Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock - Brauerei Heller-Trum / Schlenkerla

tectactoe

Michigan

4.1/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a deep, brown color with some dark ruby that outlines the edges of the beer. The slightly gray-tan head mellows out quickly and leaves decent lacing along the glass. The beer smells wonderful - full of smoked malt, smoked wood chips, burnt barley - extremely reminiscent of campfire nights. The taste hits with a bite tasting of smoke and tight carbonation. As the beer mellows out, the wood chips, charcoal, and sweet liquid smoke start to come out and they work together very well. Low bitterness and no floral essences or hops to be found anywhere. Malt flavors get stronger as the beer gets warmer and the smokey campfire flavors intensify. The body is thick, creamy, and just a bit chewy.

If you're looking for a smoked beer to try - look no further. I'm not a huge fan of smoked beers, but this one was quite good. The smoked flavor was clearly present and on the forefront, however it was not so strong that the beer was harsh or undrinkable. Great balance.

Serving type: bottle

10-01-2012 18:16:05 | More by tectactoe

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

deac83

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

03-02-2013 04:33:53 | More by deac83

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

3.74/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock has a thin, off-white head and minimal lacing. The appearance is reddish-brown, and it would be clear, but for all of the pretty big gray chunks floating throughout. The aroma is of wood smoke, but maybe some underneath sweetness can be picked up. Taste is of smokey sweetness, maybe some dark fruit, and just a shade of alcohol. Mouthfeel is light and watery, and Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock finishes not too dry and smokey. It all comes down to whether you enjoy smokey things or not.

RJT

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2013 17:34:28 | More by RonaldTheriot

DeutschesBier

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +2.9%

02-28-2013 14:59:16 | More by DeutschesBier

jayray

Arizona

4.75/5  rDev +15%

02-26-2013 23:59:46 | More by jayray

TonyY

New York

4.75/5  rDev +15%

02-26-2013 23:50:09 | More by TonyY

Therisse

California

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%

02-26-2013 17:44:47 | More by Therisse