Aecht Schlenferla Rauchbier Marzen

Often time nowadays we are stuck trying to find a way to adequately describe to our readers what these super complex beers most American craft breweries produce really taste like. And to be honest there can be a lot of confusion in the descriptions as to what exactly we mean. But when it comes to the Germans well they call it like it is...and "Rauchbier" literally means smoked beer. And don't get me wrong this is no sissy liquid smoke job, this is the real stuff using an open flame to dry and roast the malt and it is the use of this technique that gives true smoked beers the smoke flavor. Fortunately trying to describe this beer is not as complex as I mentioned with a lot of craft breweries, it tastes somewhere between ash from a camp fire and the sweet sugariness you get from almost burned barbeque. Which in my mind is AWESOME!

When I passed the pint over to my wife the first three words out of her mouth were "mmm bacon" and then "smoky". So there you have it folks,  if you are looking for a good slightly sweet smoky smooth beer from Deutsche Land you can grab your passport and hop a quick 14 hour flight or check your local German restaurants or amazing liquor stores nearby. 

I'll leave you with this bit from the brewery's website that sums this beer up nicely:

The connoisseur drinks it slowly with relish, but steadily and purposefully. He knows, that the second "Seidla" (half-liter) tastes better than the first, and the third even better than the second. He drinks during the morning pint and during the afternoon break. He drinks it in the evenings, drinks it alone and with company, especially with company, as "Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier" makes one talkative and exuberant. It brings together the local with the stranger, as it is common in Franconia to share your table with others.