Aecht Schlenkerla Helles Lagerbier - Brauerei Heller-Trum / Schlenkerla

kawilliams81

Illinois

4/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 16 oz bottle into a Stella chalice.

A- Pours a light golden with a 2 finger white head. Minimal lacing remains on the glass.

S- Some smoke like all Schlenkerla beers. Sweet malts with some citrus.

T- Crisp apple followed by sweet malts and smoke.

M- Light body, medium carbonation. Nice warm weather beer.

O- Nice lager with some smoke. Smoke not as prevelant as other Schlenkerla beers.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2012 22:27:49 | More by kawilliams81

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer is crystal clear and pale yellow hued with a small, but lasting, white head that leaves sparse lacing on the glass.

The aroma is classic Aecht Schlenkerla campfire, albeit a more subtle scent than in other beers from this brewery. In addition to the smokey notes is a pleasant German lager scent.

The beer is light and smooth, with a balance of smoke and German lager flavors. Exactly what I would expect from this brewery.

I could easily drink a liter or more of this. Refreshing and flavorful. Well done.

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2012 23:08:56 | More by Huhzubendah

thecheapies

Pennsylvania

3.8/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Emptied slowly into my Guinness pint. Bright and clear marigold body with a rocky egghell head with great retention. Fills a glass nicely. 4.5

Mild smoke atop clean aromatic grains. Slight suggestion of musty snap could be a Saaz hop character. Bready and toasty. Very pleasing nose. 4.5

There's more beefy smoke pouring through, a perfect complement to this German lager. Grassy hops are more apparent now. However, setting it back is an unmistakable iron taste, like rust or blood. Metallic and off-putting. Love the smoky character, crisp bready grains, and noticeable hop; dislike the metallic middle and subsequent ruined finish. 3.5

Drinks just fine. A little light on carb, perhaps, but smooth at sail. Very sessionable. 4.0

That off-flavor killed it for me. I really wanted to love this beer as much as their rauchbier. Don't get me wrong, I'd drink this again. I enjoy it enough to seek out every once in awhile. I mean, it's still just a helles lager. I love both big and little smoked malt qualities, and this one satisfies that thirst of mine, but it's not without its own big flaw. Have to give it a 3.5

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2012 00:07:25 | More by thecheapies

WVbeergeek

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Although the beer itself doesn't use any smoked malts, it's brewed using the same yeast and in the same equipment as their other smoked beers. Pretty interesting beer pours a pale light golden delicate biscuit malt character with a nice spritzy carbonation level. Nice fluffy white head leaves intricate banded lacing. Aroma has a subtle smoke character with hints of smoked meats and a light biscuit malt grain character. Flavor has an interesting smoked nuttiness to it adds great complexity to a light classic well executed German helles. Kind of a one note flavor but a very interesting and tasty one note, makes me wish I had another bottle or two. Mouthfeel is evenly carbonated with a light but not watery body. Overall impression this beer rates high with on my likeability skill, would I consider sharing this with other friends into beer? Absolutely a very interesting take on a German Helles a classic style that doesn't get a whole lotta love around these parts.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2012 16:29:12 | More by WVbeergeek

UCLABrewN84

California

3.88/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear golden color with a 2 inch puffy off-white head that settles to a small cap on top of the beer. Thin foamy rings of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt and slight smoke aromas. Taste is of malt with a slight smoke flavor and some herbal hop flavors on the finish. There is a mild bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good lager that retains some of the traditional smoke aromas and flavors without being in your face.

Serving type: bottle

03-20-2012 01:44:05 | More by UCLABrewN84

DoubleJ

California

4.15/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Coming out of the 500 ml format, on to the beer:

This beer has a dark golden hue, head retention that is good, and leaves several rings of lacing around the glass. The nose says helles, but if you sniff a little closer, you can also catch a soft smokiness arising. In addition to the smoke, notes of honey and grassy hops arise.

I enjoy a quality helles lager, and Schlenkerla shows that they can do that. There's a subtle smoke flavor, no surprise that this is coming out off Schlenkerla. Honey, grass/hay flavors, also some bread.The flavors are nicely balanced, which helps make it easy to drink. The body is light, and the carbonation has a bit of a jumpy sensation.

Quality helles lager here. If you enjoy a subtle twist on this traditional Munich style, then grab a bottle of this.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2012 02:34:33 | More by DoubleJ

Falcon91Wolvrn03

California

4.28/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance – A light transparent golden color with a beautiful white head.

Smell – Smell is surprisingly nice for a lager. A mild smokiness, malt, and a touch of honey.

Taste – The best lager I’ve had (although I haven’t yet tried the Augustiner Bräu Lagerbier Hell or the Thomas Hooker Munich Style Lager as of this review). It has a pleasant sweet/smokey taste that sticks around a while, but it’s a nice aftertaste.

Mouthfeel – Perfectly carbonated for a lager.

Drinkability – Lagers typically go down easy. Since this is the best lager I’ve tried, it goes down that much easier. My local beer store sells this by the keg; this could be a dangerous drink for a big party.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2012 06:33:51 | More by Falcon91Wolvrn03

OneDropSoup

Pennsylvania

4.23/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured into a tulip pint: Hazy but transparent golden-straw under two fingers of soft, glistening off-white head with some suspended solids throughout the body. Head drops to a lumpy, uneven covering.

Smell is a very crisp grape jelly, a little tea-like, even very slightly minty. Light bread crust pops up. Pretty pilsner-like smell, actually.

Crisp lager taste up front of mildly lemony hops, some biscuity character, then a softly savory smokiness shows up in the finish & turns to a kind of doughy, almost buttery sweetness in the aftertaste. The smoke is subtle, but provides a really nice twist & kind of recedes.

Crisp & tangy mouthfeel at first, then smooth & mellow in the finish, kind of rolls on down the throat. Very nice.

Pretty cool little number here: smooth, velvety lager with some restrained flavors & just a little twist there.

Serving type: bottle

03-01-2012 23:45:23 | More by OneDropSoup

Hopdaemon39

Massachusetts

4.33/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a .5 liter bottle into a pilsener. Beautiful clear golden color with a visible effervescence and a half a finger head, which dissipated quickly and left some nice lacing.

Smells definitely of lager yeast with a little bit of smokey overtone, some pale malt sweetness but not too much.

Taste is surprisingly complex for such a clear, bright lager. All the same kind of stuff as the nose, pale malt, lager yeast, a little smoky towards the end. Delicious.

Mouthfeel is very smooth, a little tingly, very light body and very drinkable. Unfortunately I've already finished the bottle : (. At such a low alcohol content and such high flavor content, you'll want to drink a lot of this brew.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2012 00:56:51 | More by Hopdaemon39

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

3.1/5  rDev -21.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Pours a clean pale yellow color with a white head. In the aroma, lemon citrus and a small smoke presence. In the taste, a light lager with notes of lemon citrus and a nice smoke. A small smoke bite and a lighter bodied mouthfeel, with a semi dry smoke in the aftertaste. A bit thin and the smokiness is a bit faint.

Serving type: on-tap

02-06-2012 18:49:55 | More by OWSLEY069

avalon07

South Carolina

2.83/5  rDev -28.7%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

A: Poured from a bottle to a pilsener glass. Had a pale yellow color and a clear consistency. There was an inch of creamy, fairly long-lasting head. Good lacing.

S: An almost undetectable aroma of malt, hops and not much else.

T: Tasted of mild hops, some malt, and a little bit of the smoky quality you get with Aecht beers. Mainly, this is a thin, watery flavor. Even the smokiness wasn't really noticeable.

M: A good amount of carbonation with a dry finish. Light-bodied.

O: On the whole, this is an average and forgettable beer. Not very interesting.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2012 13:08:10 | More by avalon07

dgilks

Australia

4.22/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear golden colour with a big, fluffy white head. Fair head retention and even a bit of lacing.

Very lightly smoky and almost herbal. Sweet malt as well. This really is an interesting approach to the Helles lager with the smoky brewhouse at Schlenkerla adding some really interesting aromas.

Just as in the aroma the sweet malt plays out as in a standard Helles lager but the subtle smokiness continues. It adds just a touch of complexity and depth to the beer which I find delightful.

Medium-light body with moderate carbonation. Excellent.

A truly unique and interesting beer. i could see myself drinking a lot of this if I lived in Bamberg.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2012 06:34:35 | More by dgilks

jsanford

Georgia

3.58/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On-tap at the Churchkey in Washington, D.C.

Poured a hazy gold with a soapy white head. Aromas of smoke, light, crisp malt, and some grassy hops. Taste is similar to the nose, slightly meaty smoke, crisp malt, honey, and toasted grain. Finish is long-lasing and bitter, and smacks nicely of smoke. Mouthfeel is light and crisp, very drinkable despite the advertised 6.5% ABV (BA says 4.3%, not sure which is correct). Overall a nice intro to Schlenkerla, but give me the Marzen or Urbock any day!

Serving type: on-tap

01-17-2012 18:55:40 | More by jsanford

eric5bellies

Australia

3.88/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Drank from my Gage roads tulip.

A - Pours a clear Golden colour with a white fluffy head that retains well and laces.

S - Some smokeyness on the nose with some sweet grains.

T - Little smokey, with some grassy hay and grains. Very well balanced.

M - Light body and medium carbonation.

O - A solid beer with hint of the classic smoke. Very enjoyable.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2012 15:48:05 | More by eric5bellies

curasowa

New York

3.55/5  rDev -10.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Clear, golden color with one finger of white head that fades to a ring.

Aroma: Typical dry, mildly husky German malt aroma with notes of rye bread, faint chocolate and smoked meat.

Taste: Dry, crisp malt upfront, then pretty astringent with some smokiness and a little chalk. Some faint herbal hops finish things off before a pretty fast finish with some lingering graininess.

The Rest: Medium bodied; A pretty tasty Helles with some additional character from the smokiness.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2012 22:20:57 | More by curasowa

mrasskicktastic

New Jersey

3.63/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pale gold brew with a ton of carbonation and a small, but continually replenishing, head. Thin streaks of lacing on the glass.

S - Hay and a bit of well cooked corn.

T - Slightly smoky, hay, a bit peppery, hint of paraffin, lots light malt and a hint of corn. After taste is a bit of corn, smoke, but mostly a grassy bitterness.

M - Carbonation extremely high, watery, thin, pretty refreshing.

D - Piecewise, I'm not impressed, but all together this beer is pretty nice.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2012 04:55:01 | More by mrasskicktastic

ADZA

Australia

3.5/5  rDev -11.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This brew is a first for me and it pours a slightly hazy honey hue which leaves a two finger head that stays and a nice rim of lacing,the smell is honeydew,the slightest tinge of smoke but its there and cold meats,the mouthfeel is just over lightbodied,dry and thirst satisfying the taste has the honeydew and slight smoked malts along with a touch of rockmelon and a everpresent herbal hop grassiness without the bitterness and overall its no standout beer but a bloody great session beer and could see this as one of my session staple beers for the Summer cheers.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 15:57:55 | More by ADZA

armock

New York

4/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle from Beers Of The World in Rochester, NY

A - Poured a golden color with a white head that leaves lacing behind

S - Is of pale malt with a bit of that good old smoked malt

T - Is slightly sweet upfront then the smoked malt comes through to give that wonderful smoke flavor

M - This beer has a lighter body with medium carbonation to it

O - While this is a decent Rauchbier this is like the Bud Light of Schlenkerla's lineup definitely a gateway to the bolder Rauchbiers out there so I think just about anyone could drink this worth picking up to try if you see it around

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2011 23:18:25 | More by armock

PhillyStyle

Georgia

4.4/5  rDev +10.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

1 pint .9 oz. bottle

Poured a clear golden color with a thick but light white head, 2+ finger pour with good head retention that settled into a thin cap that lasted through the beer. Carbonation was noticeably constantly rising to the top.

Very nice malted barley aroma with a hint of smoke.

The taste follows the nose, but perhaps a bit more smokey.

The beer had a light feel to it, exceptionally smooth and easy to drink. Overall, this is a simple beer that is exceptionally well done. This one will be in my beer fridge more often.

Serving type: bottle

12-13-2011 16:56:09 | More by PhillyStyle

BerkeleyBeerMan

California

3.6/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Sunny yellow corn color. Hazy body. Slight natural carbonation.

Light smokiness similar to this brewery's rauchbier. Esters. Clean Pilsner hops. Noble character. Floral and grainy. Corn.

Light smoke. Crisp and clean with a sweet malt base. Corn and light fruits. Spice. chamomile. Dry finish.

Light and sweet. Good malt base with a very slight hop bitterness.

This is a nice beer. It goes well with my hamburger and fires. The flavor profile is simple but it does have that nice Aecht Shlenkarla smokey flavor. I would drink this again.

Serving type: bottle

11-28-2011 04:30:35 | More by BerkeleyBeerMan

CASK1

Florida

3.9/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 500 ml bottle.

Slightly hazy pale gold, with a white head that fades quickly. Continuous streams of bubbles, but I would like a better head retention.

Aroma is malt balanced, with a slight DMS cooked corn coming through - unexpected but not unpleasant. There is some smoke if you know to look for it, but very subtle. No hops, no esters, very clean aroma.

Smoke is a bit more prominent in the flavor, and very enjoyable. Clean grainy pils malt flavor, with a medium hop bitterness to balance. Low spicy noble hop flavor. The cooked corn DMS is much more subdued in the flavor than in the aroma.

Medium-light body with a clean dry finish. Mouthfeel begs for another sip.

Overall an interesting, unique, and enjoyable German lager. The aroma is a bit underwhelming, but the interesting balance of flavors makes up for it.

Serving type: bottle

11-27-2011 23:52:20 | More by CASK1

4000qtrap

Missouri

4.03/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Source/Serving: 500mL bottle

S: Bright lemon, hay, and hints of mineral and herbs. Smoke is light but very nice.

T: Light, sweet straw and lemon fruitiness up front. Light herbal hops and a bit of biscuit in the middle with a light, smooth, bitterness. Not quite crisp enough for me, though, but OK for style. Slight minerally which continues to the finish. Nice ham-like smoke character shows up a touch in the finish and there is bacon residue lingering note.

Notes: Easy drinking with a nice, light smoke angle to set it apart. The more you drink it the more you'll appreciate the subtleties. As it says on the bottle its not made with smoke malt, so be warned its not a typical Schlenkerla brew.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2011 23:04:44 | More by 4000qtrap

bbeane

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Not sure of the freshness of this one... gonna give it a try anyways

A- Poured into my DFH chalice... Pours a mostly crisp (has a bit of sediment in it which is why I'm questioning the freshness) golden color with a nice fluffy white head and decent retention

S- Aroma is a bit disappointing compared to the other Aecht Schlenkerla beers I've tried. Not much smoked notes, just some light floral hops

T- Starts with some floral hop flavor with some smokey notes. Finishes with a bitter bread flavor

M- Light/medium body with light carbonation

O- Eh... this one was just ok IMO. Not on the same level as their Marzen

CHEERS!!

Serving type: bottle

11-01-2011 02:27:03 | More by bbeane

rangerred

Tennessee

3.7/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

500ml bottle.

Appearance is a hazy light gold. There is a healthy 1.5 finger head that hangs around.

The smell is of a typical german lager. Noble hops and a crisp maltiness. There is a very small hint of smoke.

The taste starts off like numerous other german lagers: crisp and clean with nice hop bitterness. The smoke only kicks in once the hop flavor has faded. The smoke takes a backseat in this beer to the malt and hops.

I do like this beer but I feel it falls somewhat short of the other offerings from this brewery. It is not a whole lot different than many other german lagers.

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2011 22:26:23 | More by rangerred

Jimmys

Pennsylvania

4.33/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

1 pint 0.9 fl. oz. bottle into tulip

A: brilliantly clear. white head sits on top of the bright golden body. decent retention and some nice lacing too.

S: a real rich grainy aroma. oh so lightly toasted munich malts interact with a spicy, floral german hop aroma.

T: starts with just a touch of smoke. rich graininess underneath gives this lager a little bit of meat. a hint of vanilla sweetness in there. bitterness is a little lacking, and that is my only real complaint. however, the addition of the smoke really makes this helles unique.

M: zesty carbonation on a light body.

D: im definitely a sucker for smoke, but i think all would agree this is a very well made beer. highly quaffable.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2011 20:58:50 | More by Jimmys