Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock - Brauerei Heller-Trum / Schlenkerla

steveh

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Schlenkerla has always been one of my favorite Bamberg beers, especially after drinking it fresh from the source. I've reviewed some of their other styles, but was surprised that I hadn't chalked off my favorite.

A -- Clear, deep, chestnut brown with ruby highlights and a firm, slow-settling, light tan head.

S -- Rich smokiness right up front, reminiscent of camp fires and fire places. Verges on phenolic, but never tumbles over that ledge.

T -- The taste is more of the rich smokiness with the slightest character of roasted malt bitterness in the finish. Unlike most Bocks you'll find.

M -- The mouthfeel is soft to dry with a medium body.

O -- Overall I would rate this beer higher in the taste and overall enjoyment categories if it had just a touch of sweetness from malt, as a good Bock will have. As it is, this is classic Franconian Rauchbier for anyone looking to sample the style. Some call it an acquired taste, but Brauerei Heller keeps the smokiness mellow and tasty without hitting you over the head.

Serving type: bottle

06-26-2012 21:15:52 | More by steveh

Darkmagus82

Montana

4.15/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from bottle into a pint glass

Appearance – The beer pours a color brownish copper color with some light ruby highlights seen shinning through. Upon pouring there is a two finger tan colored head that has a about a 3 min retention time before fading and leaving some light lacing on the sides of the glass.

Smell – Big on the smoke and the char with some undertones of brown bread and caramel. There are also aromas of char and some meaty smells mixed within giving it a nice campfire like aroma.

Taste – The taste of some darker malts as well as a nice strong smokiness are initially present upfront. Some lighter dark fruit flavors mix with these giving it a moderately taste. The sweetness intensifies a bit as some flavors of caramel come to the tongue. A salty flavor joins the mix more toward the end while the beadier and malty flavors begin to fade. IN the end with the smokiness increasing slightly, a cured but moderately sweet smoked taste is left on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the beer is on the average to just above average side in terms of its thickness with a carbonation level that is overall rather average, both suiting well the blend of smoky and sweet.

Overall – Lightly sweetened BBQ taste in a glass here. Roasted, smoked with a bit of char, sweet and delicious.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 02:19:59 | More by Darkmagus82

kvnstfrd

Missouri

3.25/5  rDev -21.3%

05-23-2013 12:53:28 | More by kvnstfrd

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

05-22-2013 13:58:37 | More by Slatetank

samEBC

Belgium

4/5  rDev -3.1%

05-20-2013 19:04:14 | More by samEBC

Neorebel

New Jersey

4.29/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Pours a translucent, clear mahogany color with a voluminous bone colored head. Excellent lacing through out the drinking left on the sides of the glass. For the aroma, I picked up some fruit esters underneath the wonderful charred wood scents. After a taste I found it to be similar to that of smoked Gouda cheese, meat, some hoppiness, with a soft bready finish. Very complex. Something about the mouth feel reminded me of a menthol cigarette. Nice and light bodied, for the seasoned connoisseur of smoked beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 22:43:38 | More by Neorebel

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4/5  rDev -3.1%

05-18-2013 22:45:20 | More by Photekut

Bill235

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +9%

05-13-2013 11:58:45 | More by Bill235

twenty5

Pennsylvania

2.75/5  rDev -33.4%

05-10-2013 15:32:50 | More by twenty5

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

4.18/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Half-litre bottle opened on its BBD (late Apr 2013) and poured (twice) into my Westmalle chalice.

You know what you are going to get from these guys, or at least you should.

This was everything I expected anyway: smokey and malty, with enough body and alcohol to sit back and enjoy, which I did.

Plenty of others have already pontificated long and hard about this fine brew, I agree with most of them (that scored it high and liked it).

Serving type: bottle

04-29-2013 13:58:05 | More by BlackHaddock

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%

04-29-2013 00:15:38 | More by TheBeerAlmanac

Steamer

Missouri

4.51/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: dark caramel with a light beige head. The strong smell bacon hits you immediately; like fat-back bacon frying over an open campfire with hickory smoke in the air. Taste follows the smell but surprisingly not as strong, like liquid smoke; smooth for such a complex beer. Full bodied with medium carbonation. This is an intense beer that takes you to the edge without going over. I'll definitely try this again but next time with a nice serving of BBQ'd baby back ribs!

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 00:47:06 | More by Steamer

Jason1337

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

04-26-2013 15:30:36 | More by Jason1337

Mebuzzard

Colorado

4.29/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Love me some smoke!

going to rate this one in compare/contrast with their Marzen, only because their label sort of does

Pours a glossy brown with tan head. Looks rich and malty. Would like it to look smoky, but what the hell does that look like? Anywho...

Smoke aroma. Some pork/bacon. Nice dark non-sweet caramel notes in there. a bit sweet

The sweetness comes out more in the taste. The malt is a bit thicker than the marzen, but I wouldn't call it 'thick' by itself. With that comes the sweetness, but again, I wouldn't call it sweet. The smoke doesn't stick as much as the marzen. To me, the difference is that the marzen is a forest smoke and the urbock is a fireplace smoke. Kind of the same, but you get a different feel.

Anyways, not as dry on the end. Still damn good!

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 18:17:20 | More by Mebuzzard

jiffymon

New York

2/5  rDev -51.6%

04-16-2013 20:44:04 | More by jiffymon

prisoner1572

Illinois

3/5  rDev -27.4%

04-15-2013 14:55:22 | More by prisoner1572

smonice

New Jersey

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

04-14-2013 10:54:57 | More by smonice

Rast

Maryland

4/5  rDev -3.1%

04-07-2013 20:23:52 | More by Rast

Roman5150

Michigan

4.68/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Bottle into Tulip

Paired with Dutch Boerenikaas and Gouda Cheese

Appearance: Very dark smokey color, no head. Amber hues when held up to light.

Smell: Beef jerky x100. Intense smokiness, BBQ, smells like a stack of southern ribs. Wow.

Taste: This is my second smoked beer i've had. I've had Yazoo's SUE, which it says in it's description is derived from the Bamberg, Germany Rauchbiers. With all due respect to SUE, an amazing beer no doubt, this one is just superb. It tastes like a Beef Jerky flavored beer. If you like beef jerky, smoked sausage, and beer, there is no way you would not like this. The aftertaste is so smooth, the smokiness just turns into an almost hefe like aftertaste. A new favorite.

Mouthfeel: Perfect levels of Carbonation, very smooth and full flavor all the way to the end.

Overall: If you've ever been curious about "Smoked Beer", this is the original. And the best. What a well crafted beer, it tastes like a beef jerky beer. Pairs extremely well with dutch cheeses, the flavor is so satisfying that I could sip on this all day. Will be buying this whenever I see it. This has moved into my top 10, and perhaps into my top 5 after a few more tastings. As a huge fan of Hefeweizens and Kölsch beer from Germany, there is a similar taste down to the yeast, and this takes all the smoothness and craftsmanship and adds a whole new level of flavor. Please, do yourself a favor and buy a bag of your favorite beef jerky and one or two of these and make an evening of it.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 01:53:05 | More by Roman5150

Kevin89065

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +9%

04-02-2013 16:34:26 | More by Kevin89065

pottergator

New York

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

03-22-2013 19:08:36 | More by pottergator

harpus

Alabama

2.75/5  rDev -33.4%

03-20-2013 19:24:22 | More by harpus

KYGunner

Kentucky

4.24/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Deep dark brown, root beer like coloring yields a thick masculine head that disappears quickly.

The scent is sweet smokiness. Tanned leather, BBQ ribs, sweet molasses, camp fire coals and ash all make a wondrous appearance.

The taste follows the nose both in smoke and sweetness. The sweetness blends into smoked meats. The smokiness blends into sweet grains. A well blended and tasty array, there's a robustness but its countered with a ease of drink. Love it!

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2013 22:10:04 | More by KYGunner

tviz33

New York

4.34/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 16.9 oz bottle in to a pint glass.

A- Pours a dark brown with some ruby hues and no head even with an aggressive pour.

S- Tons of smokiness and everything you can associate with smoke. Beef jerky, campfires, chimneys, and all that. But in a good way.

T- Smoked hickory and brisket with a faint sweetness to pull the whole thing together. Balances the saltiness of the smoke

M- Medium feel, but thinner than I expected. Lightly carbonated.

O- I had no clue what I was getting in to with this beer but its surely worth your money.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2013 15:58:33 | More by tviz33

danieelol

Australia

4/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a black (amber when held up to light) with reasonable but not amazing head and lacing. Note: does die down fairly rapidly, but this isn't going to affect the nose. It's potent regardless ;)

Smell is beef jerky, Scotch, and smoky ham (and/or salmon). Get quite a lot of alcohol from the Scotch but also do get some malt conveying the Bock element.

Taste is definitely smoky but not overbearing. Has a mounting "twiggy" character which I really enjoy.

Big on ash and just smoke in general, but all seems in balance to me.

Having previously had some overbearing beers from Aecht Schlenkerla I've worked my way up to dealing with their smoke and now I feel I've earned my stripes and this definitely seems a lot easier to handle. It almost makes me want to take on the next tier of Rauch-y goodness.

Still have to get over the mind @^#! of consuming smoke in a liquid rather than solid (meat) format. The smoke flavour is oddly tied up with protein for me.

Would do again, and keen to continue exploring their other beers.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 09:37:37 | More by danieelol