Aecht Schlenkerla Helles Lagerbier Review

Name: Aecht Schlenkerla Helles Lagerbier
Style: Munich Helles
ABV: 4.3%

It's been a long while since I've taken a look at anything from Schlenkerla, which is a brewery based out of Germany. In fact, the last time I had anything from them was when I had their Rauchbier during the infancy stages of this blog. Now I've been given the opportunity to review another beer from this brewery, which so happens to be their Helles Lagerbier.

Before I start this beer, I want to throw out that I haven't been reviewing as many imported craft beer as I would like. Hopefully from this point forward, I can make reviewing them more of a priority.

The beer hazy yellow color with a high amount of visible carbonation. The head is very thin white color with no visible lacing.

The aroma has some strong smoked malts and light roastiness, followed by some yeastiness, pale malts and a light floral hoppiness. Just like their Rauchbier, it smells like a bonfire.

The flavor is quite smoky with some smoked & pale malts, lager yeasts, floral hops and a very light roastiness. The aftertaste is surprisingly dry with just a light smokiness.

The body is pretty light in terms of weight and the carbonation is just a couple notches above what I would consider to be mild, but at the same time, it's not moderate either.

Like the Rauchbier before it, Helles Lagerbier shows to be a great tasting beer that, to an extent, treads some familiar territory with the flavor. Regardless, anyone who wants an authentic German beer will no doubt find something to love about this.

Aecht Schlenkerla Helles Lagerbier - 8.5/10

Stone 17th Anniversary Götterdämmerung IPA Review

Name: Stone 17th Anniversary Götterdämmerung IPA
Style: Imperial IPA
ABV: 9.5%
IBUs: 102

Stone Brewing has been in business for 17 years and they celebrate with a special edition beer every year to mark the occasion. This year it's an Imperial IPA called Götterdämmerung, which is German for "Twilight of the Gods". The name itself comes from an an opera by created by German composer Richard Wagner.

The reason for the tongue twisting name is because this beer uses all German malts and hops; In fact, some of the hops strains are brand new and only have started seeing usage in the craft beer market. It's always exciting to see new hop strains because it just increases the possibilities that brewers have to make new beers!

Götterdämmerung pours a bright clear orange color with a high amount of carbonation and a thick yet filmy head that has good retention. The appearance almost reminds me of Enjoy By, another beer by Stone.

The nose starts out with a very strong citrus hop and grapefruit scent. In the middle we have piney hops, peaches & caramel; While at the back there are pale malts, and mangoes.

While the nose has some strong citrus hops upfront, the flavor has a strong piney hop profile, followed by citrus hops, pale malts, bitter resin, mangoes and an over-encompassing earthiness. The after taste starts out quite bitter but ends on a peach & mango notes

Wait a minute, a nose & flavor with peaches and mangoes? If I didn't know better, I'd say I was drinking a Three Floyds' Dreadnaught. What sorcery is this?!

The body is fairly moderate in weight and the carbonation is rather mild, allowing one to fully savor the flavors that this beer has to offer.

If Enjoy By & Dreadnaught were to, under rhetorical circumstances, have a baby together this would be it. It's fruity, citrusy, and piney and has all the components needed to make a great Imperial IPA and it does so very well. I doubt this'll be released again anytime soon so pick one up if you get the chance!


Stone 17th Anniversary Götterdämmerung IPA - 9.5/10

Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Review

Name: Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier
Style: Smoked Beer
ABV: 5.4%

I'm a fan of Smoked Beers (or Rauchbier in German), and not just because it tastes like ham. I've always enjoyed the uniqueness of the flavor and the cycle as to how it's made. It's also considered to be an authentic German-Style beer and one of the reasons why I want my upcoming honeymoon to be in Germany though my fiance insists we go to France.

When I first wanted to get into Smoked Beers, I was unsure where to start so one of the clerks recommended I try out the (Aecht) Schlenkerla Rauchbier  for starters mainly because of it's price and popularity.

According to what I have found out, Schlenkerla is a brewpub based out of Bamberg, Germany, which itself is a UNESCO World Hertiage Site. According to the brewery's website, Schlenkerla has been around since the 15th Century.

So I took this home and a couple days later I tried it out. Needless to say I fell in love with it and the Rauchbier style, so this is more or less a re-review.

To start out, it pours a dark brown color with a foamy, but fizzy head. Really doesn't leave behind anything in terms of lacing and it's dark appearance makes it hard to see any sorts of carbonation save for a few bubbles climbing up the sides

The smell is a outdoorsman's dream. You got an aroma of Smoked Ham/Bacon, Oak and Roasted Malts. There is also an aroma of Bonfire that reminds me of going up to our family's cabin in the middle of the summer. We'd cook smoked ham, pancakes and eggs over an open bonfire pit before heading out fishing for the day.

The flavor is just like the smell....but better! It has some very strong ham notes and some equally strong smoke notes on the back of the palate, which gives way to the oak/wood flavor. The roasted malts also give the flavor a dimension of sweetness that keeps the beer from tasting too woodsy/smokey. I've forgotten how awesome this flavor is until now!

The body is light and the carbonation is rather mild as well, which feels very smooth when drinking. Despite the fact this is an easy drinker, you'll want to savor this beer as much as you possibly can.

Since I've first had Schlenkerla Rauchbier, I've had many different variations of the Smoked Beer Style from different breweries. While all of them were good in their own respects, Schlenkerla always leaves the biggest impression on me.With that said, this beer (and style) is not for everyone, mainly the causal drinker and those who don't like "unusual" flavors in their beer. However, if you're feeling slightly adventurous, like the smell of bacon, and looking for a truly authentic German Beer, then this one if for you!

Schlenkerla Rauchbier : 9.5/10