Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen - Brauerei Heller-Trum / Schlenkerla

Pahn

New York

3.73/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

500ml bottle into Duvel tulip.

Appearance: Free pour yields a three inch, rocky offwhite head that dissipates slowly leaving thick lacing. Pours a dark brown and leaves a few lines of short-lasting lacing.

Smell: Some smoke and toast. Subtle, mild smell. Some bland maltiness underneath the smoke.

Taste: Follows the nose. Smooth bland lager then tons of campfire / wood burning stove smoke that's savory and complex, lasting into a long, surprisingly dry finish. The smoke is bold but not palate wrecking or mouthcoating or anything; for such a strong flavor, it's quite delicate.

While the non-smoke flavors unfortunately don't get past bland, white-bread maltiness, the smoke develops quite a bit; there's charcoal, ash, burnt bacon, and more. The other aspects of the beer don't "fail to stand up to the smoke," but rather are just 1-dimensional to begin with. White bread and a hint of lager-y tartness. Some bitterness would really set this beer off.

Mouthfeel: Light side of medium bodied, but with some creaminess. Unexpectedly (and unwelcomely) dry finish. Too low carbonation.

Overall: Nice flavor. While on its own there's a lot of things that leave me a bit unsatisfied, the beer earns an extra point in "Overall" for how well it pairs with food. If this were "Pairing-food-with-beer-advocate," this one would get an easy 5.

I generally don't like to drink beer while I eat, but I had a hunch that this would pair well with a veggie burger (w/ onions, mustard, ketchup, salt, pepper, tomatoes, garlic powder) and vegetable soup (lots of salt, herbs, freshly cracked black pepper). My hunch was right. If you're looking for a beer to drink with burgers and/or aggressively seasoned soups, look no further. The delicate flavors in this beer don't just stand up to salt and spices, they beautifully compliment them while themselves getting more intense.

I can't think of a better beer for a barbecue. Pairs amazingly.

Serving type: bottle

04-17-2011 00:57:44 | More by Pahn

kvnstfrd

Missouri

3/5  rDev -25.7%

05-23-2013 12:53:03 | More by kvnstfrd

NOLANDMAN

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

05-21-2013 03:15:58 | More by NOLANDMAN

johntfox

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

05-20-2013 23:48:08 | More by johntfox

jarrett123

New York

4.5/5  rDev +11.4%

05-20-2013 04:10:45 | More by jarrett123

tom10101

Quebec (Canada)

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

05-19-2013 18:18:39 | More by tom10101

PopGun

Louisiana

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

05-19-2013 14:47:35 | More by PopGun

tjsdomer2

Illinois

4.23/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.25

Appearance: Dark brown after the pour, but ruby red when held up to light. A bit flat though.

Smell: Cigar smoke and molasses. Some bacon as well. Incredible.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Smoked sausage and a hint of scotch. Some tobacco and molasses as well. I enjoy this a lot, but wish it were stronger. Feels really thin initially, which hurts the flavor a bit by watering it down. Feels better as it warms.

Overall Drinkability: This is a good beer, but is not as good as Schlenkerla Eiche. I do love the overall warming effect this has, which is definitely a good quality.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 02:19:48 | More by tjsdomer2

tbone1384

Wyoming

4.75/5  rDev +17.6%

05-19-2013 01:16:21 | More by tbone1384

jonmikel

Spain

1.25/5  rDev -69.1%

05-18-2013 20:05:26 | More by jonmikel

touchmeimsac

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +17.6%

05-18-2013 14:12:36 | More by touchmeimsac

superspak

Michigan

4.2/5  rDev +4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

500 ml bottle into pint glass, no bottle dating. Pours fairly clear medium reddish brown color with a dense 2 finger cream colored head with great retention, that reduces to a nice cap that lingers. Dense spotty soapy lacing clings down the glass, with some moderate streaming carbonation. Aromas of huge smoked wood, caramel, brown sugar, toast, bacon, ham, light roasted malt, brown bread, and smoked earthiness. Fantastic aromas with very prominent smoke character; with great balance and complexity of malt and smoke notes. Taste of smoked wood, caramel, brown sugar, toast, ham, brown bread, bacon, floral, light roasted malt, light clove, and smoked earthiness. Lingering notes of smoked wood, ham, caramel, brown sugar, toast, light roasted malt, brown bread, and smoke earthiness on the finish for a good bit. Very nice balance and complexity of malt and smoked flavors; with nice robustness and no cloying flavors after the finish. Medium carbonation and body; with a fairly creamy and smooth mouthfeel that is nice. Alcohol is very well hidden with only a slight warming noticed after the finish. Overall this is a highly excellent Rauchbier style! Great balance and complexity of smoke and malt flavors; and very smooth to drink. A highly enjoyable offering.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 04:27:23 | More by superspak

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

05-16-2013 14:00:25 | More by Slatetank

tootsMcGee

Oregon

5/5  rDev +23.8%

05-13-2013 01:03:13 | More by tootsMcGee

Bellonc

Spain

2/5  rDev -50.5%

05-11-2013 19:00:51 | More by Bellonc

donzilake

Ohio

3.75/5  rDev -7.2%

05-11-2013 15:07:47 | More by donzilake

JakeDebus

Maryland

3.5/5  rDev -13.4%

05-10-2013 15:58:52 | More by JakeDebus

nullbort

Ontario (Canada)

2.5/5  rDev -38.1%

05-08-2013 20:51:21 | More by nullbort

mjtierney2

Germany

4.75/5  rDev +17.6%

05-08-2013 18:42:53 | More by mjtierney2

dalepryor

Kentucky

4/5  rDev -1%

05-07-2013 22:57:27 | More by dalepryor

GuzzLah

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A - pours a dark brown-burgundy. Short head. Faint lace. No bubbles.

S - smoked ham, green beans, burnt wood and molasses.

T - is similar to the aroma with mild floral hops and light sweetness.

M - medium body. Low carbonation. Oily.

O - mighty good smoke beer that doesn't overdo it.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 20:12:18 | More by GuzzLah

brittanyshelby

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +5.2%

05-01-2013 18:36:19 | More by brittanyshelby

Kyrojack

Indiana

4/5  rDev -1%

05-01-2013 00:33:16 | More by Kyrojack

jacothom

Indiana

2.5/5  rDev -38.1%

04-30-2013 20:50:04 | More by jacothom

Zachtheporter

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -13.4%

04-30-2013 19:16:46 | More by Zachtheporter