Aecht Schlenkerla Helles Lagerbier

Brewed by Brauerei Heller
Style: Dortmunder/Helles
Bamberg, Bayern, Germany

Poured a very clear straw color with very little head that disappears quickly. Aroma is slightly smoky with a faint hint of spice. Palate was thicker than expected for a 4.3% lager. Smokiness is up front with a nice grainy taste and a heavy finish. This was pretty refereshing and the smokiness was pleasant and not overwhelming. I’ll drink the second half of the bottle with a steak.

Savannah, Ga. - Habersham Beverages, 500 ml bottle. Murky medium gold pour, kind of lifeless, light white head. Aroma of a freshly open can of sardines - not much else - stays potent throughout. Flavor has a strong smoky, sweet, chewy flavor that is not meant for the uninhibited or unaware. Pick up a hint of miso soup as well - odd, yes. Mouthfeel is thick enough. Not an everday beer and not meant for a hot day. Like all the other smoked beers from this brewer - difficult to tell which style this beer was originally before if got smoked.

Bottle. Pale gold with a moderate white head. Aroma of sweet malt and floral hops with a hint of smoke. Flavour started sweet before smokiness kicked in. The finish was pleasantly bitter. Unusual.

Cask, GBBF 2007. Golden with an off-white head. Aromas are caramel malts with good smoky notes and some metal. Flavours are hay and caramel with crisp soft citrus. Some toast. Floral with some soapiness. Smoky and sweet.

A yellow beer with a slightly smoked aroma and flavor; nothing special here.

Golden with dense white head, fades to film, decent lacing. Bacon up front, dry biscuit character takes over, somewhat grainy in the background. Flavor much the same. Smoky bacon, dry biscuit/pils malt, very grainy, some residuel sweetness, with herbal/grassy hops near the finish. While it doesn’t sound like much, at least in my words, this is a very nice brew overall. Well balanced, very clean, and highly sessionable. Would have to guess this is one of the better "lagers" I’ve ever had. Not a euro-styles expert, but reminds me of some sort of smoked maibock-pils something or other.

Draft - Clear golden color with a hint of smoke in the aroma and a thin white head. I loved the taste of this beer. A subdued smoky flavor with an excellent helles backbone. Could drink it all day.

bottle, thanks to MoritzF! Pale yellow, medium-sized head. The aroma is not smoky. However, in the taste the smokiness is clearly detectable. Starts rather smoky, the middle püart is smoky as well, the finish is dominated by hops. Not as full-bodied and smoky as other Schlenkerla beers, but still very very nice.