The usual Schlenkerla bottle shape, purchased from Green's on Ponce in Atlanta, GA, USA. The pour is a particularly attractive, gold color with a moderate, white head. It looks really nice in terms of the color, but I would much prefer a bigger and better retained head. It lacks a little in that department, but the color is really superb. Very nice carbonation. The nose delivers the usual Schlenkerla bacon smoke, but it seems more complex and layered than some of the other Schlenkerla beers....
Notes on beers in the style
Rauchbier
Z Lager
12 oz single from Total Wine, Perimeter, Atlanta, GA, USA. Nice copper clarity in the body and some decent head and lace form in the pint glass. Looks nice. Carbonation is constant if not huge, but at the same time it is adequate. Nose has a tiny bit of smoke but this is not a large presence. The main component seems to be a solid malt base. The smoke is slightly more pronounced in the taste but it still remains fairly mild. The depth of smoke does not require food in the way that some other...
Eisenbahn Rauchbier
12 oz, $1.99 single from Green's, Atlanta, GA, USA. This is the Defumada, blue labeled, "Smoked Lager" presentation. Pour is quite frankly a beautifully colored, deep mahoghany color. The head, lace and retention are not good, but the color is very attractive. Nose surprisingly does not reveal any smoke. It just gives a light alcohol and some really dense, malty sweetness. The taste gives away the first hint of smoke. It's very subtle and to be honest the beer drinks more like a Doppelbock...
Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock
Additional notes 05/02/2022 Such a pretty beer (the 2022 version is pictured). Luscious smoke permeates every part of the beer, and induces a gulping motion in me. The sweetness is there as I noted back in 2008, and I always find this so tremendously satisfying. One 500 mL bottle is all I have want, but the way that this beer fills a singular void that no other can is, well, uncanny. Original notes 07/27/2008 Took a long time to get around to formally reviewing this - I don't know why. 500 mL...
Terrapin RoggenRauchBier
22oz bomber, $5.99 from Green's on Ponce, Atlanta, GA, USA. Good clarity on the pour with a chestnut colored hue, an initial large, off-white head then a thin film and very little lace. Nose has a hint of smoke but it is not substantial. Similarly in the taste there is a little smoke, not much rye and a rather lackluster feel to the whole thing. Slight bitterness in the finish, but it's not much at all. Has the feel of a rather weak, poor Brown Ale with a light body. I opened this purposely...
Aecht Schlenkerla Helles Lagerbier
500 mL bottle, $3.99 from Arbor Place Beverage, Douglasville, GA, USA. Been meaning to try this for a long time, finally got around to it this weekend. Amazing yellow clarity in the body with a short lived head and no lace. Macro lager appearance. I thought I was losing my mind when I tasted this up front. There was smoke! Mild but noticeable nonetheless. Apparently, the beer becomes "smoked" just by virtue of the fact that it passes through the brewery where all of the other smoked beers are...
Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Weizen
500 mL bottle, Tower, Piedmont, Atlanta, GA, USA. Nice looking with a decent darkish amber body and some attractive head. Very light lacing, decent carbonation. In typical Heller-Trum style, the aroma is a basically a side of smoked ham in a glass! A great beer to enjoy with your grilled or BBQ'd meats. Unlike some of the other beers in the style, I found that the smoke here did not really overpower the beer. In other examples I found the smoke to dominate to such an extent that other...
Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen
Additional Notes: 05/03/2022 This is the bottle pictured. Reading my original notes (below) from 17 years ago I’m a little surprised, since now I really enjoy this beer. To be honest, much more than a couple in any 12 month period is about all that I need, and I still find it best paired with food, but the words, “simply isn’t to my liking” is now just no longer true. I really enjoy it. Original Notes: 06/29/2005 Well, it's obviously an acquired taste, and it's going to take some people by...