Advent Beer 20: Original Schlenkerla Smokebeer

Or in the original German, "Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier", is another type of marzen, but one in which the malted barley is then smoked, imparting a very distinct taste and aroma to the beer.

Some years back, I got to try Alley Kat's Smoked Porter, and it was very good, but far more subtle in aspect. Whereas in Alley Kat's you had to search for the smoke, and found it more in the head and the aftertaste than in the beer itself, the Schlenkerla brings it right up front. It pours a dark coppery brown, with a beige head that regrettably doesn't stick around. Another great winter evening finisher, as opposed to a session beer like the other marzen.

The 500 mL bottle makes for a perfect serving size, and I would definitely pick this one up again if I stumbled across it at Sherbrooke.

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