Aecht Schlenkerla Fastenbier

Brewed by Brauerei Heller
Style: Smoked
Bamberg, Bayern, Germany

Growler, via GodOfThunder. Pours a slightly hazy dark amber body with a frothy one inch off-white head that left lots of delicate lacing. The nose is only a beer Schlenkerla could pull off. Amazing campfire smokiness with a slightly sweet maltiness, just damn near perfect. Makes me want a side order of bacon with this. Up front and aggressive meaty smokiness dominates the flavor from front to back. There’s a good bit of malt, but not caramel or toffee, just a little toasty and a little sweet. There may be a bit of a hop influence on the finish, but I just can’t get my mind off the smoke to appreciate it. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, fairly soft and creamy in texture with perfect soft pinpoint carbonation. Lingering smoked jerky like finish. This was great, it’s been too long since I had a beer from Schlenkerla.

Growler generously shared by theisti. Pours a pretty, bright reddish iced-tea color with a thin wispy white head. The nose is of subtle smoked malt and smoked pork. An exercise in restraint, when compared to most of the smoked brews that I’ve sampled, the aroma on this beer is very, very nice. Light-bodied and lightly effervescent with a pleasant mineral quality at the finish. Soft, sweet, smoky malt with a balancing mineral and lightly bitter finish. This is a very nice beer: easily the best light-bodied smoked beer that I’ve tried. Thanks a ton for sharing this treat with us, Tim.

On tap @ Map Room. Resin colored, clear w/ a huge, frothy head; subtle smoked aroma w/ some coriander and spices; lighter than their Marzen and more complex; ends smoky, dry, bitter, caramel...wow!

Growler filled at Uber Tavern in Seattle for me and graciously sent by bvc. Growler was filled 9 days ago. Pour is hazed brown, orange golden with a smallish off white head. Aroma of soft smoky roastiness, smoked ham and behind that very natural toasted maltiness. Smoke enhances everything, so soft, gentle, just a wonderful nose. Taste is the smoke primarily, clean, fresh with nice full freshly baked toasty bread maltiness behind that. Again the smoke taste is very much smoked ham. The smoke is forefront, but not overwhelming. Also some light fruit sweetness is present to even out the smoke and malt. As with the nose, nicely integrated and melded. Very tasty. Palate is medium, slightly mouth coating, with an interesting slight bitterness to the finish. Super drinkable. Wow, really great, thanks for all of the effort on this Brandon.

From a growler, with a big thanks to theisti (and bvc) for the chance to try! Rating #600, Woo-Hoo! Pours a slightly hazy brownish orange with a decent tan head that lingers and rouses easily. Aroma is an intense smoke, meat, light caramel, and campfire, this might be the most intense and interesting smoked aroma I’ve smelled yet. Flavor is more meat, smoke, and light caramel, and is very drinkable. Excellent stuff, especially on a cool evening, and no doubt my highest rated smoked beer to date. Thanks again Tim!

Draft at Uber. Pours a crystal clear dark maple-y brown. Towering, thick, fluffy tan head that takes forever to settle. Our man on the case behind the bar had knives, spoons, spare pitchers, spare stanges, and plenty of banter at the ready to manage people while he poured stanges of this one. It looks watery and perfectly translucent, but, man, it billows. Great big fat campfire, bacon, and beef jerky nose--all that smoke finds every possible way to show off in the aromatics, as you might expect. Creamy medium body. Smoke hits you right off the attack. There’s some doughy malt under that, and bits of nitrogen, which is rather unfortunate. Plenty of smoke riding shotgun over all, though. Another big smoky delight from Aecht--never get tired of their rauchy goodness.

Draft at Uber. Pours a clear but deep rich brown color with amber tints a big fluffy off white head. Man, I could smell the smoke on this one as Ken placed it on the coaster in front of me. Aroma is slightly sweet with malt and caramel and then just deep inviting smoke. Not the kind of smoke that makes you want to switch your position around the campfire, but the kind of smoke that you get with fantastic piece of smoked meat or fish. As I drink this one, it reminds me of a mix between the Märzen and the Helles. All the smokey goodness of the Märzen but with a lighter body and the refreshing crispness of the Helles; super drinkable. I had been anticipating this beer and was not let down.

simply amazoing.Poured a brown hue with a tan head aroma was of smoke,dried fruits and a subtle sweetness. Flavor was very complex with good smoke notes that never seemed to be overpowering. Flavor had a sublte sweetness to it which balanced out the peat qualities. Finish was somewhat dry.