Aecht Schlenkerla Helles Lagerbier

on tap @ the Lazy Boy, White Plains NY. A smoky beer - you have to try it. Would not drink it all night, but worth a try. Interesting flavor - grainy, malty + hoppy, but not too extreme in either. A good blend

Bottled. Poured a clear medium golden with a short, well-retained cap of creamy white head... some very light sediment floating around in there. Aroma was of sweet floral and biscuity notes with a hint of lemon and just a touch of smoke. Flavor had a very nice bready base with accents of lemon and smoke.. mild floral and herbal bitterness work well in here. Light-bodied with great balance to it.. finish was a touch sharp. Enjoyed it.

On tap at Map Room, Chicago. Has that Saaz hops taste, and a slight smoky flavor. The smoke is not as strong as their other rauchbiers. I’m not a big pilsner fan, so I’m probably giving this a lower rater than the typical beer fan. It just had an overall metallic taste that I didn’t like-- like Pilsner Urquell.

Pours gold with a thick white head. Aroma of malt, earth, butter and some smoke. Flavor is basically of a helles with smoky notes. Balanced palate with medium mouthfeel. Could be darker, but an interesting beer.

Bottled: Light smoky aroma, malty, butter, hoppy and a bit grainy. Golden color. Smoky but not too intensive smoky flavor. Sweetness, malty and light grassy notes. Astringent, hopped and light bitter finish. A bit too light bodied.

Bottle. Clear medium yellow / orange color with a average frothy good lacing white head. Aroma is moderate malty, toasted, bread light, grain, light hoppy, grass, earth, butter, light light smoke. Flavor is moderate sweet and light bitter with a average to long duration. Body is medium, texture is watery to oily, carbonation is soft.

Tap. Very quaint and refreshing helles, though not quite what one would expect from Schlenkerla, nor a helles, if that makes sense. A bit of off bitterness, but a very clean finish, quite quaffable. Pleasant.

Pale yellow-golden pour with small white head that diminishes quickly. Combination of light smoke and bready grain in the aroma. Bitter finish after a slightly sweet start. Subtle flavors of bacon, dough. Crisp mouthfeel and the finish is moderately long. Medium body. Very nice.