Brauerei Heller-Trum / Schlenkerla

DoubleJ

California

3.82/5  rDev -8.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3 | $

Perceived as the crown jewel of Bamberg regarding beer culture and for good reason; their smoked beers are delicious. Judging by the crowds on the street with and without glasses of Aecht-Schlenkerla in their hands, I would think that this area also has a lot of sightseeing. There are a few rooms to Schlenkerla, which I was lucky to find a rare empty seat for myself. The cool part being I was at the place which makes a style of beer which I love. The downside being that there were only two beer options; the smoked marzen, or the smoked weizen. I stayed classic and got the marzen, which was very well balanced between the smoke and malt, better balanced and fresher than anything I could get in California. Both styles are served in their own glass and in half-liter quantities, and at €2.50 and €2.70 respectively, is actually cheaper here than at any bottleshop where I live! Go for the experience, have a rauchbier, and get back to taking pictures of the town.

05-09-2013 19:20:09 | More by DoubleJ

Jwale73

Rhode Island

4.16/5  rDev -0.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.25 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4.25 | $

Visited on 4/8/2013 with Thirstybird - Day 2 in Bamberg. Walking into Schlenkerla is like walking into the past. As you enter the establishment (the interior was cobbled stone I believe), the left-hand rooms resembled more of a public-house with communal seating occupied by many of the regulars. We opted to sit in a room to the right -the "Klause." According to their website, the Klause "used to be the house chapel of the dominican monastery and was used for daily prayer." This room is spectacular - low, vaulted ceilings, and a great deal of wood definitely gives it a chapel-like feel. I enjoyed the Marzen off the oak barrel, as well as the Weizen from the bottle. The weisswurst with mustard and a german pretzel were quite delicious and incredibly inexpensive. After we finished our lunch, and before our trek to Brauerei Griefenklau, we did a quick walkthrough. As you proceed into further into the exterior, there is a courtyard which must be quite pleasant in the spring and summer, as well as a small window where you can buy a limited amount of souvenirs as well as beers to go. Not to be passed up if you are visiting Bamberg, which in and of itself is a simply beautiful city.

04-28-2013 01:19:26 | More by Jwale73

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.78/5  rDev +14.6%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.75 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.75 | $

The most famous rauchbier producer is located right in the heart of old town Bamberg. It's a beautiful appearance in front and feels old world on the inside as well. Beautiful woodwork throughout, with extremely detailed metal work on even minor details such as door hinges. Dark wooden beams provide the support for vaulted arches in the ceiling, with tasteful designs in paint on the remaining plaster. Gorgeous, this place truly earns a score of "5" on atmosphere.

The beauty is one reason to come, the second reason is the very reasonably priced food. Not only is it cheaper than that found in breweries at other (larger) cities, it's equally or possibly even more delicious. Roasted pork knuckle with potato dumpling for under 10 euros, absolutely satisfying and very cheap.

The third and probably most important attribute, at least for BA, is the beer selection. They only serve their house beers, but you wouldn't be here if you didn't want them. I had the Rauch-Marzen and the Fastenbier (roughly Easter timing for this visit) and was very happy. I've had both in the States, with the Fastenbier being much preferred due to its softer mouthfeel and more balanced flavor.

Service is excellent, same as it is everywhere in this region. Bamberg is a must-visit for any beer geek, and Schlenkerla is high on the list of stops while here.

03-16-2013 23:02:48 | More by TurdFurgison

Hopfenpeter

Maryland

4.7/5  rDev +12.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5 | $$

The "Schlenkerla" Brewery is situated in the heart of the old city of Bamberg. Cobblestone streets and Mideavel buildings is the surrounding atmosphere. Entering the building there are four main areas. Two eating rooms where fine German cuisine is served, a stone hall,which is mainly for drinking a quick beer, and a beer garden. The service is very good, typical for the area called Franken. The food is outstanding and the beer freshly poured from wooden barrels. A dream forcthe beeradvokat.

02-22-2012 03:34:41 | More by Hopfenpeter

18alpha

Montana

4.18/5  rDev +0.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | $$

Schenkerla Rauchbier Märzen is the defining beer in the Rauchbier style. You really have to try it if you are interested in smoked beers. The first taste is extraordinary--like nothing I've ever tried. I've heard terms like "drinking a glass of bacon", "liquid smoke" and "ham in a glass". All pretty accurate. What is truly amazing about this beer is the finish. You wouldn't think a beer like this could have a clean finish but it does. After your taste buds get over the first shock, this is a great session beer. Which brings me to the location...

Drinking beer in a basement in Germany with bier flowing from wooden casks and coats of arms from the local knights hanging by the window is beer lover heaven. The whole vibe is "old style German beer drinking". Long wooden benches, wooden casks with traditional taps pounded in with a mallet.

Forgive me if the details are a little fuzzy, I haven't been to this pub in about 12 years but since it hadn't changed much in the previous 100 years, I doubt it has changed too much since 1999. The afternoon I spent in Brauerie Heller-Trum is one of the best beer memories of my lifetime.

11-05-2011 01:00:01 | More by 18alpha

TeamUgly

California

4.2/5  rDev +0.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $

Bamberg, Germany is a must if you planning on being within 250km of this town.U.N. heritage site plus Rauchbier served from a wooden cask Pick up a free map of this area from the tourist office within walking distance from this gastohaus.

Upon our arrival we were directed to sit at a long table with two locals sitting at each end. The staffs english skills were same as my very limited german. The order of pork leg was served no less than five minutes after the Rauchbier's arrival. This Rauchbier is worth the train ride. I didn't try the other two offererings on the menu. We didn't snoop around the property due my poor german skills, but this area is a great side trip. Across the street is a gift shop that sells other brews, at room temperature, from this area.

10-08-2011 20:53:04 | More by TeamUgly

bark

Sweden

3.79/5  rDev -9.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | $$

This is the archetype of the Bamberg bierstube: The interior made of dark wood, the green tile stove, the beer window, the wooden cask with Rauchbier, the regular’s table, the guests drinking on the stairs or on the street outside the house, the friendly yet a bit sulky staff, the beer garden at the narrow inner court, the hunters trophies on the wall and the decorations made of dried flowers.

Yes. It is all there. And then the rauchbier, served from a large wooden cask. There might be other beers in this style and some of them even better than this one, yet it is the Schenkerla Rauchbier Märzen that the others are measured by.

The beer list is short: Schenkerla Rauchbier Märzen on cask and Schenkerla RauchbierWeizen on bottle. In late autumn, a Rauchbock is also served.

An institution in the world of beer.

09-17-2011 18:53:32 | More by bark

skypup

Germany

4.1/5  rDev -1.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | food: 5 | $$

Stop number 5 on my Beer Trail of Bamberg, Germany. An exceptionally beautiful city with amazing atmosphere despite being very busy and a tad touristy.

Made this stop on after Das Ambräusianum. Very busy atmosphere and we sat at a shared table that was due to be reserved and only free for about 45 minutes to fit in a quick beer.

Had the rauch-marzen and a rauch weizen, with a Bamberger Zweibel (stuffed onion with dark beer sauce).

The famous Marzen rauchbier is available at tourist stands around the altstadt (old city) for about 1.50 Euro per bottle, but it is cheaper to buy at the local grocery stores where a flat that I mixed and matched with other Bamberger Rauch brews only costed me about 17 Euro for 20 beers.

Great place to visit again.

09-11-2011 11:36:39 | More by skypup

CampusCrew

Florida

4.7/5  rDev +12.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5 | $$

Ummm... I can't beleive tha oppourtunity to have a beer in one of the most famous brew pubs in the world. The capital of smoked beers. I actually did a brewery tour which is about a few miles away. That was amazing and a must do. It's near the Spezial beer garden and a good idea to do them at the same trip.

The brewpub is expceptional and atomopehere an A plus. great service, way above avg German pub fare which suprised me. It was some of the best German good I had on the trip, well done! Only beef is that all the beers were not present for sampling. But still, and amzing visit and Bamberg is worth going out of your way to visit.

06-23-2011 21:15:16 | More by CampusCrew

atis

Finland

4.43/5  rDev +6.2%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

We went there in the morning and the room to the left was not even remotely packed, there were some locals, but enough space for many more. Seeing that everyone just ordered beer and were eating the food they had brought with them (I suppose it was too early and no food was served yet), we too unpacked our sandwiches.

It was wonderful, just sitting there in one of the most important historic sites in Bamberg, sipping beer and enjoying the atmosphere with a few chatty locals around.

And, of course, beer from the barrel was excellent, as expected.

06-04-2011 19:01:33 | More by atis