Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock

Brewed by Brauerei Heller
Style: Smoked
Bamberg, Germany

Serve in Dimpled mug, Lager glass, Stein

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I just finished my Bavarian dinner of cabbage, wurst, apples and potatoes -- I wanted some kind of complement to but no obstruction of my tasting of this sought after beer. The cold aroma is like a doused beach bonfire. The warm aroma smacks of nonkosher smoked swine ass but less so than the maerzen. I was expecting a greater whallop in both the malt and the smoke/ hop balance but as I’d imagined the malt quietly fills in the spaces left by the billowing smoke. The texture is phenomenal -- easy, soft, even wet in a good way. This is not a whalloping beer nor do I find it in any way challenging, although it is a smoked beer and novices might proceed with caution.

Wow. It’s been a few months since I’ve had rauchbier and this sample marks the fourth in two days. And the best. Nice malt and hops balance with just the right amount of smokiness. Pleasant bitterness left on the tongue. Very nice rauchbier. Now only if I could get my hands on some Rauchenfels Steinbrau for comparison of a stone beer vs. rauchbier....

Its ok, but a bit too smokey, I don’t think i could drink more than one bottle in a sitting.

One of, if not the best smoked beers I’ve had. The strong smoke aroma can almost drive you away if you are not ready for it. The sweet malt coupled with the mild smoked flavors blend well witha smooth rich mouth fell. The aroma disipates during the course of imbibing and leads to some nice malt aromas.

UPDATED: JUL 28, 2010 Bottle. Head is initially average sized, frothy, light brown, mostly lasting. Body is dark brown. Aroma is moderately malty (toasted dark bread, caramel), with notes of savory smoke (wood and meat), leather, and cumin. Flavor is moderately to heavily sweet, lightly bitter. Finish is lightly to moderately sweet, moderately bitter. Medium to full body, velvety/watery texture, lively/soft carbonation, lightly alcoholic. Probably my fave of the three main beers...richer and less smoke-driven than the maerzen, although I’m not always in the mood for that. I really need to try making a blend of the maerzen and bock...my usual mood is for something in between the two in terms of body, richness/sweetness, and alcohol.

It taste like a BBQ potato chip!!! I can’t believe how much I love this stuff. I loved it from the first smokey aroma to the last smokey sip. This is deffinitly the one of the strangest beers I have ever had and one of my Favorites!!!

A truly special brew! Worthy of slow contemplation. Somehow, an entire smokehouse was crammed into the bottle.

Paid too much (actually it was worth it) and got a bottle of this stuff... WOW! It’s like drinking beer in front of a fireplace, only without the ashes in your face. Considering the fact that I add liquid smoke to almost everything I cook (Except for scrambled eggs and most stir fry) this stuff really appealed to me! This is the first beer I have bought based solely on the recommendation of Ratebeer.com and I am impressed... the panel scores a hit with this one... Something wrong with the way it smells though, like liquid smoke the smell seemed artificial, but the beer itself tasted like smokehouse scrapings, and not like a cedar closet, or other attempts at ’woodsy’ beers. I like a smokey flavor more in scotch or bourbon, but for beer, this was great, will recommend for those with the green to blow on a bottle.

Very smoky beer. Good flavor, but the head was weak. Tastes somewhat like smoked sausage and is very thick on the tongue. Good for its style.

This scores a near ’perfect,’ due to the fact that this is such a difficult style to master. This is balance perfection. Pours with no head, yet the aroma of smoked pork hits you immediately after popping; very murky and an interesting bronze color. Body is oh so soft and silky with a superb underlying bock presence. A nice sourness comes through after the bombardment of chocolate and fruitiness. This is so much better second time around and gets better with every sip.