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Brauerei Heller-Trum / Schlenkerla Aecht Schlenkerla Eiche – Doppelbock at 8% ABV

Brauerei Heller-Trum / Schlenkerla Aecht Schlenkerla Eiche Doppelbock at 8% ABV (C$5.99 at Willow Park Wine & Spirits, 500 ml, best before 31-Aug-2016, acquired 23-Jul-2016, reviewed 26-Jul-2016)

Appearance: hazy medium amber with one finger of creamy ivory head, excellent retention and moderate lacing. (4/5) Aroma: hardwood smoke, dark fruit, caramel malt. (8/10) Taste: moderate smoke, moderate sweet, mild bitter. (8/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry smoky finish. (4/5)

A couple of weeks ago, I said that the Aecht Schlenkerla Fastenbier might be an excellent place for neophytes to begin exploring Rauchbiers, given its overall quite mellow character. Well, that’s still true, but this one might be an even better first Rauchbier. The oak smoke seems milder than the beech smoke, and it’s also slightly less evocative of smoked-cured meat. Not radically different than the Fastenbier, but just as good – and, interestingly, the much higher ABV is really not any more apparent than the much lower (5.5%) of the Fastenbier. (16/20)

8/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

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