Aecht Schlenkerla Helles Lagerbier

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

This is great beer! Stonecrusher stopped by and mentioned that the case I had was not dated and ran the risk of being old, I trust the big lug so we cracked one in the store to test it. Poured a nice light gold with a thin head, that had me a little worried at first because it died so fast. The smell was slightly smoky, like a nice western highland scotch, wicked with some hops and a good green leaf hint. Had a hint of rye bread in the nose. The taste is smooth with a smoky/hickory pepper that would pair well most cheese, and good marbled beefcuts. It finishes with a subtle malt/hop body thats like a sour dough bread. Best beer I have had in a while. I quote crusher "this beer rocks"

Bottle (500ml). Shared with blankboy and viggo, my bottle. Pale clear yellow, not much head. Sweet and peaty aroma, mild and smoky, floral hops, slighlty pungent on warming. Sweet, sulfur-bandaiids, smoke and bitter herbal hops. Extremely thin yet sticky (lip smacking) body, flat - smokey aftertaste Really wanted to love it; didn’t.

] Pours a clear and effervescent gold, topped by half an inch of white foam. Decent head retention, good webby lacing. Bright and clean malt aroma with quite a bit of tart herbal hop in there too. Second whiff finds some mildly astringent smoke. Tasty beer, the toasted malt provides a backbone to the earthy spicy hops and the mild (by Schlenkerla standards) smoke profile. Very smooth drinking, nice carbonation levels, medium body. Not overly powerful in the smoke department, but still very satisfying

Clear, golden appearance; tiny head; no lacing. Woodsy, peaty, mild smoke aroma with some tart fruit on the back end. Moderately hopped, biscuit-like malt taste. The second hand smoke adds interest to the sometimes staid helles style. Medium bodied, well carbonated mouthfeel. Finish is dry, crisp, long lasting.

Bottle. Poured a small white head that mostly diminished, poor lacing, mostly transparent with a tiny bit of cloudiness, minimal carbonation, and a pale yellow hue. Nose was malty, bready, hint of hops and smoke. Flavor was dry, smokey and earthy. Tingly, dry and smokey mouthfeel. Light-medium body.

This had a very surprising smokey flavor. I did not really expect that taste so it caught me off guard. The cinder flavor was also prominent in the aroma as well. The cinder chimney flavor and taste was not overpowering, but it was rather subtle. The beer also has a cloudy hue to it. I truly felt that I was drinking a beer and smoking a cigarette at the exact same time. Not really the flavotr I was looking for. For those of your that enjoy a nice cigarette or cigar, this would be a great beer for you.

Pour is a cloudy yellow with a average white head. Aroma is fair. A little peat and some smoke deffinatly not expecting that. Flavor is holy smoke! Lots of smoke and peat with some sweetness and a dry bitterness. I have been avoiding this brewer b/c i am not a fan of smoked beers but this was not bad. The smoke did not get in the way and it made for a more exciting lager.

In the 0.5L bottle from Beertopia. Golden yellow in color with a fluffy white head that leaves amazing concentric rings of thick lacing. Aroma is a faint, but established smoked scent. Flavor only has a mild smokiness, earthy and peat-like flavors are stronger. Delicious finish of bitterness on the back of the tongue lingers for a long time on this otherwise crisp beer. Very good.