Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen - Brauerei Heller-Trum / Schlenkerla

ThisWangsChung

Maryland

4.3/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

16.9 fl oz bottle poured into a regular glass. I'm following herrburrgess' suggestion of having this after multiple beers in a sitting.

A: Pours a dark burgundy color with great translucence in spite of its shade. The head is a two finger light mocha color with lowish retention, but a nice texture. Spotty patches of lacing left on the glass.

S: Holy crap, this is smoky. Admittedly, I'm no bacon fan, but this definitely has a bacon vibe to it. Tons of wood, saltiness, and of course smoke come across strongly on the aroma. Wonderfully augmented by its subtle marzen sweetness from the malt.

T: Initial flavors are, of course, smoky. Lots of beechwood and bacon-y sweetness open the initial sips. Also, it's not as phenolic as I feared, thankfully. The rauch profile calms down as more of the beer is imbibed, allowing its marzen roots to shine through - the way the flavor progresses gradually from rauchbier to marzen is almost masterful, as before long, the flavor profile switches to a caramely, nutty composition where the smoke only augments things. However, it's a slow sipper, if only because it behooves the drinker to find differing subtleties in the flavor from sip to sip. For what it's worth, it's the most complex lager I've ever had, and it's balanced like a champ to boot.

M: Well textured (not too thick or too thin), with a light bittersweet dryness. Carbonation is near perfect.

O: If I didn't follow the suggestions of herrburgess and drink this as my first beer of the night, I likely would have gone "LOL BACON SUX I NO LIEK THIS BEER" and given it something along the lines of a 2.55 overall. Luckily, I took his word seriously, and the beers I had before helped smooth this out brilliantly. It's one of those beers that works better the more you drink it, allowing me to see it for the incredible beer that it is.

Serving type: bottle

08-02-2012 21:46:00 | More by ThisWangsChung

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

JLapadura

New York

4/5  rDev -1%

04-30-2013 00:59:10 | More by JLapadura