Aecht Schlenkerla Helles Lagerbier - Brauerei Heller-Trum / Schlenkerla

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

3.58/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I curiously anticipate this one, thanks again harry!
Neat retro 70's looking looking 500ml bottle. Neat.
Pours an apple golden, head would form somewhat. A little cloudy. Aroma of a peaty cider. Plenty of fireplace like peat, with notes of apple and pear. The smoke takes over the in the taste department, setting it apart from other Munich Helles, giving it much more character. Really distinctive peat smoke. A lot of ripe apple in the taste. A bold malt bill too. Distinct (especially within its style) and quite filling, drinks heavier than a standard German lager. Happy to try!

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2007 03:50:31 | More by biegaman

eberkman

Massachusetts

3.58/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Deep Ellum in Allston.

Presented in a tall, handled stange. Clear pale gold with a substantial white head that had decent staying power for the style.

A bacon-like smokiness in the nose blended with an otherwise typical lager combination of grassiness, tartness and bitterness.

Taste was very similar -- grassy with a bitter tinge, but with a smoked pork essence at the front and back end. Fairly clean in the middle.

Nice crisp mouthfeel, especially considering that it was coming from a tap.

Drinkability is slightly above average -- at 4.30, you can put away a bunch of these. But the novelty of the smoke gets a little old. Also a little nagging, since they're not going all out like a rauchbier.

Serving type: on-tap

05-30-2008 03:23:37 | More by eberkman

bbeane

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -9.6%
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

jsanford

Georgia

3.58/5  rDev -9.6%
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

foogerd

New York

3.6/5  rDev -9.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

a- Light golden yellow clear body with a small white head.

S- Light grainy smoke, hay , light grassy hops.

T- Very drinkable tasty lightly toasted and smoked malts with a light touch of hops that lend a touch of spice.

M- Nice tickling carbonation light body.

O- Very quaffable brew.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2011 05:17:16 | More by foogerd

BerkeleyBeerMan

California

3.6/5  rDev -9.1%
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

Irrigate

Michigan

3.63/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Colored golden like a typical lager, and the head dissipates quickly. The smell is crisp and slightly smoky. This would be a great "gateway beer" into rauchbier like the Schlenkerla Marzen. Personally, I think the smokiness is so slight that it teases rather than fulfills. But then again, this isn't labeled a "rauchbier". Still very interesting.

Serving type: bottle

08-21-2007 23:57:55 | More by Irrigate

Gmann

New York

3.63/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy golden straw color with a small pure white head. The aroma is of a bready/doughy malt and a nice spicy hop. The taste is of the doughy munich malt and spicy nobel hops. More of a hop profile than your typical munich helles. There is also a tin like flavor as well. The feel is moderate, nice malty chewiness, fizzy carbonation; finishes sweet and spicy. An easy drinking brew, the spicy hops neutralize the munich malt so this brew doesn't have the typical munich helles flavor. Worth a go.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2009 05:09:05 | More by Gmann

tigg924

Massachusetts

3.63/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: orange/yellow, 1/4 inch head, high carbonation, clear

Smell: pork, smoke, and grass

Taste: grass, bigger than expected hops, somewhat smoky finish

Mouthfeel: I can feel the moderate carbonation. This beer has a weakish semi-sweet start with a moderately bitter finish and medium body.

Drinkability: This is the least smoky of the Scherlenkerla offerings and only has a touch of smoke on the aftertaste. A decent lager, I could have two but would no desire for a third.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2009 13:17:10 | More by tigg924

crnipeter

Slovenia

3.63/5  rDev -8.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours relatively thin yet well formed creamy white head that sets to a firm cloth atop of effervescent yellow body with good clarity. The nose is dominated by Pils malt sweetness while smoke is virtually nonexistent. Flavor is pils malt sweetness with woody smokiness and towards the dry finish mild spicy noble hops and hop bitterness show up. Light bodied with moderate carbonation and somewhat creamy sensation.

Serving type: bottle

06-20-2011 21:48:52 | More by crnipeter

mrasskicktastic

New Jersey

3.63/5  rDev -8.3%
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

cbl2

New York

3.65/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

No best by date, but brewed only once.

Pours a crystal clear pale straw with a thin layer of white foam on top that settles quickly.

Slightly smoky like the rest of their beers, though not as prevalent, with some crisp cut grass aromas.

Smoked ham flavor with a mildly hopped drying sensation towards the end. A unique twist on the style.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2006 22:13:45 | More by cbl2

connecticutpoet

Connecticut

3.65/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I heard about this beer last night, and saw that ppoitras found it at Julio's, right near where I work. So I went down at lunch today, and damn I am glad I did! I got the last bottle they had out... the shelf was empty and there was just one in the cooler. Don't know if they had more in the back, the guy I talked to had no clue.

This beer poured out clear and yellow, with a noisy, fizzy head. A pratty average lager look, but with a hint of lacing.

The aroma was hoppy, with hints of lemon and a definite pepperiness.

The taste was definitely smoky. But it wasn't overpowering. The hop bitterness was a little bit much, but overall it was mostly balanced.

Mouthfeel is light and crisp. Pretty good.

Drinkability... a little better than average. Would have given it more, but the bitterness was a wee bit too prominent.

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2006 02:01:26 | More by connecticutpoet

Phyl21ca

Quebec (Canada)

3.65/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle: Poured clear golden yellow color lager with a medium white foamy head with average retention and limited lacing. Aroma of floral malt with some sweetness also noticeable. Taste is a mix between some floral malt with some sweet notes but I could not distinguish any some at all. Body is quite full and slightly oily with some medium carbonation. Interesting but not really smokey.

Serving type: bottle

01-02-2008 16:27:39 | More by Phyl21ca

dsa7783

New Jersey

3.65/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

1 Pint, .09 fl oz bottle copped from Gary's in Madison for $3.29...
Sampled all of this brewery's smoked beers, so I was curious to know what their Helles Lager would taste like...
Overall, this was a typical depiction of a light, easily-drinkable style - certainly nothing above and beyond, but a pleasant drink that was crisp and fairly smooth...
Straw-colored, light-blond appearance with a very minimal foamy head that quickly dissipated and left hardly any lacing...
Faint grainy smell apparent with slight florals thrown into the mix...
Light, crisp, clear, refreshing taste - went down like water with not much going on in this department...
Drinkability was fairly good - easy to down because of the very modest 4.3% ABV...
Otherwise, a decent stab at the style...

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2008 22:06:48 | More by dsa7783

dmamiano

West Virginia

3.65/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Poured a very crispand clean looking golden yellow with ample carbonaton and a nice white head. Nice looking beer.
Smelled a bit spicy and sweet with hints of bannana and bazooka bubble come coming to mind.
Taste was very pleasing with ripe fruitiness more than likely from the yeast dominating.
Very nice on the palate with a pretty god feel and a nice tingle of carbonation. Nice balance of the hops made this a pretty pleasing beer.

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2008 14:02:14 | More by dmamiano

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.65/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle picked up at Chevy Chase in DC. Served in a tulip.

Pours a light straw color with a thin white head and not too much lacing, even after a good swirl to raise the head back up. The nose brings a good amount of smoke along with mild lager characteristics lingering in the background. The smoke definitely overwhelms the lager, which which basically just means a lightly-smoked carbonated beverage. This creates problems for both the nose and the taste. The feel is redeemed is the Helles' crispness is still there and fits well with the smoke. Fairly good, but not my favorite of theirs.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2011 20:29:24 | More by Thorpe429

scruffwhor

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Looks liek a normal helles. Golden, crisp looking yellow with one column of bubbles making its way to the top. But it doesn't smell like your normal helles. It's smoked. But smoked cyrstal and pale malts. Very lioght smokey aroma mixed with grass and pilsnert malts. Tastes like a distant smokehouse. Light mlating with an equally light smoke flavor. Very unique. One of a kind.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2006 22:21:13 | More by scruffwhor

turkob

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

My first review! Studying for the BJCP so here goes

A: Very translucent and absolutely filled with bubbles. Pours a thick, cloudy white head that subsides slowly and looks beautiful. Golden with a hint of amber.

S: Little smell at all. A little sweet, I can pick up a hint of malt and even less noble hops, but really almost completely without aroma.

T: Very crisp. A mild but distinct malt profile with a hint of hops on the finish. Grainy but mostly sweet.

M: Finishes dry. Lots of carbonation makes the beer tingle in your mouth. Not a lot of body, but not thin either.

O: A refreshing and light beer with plenty of flavor to keep you wanting more. I'd like a little more hops on the finish, but you can definitely drink a couple of these without blinking.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2010 02:26:41 | More by turkob

BogleHill

Massachusetts

3.68/5  rDev -7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours out a hazy golden color in appearance. Frothy head dissappears fast. Stagnant particles remain. The aroma is of slightly sweet smoke. The flavor is very roasty caramel with a slight smoke finish. A quite drinkable brew - I would get this again.

Serving type: bottle

07-20-2010 00:45:33 | More by BogleHill

xthemystic

Massachusetts

3.7/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Poured out of bottle.

A: Very clear orange-tinged yellow. No real head to speak of. Strong carbonation activity.

S: Effervescent, light. A sweet grain aroma.

T: Sweet, light. Ghostly hint of smoke in the middle, strengthens on the palate as one progresses.

M: Smooth. Round. Light. Tongue-scrubbing.

D: Very easy to drink. Could easily find myself through a bottle without really thinking about it if i wasn't paying attention.

A good summer beer on a hot day. When foolish people open their cans of Budweiser swill, this would be a tasty, respectable alternative. Very light, but with some nice smoky flavor. Perfect for late summer as airy taste and smell fit with the season, but the underlying smoke lingers as if to remind the palate and the person that cool autumn will soon be on its way.

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2007 20:22:01 | More by xthemystic

rangerred

Tennessee

3.7/5  rDev -6.6%
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

corby112

Pennsylvania

3.73/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 2 | smell: 5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a very pale golden yellow color with a lot of visible carbonation and a thin white head. Aroma is dominated by a smokey woodsy maltiness with very slight golden fuit notes. Golden pilsner altiness with a subtle hop character and a very smokey, characoal wood chip flavor. Dry finish.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2008 00:52:11 | More by corby112

MABZ

Nebraska

3.75/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

This is my favorite of the Aecht Schlenkerla smoked beers. The beechwood smoke is not over the top to the point where it tastes like smoked ham. It is definitely there, however. Not a beer for the feint of heart, even though it is a light lager. I can't wait to be evil to the next retarded customer that comes into my store claiming that they don't like "dark beer." Eh... on second thought, I'm not THAT big of a dick.

The beer pours to a clear golden color with only a feint hint of an amber hue. Nice apparent carbonation supports a thick and creamy white head. Retention is pretty good, and lacing forms a beautiful lattice reminiscent of a bee hive.

The smell is good. Plenty of beechwood smoked malt, though beneath lies a typical German lager vegetal aroma. Has a hint of spicy, maple and hickory smoked bacon, but not to the point of disgust such as the other beers from Aecht Schlenkerla. Rauchbier just isn't my thing (though I do like smoked porter), but this one isn't bad.

The taste is crisp and clean up front with a light sweetness and some vegetal lager flavors. The smoke doesn't hit until the finish, and it seems to come in waves. At first, just pure smoky goodness, but later on in the finish it begins to pick up some more smoked ham flavors. The aftertaste brings it all together and actually makes me appreciate what the beechwood smoked malt has to offer.

The body is fairly thin, as expected, though I thought it would be a little more crisp. A little more cleaner than I expected as well, given the smoke. Good overall. I probably won't drink it again, but at least it has helped me to gain a little more appreciation for rauchbier, which is one of the few German styles I have yet to truly adore.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2007 06:51:47 | More by MABZ

GCBrewingCo

North Carolina

3.78/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer poured into the glass crystal clear pale straw with a white and frothy head which fell slowly and laced the glass.

The aroma was lightly smoky and earthy with a smoked sausage character. Some light malt character was present, but no perceptible hops.

The flavor was light with a mild smoke presence and a tinny, metallic and spicy hop bittering. The bittering was substantial and just a bit harsh. Some malt flavor was present but it was overpowered by bittering and smoke.

The finish was dry with lasting smoke into the aftertaste. The body was medium light. A nice beer, but the bittering seemed just a bit high.

16.9 ounce bottle.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2006 21:29:06 | More by GCBrewingCo