Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier

Hailing from the northern Franconian town of Bamberg, Aecht Schlenkerla truly is the quintessential rauchbier. The aroma, redolent of rich beech wood smoke, pervades the room as soon as the beer hits the glass. Though pungently smoky, the aroma still evinces a slightly toasty malt character under the beech wood. The panel unanimously praised the intense yet deftly balanced smoke, with Rick likening the aroma to a campfire breakfast. Pete found the smokiness appetizing but was impressed with the luscious, slightly caramelly malt component lurking below. Pouring a brilliantly clear amber and sporting a prodigious off-white head, the beer even looks smoky. The flavor tracks perfectly with the aroma, once again showcasing the brewer’s exceptional skill at providing an intense smoke experience without detracting from the beer itself. Underneath the smoke, the flavor profile is classic Märzen, with hints of Munich malt peeking through the shroud of smoke. Nick was floored by the interplay between flavors of luscious malt and profound smokiness, comparing the overall experience to spending a day in a smokehouse. While rauchbiers may not be every beer drinker’s choice for a session beer and are somewhat of an acquired taste, this is the stuff of liters for beer connoisseurs. Schlenkerla is a world-class beer and a perfect complement to any evening meal.