Beer of the Weekend #303: Aecht Schlenkerla Eiche
Calm down, everyone! I found it: Aecht Schlenkerla Eiche, brewed by the Brauerei Heller of Bamberg, Germany.
Having bought an Aecht Schlenkerla Eiche snifter I thought it was imperative that I find a bottle and sample the beer in its own commemorative glass. Though I had never looked for it, I could not recall whether I had seen Eiche before or not. I thought it was an elusive import, something available only in certain markets and not in little ol’ Iowa City. What was I thinking? Last week while browsing the shelves at John’s I spotted a row of Eiche next to the other Aecht Schlenkerla offerings. Hallelujah! (For whatever reason I am really stoked!)
Serving type: 500 ml bottle. No freshness date.
Appearance: Fittingly poured into an Eiche snifter (glassware that BA, ironically, does not recommend for the style; screw it). The color is cloudy amber/deep honey. Two fingers of eggshell-colored head dissipated to leave a thin lacing, ring around the edge, and lacing along the glass.
Smell: The smokiness is not as intense as Schlenkerla’s märzen, but it is still prominent. It offers that smoked bacon/sausage aroma that is enticing. It has me craving landjägers. Beyond the smokiness are faint scents of caramel, maybe some fruits, and grassy hops. Other than that it is straight and beautiful smokiness. After taking a couple sips it is much easier to detect the earthy element from the hops.
Taste: Heavenly. The oak smokiness is obviously prominent, but it is almost balanced by sweet caramel and floral and earthy hops. It has just a touch of pepper spice and also exhibits an incredible burnt edge, much like that of smoked bacon. There is also a hint of honey and a brandy-like alcohol edge, which is hidden very well.
Drinkability: Incredible. This is all I want for Christmas.
Fun facts about Aecht Schlenkerla Eiche:
-Style: BA classifies it as doppelbock.
-Price: $4.99/bottle at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.
-Serving temperature: BA recommends 45-50ºF.
-Alcohol content: 8 percent ABV.
-Food pairings: BA recommends German cuisine, buttery cheeses (Brie, Gouda, Havarti, Swiss), earthy cheeses (Camembert, Fontina), chocolate, and game meat.
-According to Google Translate, “eiche” is German for “oak.” Which is as good segue for…
-Instead of being dried over beech wood fires, the malts for Eiche are kilned over fires made with oak. According to the beer’s webpage, “The resulting Oak Smoke Malt has a smoother and more multi layered smoky note than the intensely aromatic Beech Smoke Malt.”
-Here is a little more about the beech/oak comparison and a little history from the Eiche webpage:
-According to the Aecht Schlenkerla website, Eiche is only sold during Christmastime. “From the wooden keg at the Schlenkerla. In bottles at selected shops. Exported in very small quantities draft and bottles to the USA.”
-On the beer’s webpage, Eiche is pictured in the same snifter I have: http://www.schlenkerla.de/rauchbier/sorten/schlenkerlaeichee.html. Very cool.
The Quiet Man’s grade: A-.
Having bought an Aecht Schlenkerla Eiche snifter I thought it was imperative that I find a bottle and sample the beer in its own commemorative glass. Though I had never looked for it, I could not recall whether I had seen Eiche before or not. I thought it was an elusive import, something available only in certain markets and not in little ol’ Iowa City. What was I thinking? Last week while browsing the shelves at John’s I spotted a row of Eiche next to the other Aecht Schlenkerla offerings. Hallelujah! (For whatever reason I am really stoked!)
Serving type: 500 ml bottle. No freshness date.
Appearance: Fittingly poured into an Eiche snifter (glassware that BA, ironically, does not recommend for the style; screw it). The color is cloudy amber/deep honey. Two fingers of eggshell-colored head dissipated to leave a thin lacing, ring around the edge, and lacing along the glass.
Smell: The smokiness is not as intense as Schlenkerla’s märzen, but it is still prominent. It offers that smoked bacon/sausage aroma that is enticing. It has me craving landjägers. Beyond the smokiness are faint scents of caramel, maybe some fruits, and grassy hops. Other than that it is straight and beautiful smokiness. After taking a couple sips it is much easier to detect the earthy element from the hops.
Taste: Heavenly. The oak smokiness is obviously prominent, but it is almost balanced by sweet caramel and floral and earthy hops. It has just a touch of pepper spice and also exhibits an incredible burnt edge, much like that of smoked bacon. There is also a hint of honey and a brandy-like alcohol edge, which is hidden very well.
Drinkability: Incredible. This is all I want for Christmas.
Fun facts about Aecht Schlenkerla Eiche:
-Style: BA classifies it as doppelbock.
-Price: $4.99/bottle at John’s Grocery in Iowa City.
-Serving temperature: BA recommends 45-50ºF.
-Alcohol content: 8 percent ABV.
-Food pairings: BA recommends German cuisine, buttery cheeses (Brie, Gouda, Havarti, Swiss), earthy cheeses (Camembert, Fontina), chocolate, and game meat.
-According to Google Translate, “eiche” is German for “oak.” Which is as good segue for…
-Instead of being dried over beech wood fires, the malts for Eiche are kilned over fires made with oak. According to the beer’s webpage, “The resulting Oak Smoke Malt has a smoother and more multi layered smoky note than the intensely aromatic Beech Smoke Malt.”
-Here is a little more about the beech/oak comparison and a little history from the Eiche webpage:
Since ancient times beech has been the common fuel for fire-drying food in central Europe, e.g. for the malt of “Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier”. Beech was and is abundant in German forests, it has a high energy yield and a pleasantly intense smoky aroma.
Oak however, with a smoother and more complex smoky note, was seldom used as fire wood. Different than beech, oak is very pest- and wheather [sic]-resistant and hence was valuable timber. Apart from buildings, mainly ships used to be made out of oak wood. The acorns were important animal fodder and during times of hardship necessary for feeding humans as well. Being so precious, kilning with oak was a rare specialty and its fine and multi layered smokiness a unique treat. “Schlenkerla Oak Smoke” is being brewed following this tradition, to present smoke beer lovers that special taste experience today.
-According to the Aecht Schlenkerla website, Eiche is only sold during Christmastime. “From the wooden keg at the Schlenkerla. In bottles at selected shops. Exported in very small quantities draft and bottles to the USA.”
-On the beer’s webpage, Eiche is pictured in the same snifter I have: http://www.schlenkerla.de/rauchbier/sorten/schlenkerlaeichee.html. Very cool.
The Quiet Man’s grade: A-.
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