Aecht Schlenkerla Helles Lagerbier

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

Robe blonde très claire surmontée d’une mousse blanche épaisse qui persiste. Arômes de levures, de fruits et de céréales. Saveurs de céréales, de houblon amérisant herbacé et de fumée.

Pousr medium yellow with small white head. Nose is faint Noble hops and malty creaminess. Bitter notes predominate in the flavor, with a hint of smoke that is overwhelmed by the fact that I am barbecuing. Honeyed towards the end. Medium body. I think it’s good.

Poured a very pale straw yellow, translucent, with a dense head which faded rapidly. Little lacing. Aroma of Noble hops, some generic maltiness with slight liqourice/honey/caramel, and just a tiny hint of smoke. The taste was weak, watery with slight Saaz and Hallertau hops, and some sweet honey/caramel (which became more prominent in the finish). Some smokiness in the finish too, albeit very slight - especially for Schlenkerla standards. After drinking 3/4 of this beer I was missing the smokiness so much that I threw some Laphroaig whisky in the glass - ahh, that peatiness is more like I’d expect from Schlenkerla! Watery mouthfeel, medium/low carbonation. An easy-drinking, light, and bland lager.

Bottle. Clear golden amber, with a medium quick dissipating head. Malty aroma, wet hops with honey and apples. I missed the smokiness in the first few sips, it’s got a bit of honey sweetness to it. After that the smoke takes hold, it’s more subtle than the other schlenkerla beers, but very noticeable in this more delicate style. When the smoke clears, the body emerges a little bit on the thin side, and hints of plastic linger. I think this has some interesting food and beer pairing potential, more so than their other brews. Being a fan of both smoked and helles styles, I found this justa little less satisfying than other beers of equal quality in each independent style. Regardless, good overall.

Yellow pour, frothy lasting head, very smokey and bandaid taste, very different but that is not always good.

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.