Schlenkerla Rauchbier German Smoked Beer Review

 Here we go a beer review I've been looking forward to doing ever since I first tasted Schlenkerla Rauchbier a few years ago. This is a proper old traditional German beer which has won more awards than you can shake a stick at over the centuries since it was first brewed. You'll find it in beer bottle shops and quite a few well stocked bars around Europe, and even better it'll often be one of the cheaper options. For the purpose of this review we're just looking at the Marzen which is the original version, but a few others are available. It's a 5.4% beer so it's a good potency, but also a drinkable potency for more than a couple.

The German Smoked beer, as most people call it after failing to pronounce Schlenkerla Rauchbier Marzen the first few times, comes in a hefty 500ml bottle that just looks and feels as traditional as they come. From the moment you crack the bottle open you'll be overwhelmed by the smokiness, it smells like a proper old Aussie barbecue has been set alight. It's just smoke on top of smoke, with a meaty after smell. The beer pours pretty dark with an impressive foamy head, which just serves to emphasis that this is a German beer, and Germans know how to do beer.  

The taste matches the smell, you're pretty much drinking a burnt to perfection barbecued sausage, and who doesn't love barbecued sausages? I've had smoked beers before, the likes of Smokey Joe from FAB brewery is excellent, but they tend to have a subtle smoky flavour, this doesn't, this is pure smoky goodness in a bottle. What I would say is that it's a pretty heavy feeling beer, I've tried to drink more than 2-3 on a night before but it will fill you up so you'll need the odd break to drink something a little less overwhelming, which is something I never thought I'd say. 

I know some people don't like smoked beers, I don't really understand these people, but I know they are out there so if you're one of them stay a long way from this beer. I like traditional beers, I like smoked beers, I like dark beers, I love this beer, it honestly is a taste sensation. Me and my friends often refer to it simply as the smoked sausage beer, and I can't think of a better way to describe it. If you see it try it, you'll love it or you'll hate it. I don't think it'll come as a surprise to anyone I'm going to give Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Marzen 10/10 it's truly exceptional, even if it's near impossible to pronounce.