perhaps more appropriately an old, old brewpub, with decades of smooth smoke soaked into the walls. An excellent beer that I feel lucky to be drinking.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2011 03:05:50 | More by nickfl

bluHatter

Michigan

4.63/5  rDev +18.7%
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

cudmud

Illinois

4.65/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer produces a nice rocky head and ample lace. The color is dark amber to light brown. The aroma will knock your soxs! This beer smells like a campfire. The smokey smell overpowers the other aromas. The flavor is malt-like and peppery. The aftertaste is like a freshly-somked ham. This beer is true to style and is one of my favorites.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2009 03:58:14 | More by cudmud

hardy008

Minnesota

4.65/5  rDev +19.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark auburn color with a one finger white head with decent retention. Smells of smoke, wood, wheat, and lemon. Taste is the same. Almost has the flavor of smoke brisket. Very good. Well carbonated and light bodied. This beer is easy to drink. You either love smoked beers or you hate them. I love them.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2009 20:37:45 | More by hardy008

udouche

4.75/5  rDev +21.8%
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

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

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

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