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Aecht Schlenkerla Helles Lagerbier
Schlenkerla (Heller-Bräu Trum)
- From:
- Schlenkerla (Heller-Bräu Trum)
- Germany
- Style:
- Helles
Ranked #53 - ABV:
- 4.3%
- Score:
- 88
Ranked #12,936 - Avg:
- 3.95 | pDev: 11.9%
- Reviews:
- 478
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Sunday at 08:20 AM
- Added:
- Sep 29, 2003
- Wants:
- 63
- Gots:
- 69
“Schlenkerla Helles” is brewed with fine Bavarian aroma hops from the area around the city of Nürnberg. It's lagered in century old caves underneath the historic Schlenkerla brewery and maltings. Schlenkerla Helles is boiled in the same copper kettles and bottom fermented by the same yeast as the historic Schlenkerla Smokebeer. Its subtle smokiness without using smoke malt makes “Helles Schlenkerla Lager” a unique representative of the classic lager beer style “Bavarian Helles”.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by LambicPentameter:
Reviewed by LambicPentameter from Nebraska
3.84/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.84/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured out of a brown 16.9 oz bottle into a pokal glass. No bottling date or "freshness" date, but it does guarantee that it was brewed according to the purity law, etc...
Appearance - Pours a glowing golden body with ample carbonation bubbles rising up through the glass to a pillowy, stark white head. The head gets up to 2-2.5 fingers and dissipates at a leisurely pace, leaving leopard-print lacing
Smell - Grain and yeast are the most present aromas, but there is also a hint of smokiness, like open-fire baked bread.
Taste - Yep, there's fulfillment of the aroma's smoky essence. Notes of smoke-cured light meats, like salmon and turkey, but it's faint. Flavor profile seems a little conflicted between a rich, complex lager and a crisp, refreshing one. I sense elements of both.
Mouthfeel - Again, a bit confusing. Body is medium, reminding me a bit of juice, but finishes crisp and clean, like a lager.
Overall, an odd but strangely tasty beer. I'd label this a gateway for getting into smoked beers, because while it doesn't actually use smoked malts, they boil it in the same kettles and use the same yeast as the other smoked beers, so the smoke element is very much there. However, it's not overpowering, and so very approachable.
May 25, 2013Appearance - Pours a glowing golden body with ample carbonation bubbles rising up through the glass to a pillowy, stark white head. The head gets up to 2-2.5 fingers and dissipates at a leisurely pace, leaving leopard-print lacing
Smell - Grain and yeast are the most present aromas, but there is also a hint of smokiness, like open-fire baked bread.
Taste - Yep, there's fulfillment of the aroma's smoky essence. Notes of smoke-cured light meats, like salmon and turkey, but it's faint. Flavor profile seems a little conflicted between a rich, complex lager and a crisp, refreshing one. I sense elements of both.
Mouthfeel - Again, a bit confusing. Body is medium, reminding me a bit of juice, but finishes crisp and clean, like a lager.
Overall, an odd but strangely tasty beer. I'd label this a gateway for getting into smoked beers, because while it doesn't actually use smoked malts, they boil it in the same kettles and use the same yeast as the other smoked beers, so the smoke element is very much there. However, it's not overpowering, and so very approachable.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by JZH1000 from Colorado
3.71/5 rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
3.71/5 rDev -6.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a 500mL bottle
On the pour, just over 2 fingers of white fluffy head, with solid structure and good retention form on top of a clear, golden straw body.
Aroma is quite light and delicate like beers in this style should be, but there is in fact a light wood smoke aroma that mingles with the herbal and bitter noble hops. There is a bit of lager yeast character that could be dialed back a touch. Arguably this comes off as a bit skunks. Very interesting however. Some lacing forms.
The flavor follows the aroma, but is much more mellow, with a light crackery malt right upfront before the bright herbal hops, with again a very slight smoke character start coming through. Not a full blown smoke beet, but brewed with the yeast from presumably a marzen or bock smoke beer's fermenter. There is a bit of a bitterness that is unexpected from a helles, but it also doesn't come off as a pilsner, perhaps on account of the traces of smoke.
Feel is light and easy drinking, but with a distinct dryness and a medium long finish from a full malty body. Drinkable, but not necessarily crushable.
Overall this is definitely a unique beer, but not as much so as I believed it would be. I'll be the first to admit that without really doing a lot of research, the offerings from this brewery are a bit confusing to non English speakers, not even getting into the font on the bottle. I was able to deduce that this would be the least smoky of their beers, but other than pale lager, I really didn't know what to expect.
Feb 05, 2024On the pour, just over 2 fingers of white fluffy head, with solid structure and good retention form on top of a clear, golden straw body.
Aroma is quite light and delicate like beers in this style should be, but there is in fact a light wood smoke aroma that mingles with the herbal and bitter noble hops. There is a bit of lager yeast character that could be dialed back a touch. Arguably this comes off as a bit skunks. Very interesting however. Some lacing forms.
The flavor follows the aroma, but is much more mellow, with a light crackery malt right upfront before the bright herbal hops, with again a very slight smoke character start coming through. Not a full blown smoke beet, but brewed with the yeast from presumably a marzen or bock smoke beer's fermenter. There is a bit of a bitterness that is unexpected from a helles, but it also doesn't come off as a pilsner, perhaps on account of the traces of smoke.
Feel is light and easy drinking, but with a distinct dryness and a medium long finish from a full malty body. Drinkable, but not necessarily crushable.
Overall this is definitely a unique beer, but not as much so as I believed it would be. I'll be the first to admit that without really doing a lot of research, the offerings from this brewery are a bit confusing to non English speakers, not even getting into the font on the bottle. I was able to deduce that this would be the least smoky of their beers, but other than pale lager, I really didn't know what to expect.
Reviewed by Alconnaisseur from Poland
4/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
i might not be right person to write this review, as I am one of 2 people I know that like smoked beers.
This one is a little bit too light for my taste - it is like they had an idea "Let's make smoked beer" but they stopped in the middle of the road. Other beers from this brewery have much stronger smoked taste, which I value.
Dec 28, 2023This one is a little bit too light for my taste - it is like they had an idea "Let's make smoked beer" but they stopped in the middle of the road. Other beers from this brewery have much stronger smoked taste, which I value.
Reviewed by dano213 from Pennsylvania
4.27/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.27/5 rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
16.9oz can purchased off the shelf as a single for $4.49 plus tax. I have no idea when this was bottled. It has NN printed on the back label, whatever that means.
Look: The beer is a clear, light gold color with steady, rapid carbonation. The head on this beer is super impressive! Rarely am I able to get beers that I pour at home to retain head for very long, but this one is a trooper. A two-fingered off-white head was able to stand stiff like meringue. The beer is filtered, but there is a small amount of sediment at the bottom of the bottle. I swirled the bottle and added it with the rest of the beer, giving the beer in the glass a soft haze.
Smell: The smoke is not as subtle as I was expecting based on the marketing. Even though there is no smoked malt in this beer, it still smells quite smoky up front. It's interesting in that the aroma is predominantly a mix of smoke and Noble hops and the two elements play off of each other with the woody smoke being accentuated by some of the grassy, peppery, spicy hop notes and the earthy hops are accentuated by the rich smoke. Underneath it all, there is a doughy and biscuity malt. This beer kind of gives off a "biscuits and gravy" nose. Subtle fruitiness, floral (jasmine), and honey notes on the nose also.
Taste: I think that on the palate, the smoke is not as pronounced as it is on the nose. Up front it has a moderate smoky flavor along with crisp malt. The finish is interesting; it is very metallic - copper coin - and minerally. It comes off as being peaty. I think that it is very impressive that this beer is only 4.3% ABV. It packs in a lot more flavor and body than that.
Feel: This beer drinks more like 5.5%. It is light to medium bodied, and for a 4.3% beer it is well above its weight class. The carbonation is very soft and fine.
Overall: Wow, this is quite an interesting beer. It's so cool that the beer can be so smoky just from pitched yeast. At the same time, the smokiness is more reserved than other beers that use smoked malt. It's possible for the smokiness to fade into the background as you get into it. And the beer is rich and complex so you could really savor this and analyze it quite a bit. This beer would make a nice session beer.
Nov 07, 2023Look: The beer is a clear, light gold color with steady, rapid carbonation. The head on this beer is super impressive! Rarely am I able to get beers that I pour at home to retain head for very long, but this one is a trooper. A two-fingered off-white head was able to stand stiff like meringue. The beer is filtered, but there is a small amount of sediment at the bottom of the bottle. I swirled the bottle and added it with the rest of the beer, giving the beer in the glass a soft haze.
Smell: The smoke is not as subtle as I was expecting based on the marketing. Even though there is no smoked malt in this beer, it still smells quite smoky up front. It's interesting in that the aroma is predominantly a mix of smoke and Noble hops and the two elements play off of each other with the woody smoke being accentuated by some of the grassy, peppery, spicy hop notes and the earthy hops are accentuated by the rich smoke. Underneath it all, there is a doughy and biscuity malt. This beer kind of gives off a "biscuits and gravy" nose. Subtle fruitiness, floral (jasmine), and honey notes on the nose also.
Taste: I think that on the palate, the smoke is not as pronounced as it is on the nose. Up front it has a moderate smoky flavor along with crisp malt. The finish is interesting; it is very metallic - copper coin - and minerally. It comes off as being peaty. I think that it is very impressive that this beer is only 4.3% ABV. It packs in a lot more flavor and body than that.
Feel: This beer drinks more like 5.5%. It is light to medium bodied, and for a 4.3% beer it is well above its weight class. The carbonation is very soft and fine.
Overall: Wow, this is quite an interesting beer. It's so cool that the beer can be so smoky just from pitched yeast. At the same time, the smokiness is more reserved than other beers that use smoked malt. It's possible for the smokiness to fade into the background as you get into it. And the beer is rich and complex so you could really savor this and analyze it quite a bit. This beer would make a nice session beer.
Reviewed by BillyNoonan from Ireland
3.96/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.96/5 rDev +0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Pours nice, light gold, slightly hazy. Decent carbonation. Classic Helles sweet malt with subtle smokiness as noted. Probably more noticeable in taste. Feels crisp enough with slightly sweet and flat afters. Good Helles and nice to experience a point of difference.
Sep 10, 2023Reviewed by Wattie83 from Pennsylvania
3.76/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.76/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured from 16 oz can into a tall pilsner glass. Chill hazed gold color with a white head that lingers eventually falling to a cap. Smell is light smoke, cracker, grain, and a bit of fruit. In the taste, the smoke is subtle, but lingers through the aftertaste. Smoke and malt combine for a sweeter bready profile. Towards the end there is a generic fruit flavor that lingers a bit. Feel is light bodied and emphasized with zippy carbonation. Overall, this is an interesting take on a helles. A nice introduction to smoked beer without the aggressive flavors of a full on rauchbier. A bit more demanding than a standard helles though.
Sep 04, 2023Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois
4.25/5 rDev +7.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev +7.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
I had this on draft 8/15/23 @ Laschet's Inn.
Semi-opaque orange/yellow appearance.
Big off-white head; strong, frothy lacing remained.
Soft wheat, mild caramel & mild smoke notes in the nose.
Soft medium mouthfeel.
Acorn, caramel & mild smoke flavors.
Not too smoky; quite pleasant! I'd have another.
Aug 20, 2023Semi-opaque orange/yellow appearance.
Big off-white head; strong, frothy lacing remained.
Soft wheat, mild caramel & mild smoke notes in the nose.
Soft medium mouthfeel.
Acorn, caramel & mild smoke flavors.
Not too smoky; quite pleasant! I'd have another.
Reviewed by thommo_nk from Scotland
4.05/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
4.05/5 rDev +2.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
A lightly smoked helles lager, I had tried the full on Rauchbier and decided to give this a go. Bought six bottles from the brewery tap in Bamberg to bring home. They only sell the Rauchbier on tap there for some reason, very strange. Anyway it's an acquired taste, for me it's a winner.
Aug 09, 2023Reviewed by daliandragon from Maryland
4.03/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.03/5 rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
So, the deal with this brewer is that all their beers are doused in notes of smoked meat and wood, regardless of style or expectations. . It is a distinctive style to be sure. This is delicious and satisfying, although according to style, it is definitely not completely kosher. Still, mellow, and bright and easy drinking, although not for everyone. If you get these guys. you get them, I guess.
Jun 23, 2023Reviewed by Weisenbeer from Ohio
3.22/5 rDev -18.5%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.22/5 rDev -18.5%
look: 2.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
Probably my lowest rated German beer ever .... This is German Budweiser ... That said, it IS German meaning a little more attention to detail is likely made ....this will be my first and last
Jun 08, 2023Reviewed by Mr_Brown from Pennsylvania
4.15/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
4.15/5 rDev +5.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
From a Bottle. Pours clear gold. Beautiful thick foam sticks in place. Smell slightly sweet and smoky. Taste is clean slighly sweet and smoky all the way from start to finish. Medium to low carbonation. Light body typical for helles. Ends with smoky bitterness. Not the best of helles but a great variation of the style.
Apr 29, 2023
Aecht Schlenkerla Helles Lagerbier from Schlenkerla (Heller-Bräu Trum)
Beer rating:
88 out of
100 with
890 ratings
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