Support

Judging Beers by Sam Fitz – Vol. 4: Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier

Sam Fitz is a Certified Cicerone® and the Beer Director at Meridian Pint and soon to open Smoke & Barrel. Read Sam’s take on Jolly Pumpkin Artisanal Ales here.

You won’t believe it’s not bacon beer. Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier comes from the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage town of Bamberg, Germany and is a portal into the beer days of old. Beechwood-smoked malt lends the beer a bizarre aroma that can range from a mild campfire smokiness to an all-out bacon attack that will make any vegetarian cringe. There’s no meat in this one though, just the perception conjured by Old World brewing techniques.

Malt is the base of any beer and, in simplest terms, is grain that has been readied for brewing. In a process called “malting”, grains, primarily barley, are soaked in water, allowed to grow to a certain point, and then terminated with heat. Today’s brewers generally skip this step and purchase their malt from maltings, large facilities that process huge quantities of malt. Direct-fire kilns are used and little flavor, other than degrees of roastiness, is added to the malt.

Schlenkerla, which means the little one that can’t walk straight, is a brewpub in Bamberg that hasn’t changed much in its 700 years of operation. The brewers still maintain their own maltings and utilize a wood-fired kiln. This is the entirety of their secret. Smoke from the wood engulfs the malt as it dries, infusing it with flavors more expected in charcuterie than beer. Beechwood, the local fuel source in Bamberg, is known for its meaty smoke and is Schlenkerla’s wood of choice.

Everything about Schlenkerla is old school. They have been brewing out of the same facility since the Middle Ages, lager their beers in natural caves below the city, and pour their Rauchbier at the brewery from oak casks powered by gravity. Aecht Rauchbier means “the original German smoke beer,” and Schlenkerla certainly deserves that title.

Continues after the jump.

Schlenkerla makes a number of beers that range in smokiness. The Helles Lagerbier is the lightest and actually employs no smoked malt. It is a light golden color and has a pleasant noble hop character that is balanced by a subtle smokiness that the brewery attributes to the fact that this beer is made in the same copper kettles in which they form their true smoke beers. It is light in body and remarkably drinkable. More than just a beginner Rauchbier, the Helles is an everyday beer that is interesting but incredibly quaffable.

For the real experience, though, you must turn to the Marzen and the Urbock, both of which utilize smoked malt entirely. The first is the original, light brown in color, with an ample malt sweetness to compete with the smoke. The second is the heavy hitter–darker, heavier, sweeter and of course smokier than the Marzen. If you’re looking to try bacon beer, this is the one.

The nose of the Urbock brings heavily salted meat, bacon and prosciutto to mind, and there is very little else. The taste confirms the smell but has a subtle, clean hop bitterness that attempts to balance this beast. In the finish, illusions of meat fade into a warming campfire smoke presence that is interesting in its own right.

Whether you find the Rauchbiers of Bamberg interesting, offensive, or awesome, they are a glimpse of beer from another era and should be sampled at least once. Bacon, or at least its essence, isn’t just for breakfast any more.

Recent Stories

Thanks to G. for sending. Insomnia Cookies will join a Van Leeuwen’s Ice Cream also coming soon to Union Station. Stay tuned.

3910 14th Street, NW “Dear PoPville, Anejo at 14th and Randolph now has a window doing breakfast tacos and burritos. I ordered the platanitos and bacon tacos and they were…

This week’s question is inspired by Ryan, who wrote: “I knew Yellow was popular but not wait in a line 20 deep popular” There’s always lines at La Tejena in…

808 7th Street, NW Cava Smava… Lot’s of progress since we last checked on Feb. 1st. LFG:

Calling all bookworms, thrill-seekers, supporters of the arts, and ping-pongers at all skill levels! Sign up for Paddlestar Galactica, the ping-pong tournament supporting 826DC’s youth writing programs.

826DC is a local nonprofit that offers free writing programs, homework help, and publishing opportunities for DC students ages 6-18, in our Columbia Heights writing center and in learning spaces across the city.

Paddlestar Galactica helps keep writing education 100% free and accessible for all of our students! It’s also extremely fun.

This year’s games will be Saturday, April 27th, 1 PM to 4 PM at SPIN DC. It’ll be a chaotic afternoon of ping-pong, costumes, terrible Battlestar Galactica puns, and good cheer. We’d love to have you join us!

Read More

Submit your own Announcement here.

Well-Paid Maids, the only certified living-wage cleaning service in the DMV, has added a new service to its online booking menu: office and building cleanings.

This includes offices, building lobbies, shared amenity spaces and more throughout D.C., Arlington, Alexandria and more.

Unlike so many other cleaning services, you can feel good booking Well-Paid Maids to clean your office or building. Cleaners get paid a starting wage of $24 an hour. Plus, all employees are offered health, dental, vision and life insurance; 24 paid days off per year; 100% employer-paid commuting costs; and more.

Read More

Submit your own Announcement here.

Vakili Band at Pie Shop!

Three band rock n rolll lineup at DC’s Pie Shop! Vakili Band with “if you know, you know” DC rockers, Lot 18, and the many minds and songs of artist Kind of Christine.

“If you love Vakili Band like we

×

Subscribe to our mailing list