Schlenkerla is a world-famous tavern located in Bamberg Germany. The tavern is most known for the rauchbier (smoke beer) it brews, which is Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier.
source: Wikipedia
This smoke beer has been brewed since 1678 in this historic brewpub which has been around since 1405. It is called smokebeer because the of the smokey flavor of the beer, which is a result of the process used to dry the malt during brewing. The wet malt is dried with the smoke of a fire made from beechwood logs, which yields a smokey flavor. Another step in the process is to mature the beer in local rock-cellars.
This tavern is a great destination for tourists visiting Bamberg. The city is beautiful, and historic. Tourists can stop in to sample some franconian food and the famous beers. Plus, if you are lucky enough to sample the rauchbier in the Schlenkerla, you will get beer from an oak keg.
Schlenkerla also offers other kinds of beer.
Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock – This beer is similar to the regular rauchbier, but it is stronger (6.5% vs. 5.1% alcohol), and is only available from October until January.
Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Weizen – A wheat beer brewed both with smoked barley malt and unsmoked wheat malt. It is served unfiltered and is sold year-round.
Helles Schlenkerla Lager – This lager has a “subtle smokiness” from the brewing process, but not from the smoked malt. The lager is boiled in the same kettle to boil, and the same yeast as the smokebeer. The use of the same kettle and yeast give off a slight smokiness.
Schlenkerla Fastenbier – A beer made specifically for Lent, it is available only from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday. The Fastenbeer is made using a combination of smoked malt and unsmoked malt. It is considered a stronger beer because it was supposed to sustain laborers during fasting times.
Schlenkerla Kräusen – Kräusen is a German beer making technique in which young beer is added to a batch of fully matured beer. The two beers are combined to bring a freshness to the fully matured beer. At 4.5%, the alcohol content of this beer is lower than Schlenkerla’s other beers.
Schlenkerla Eiche – Oak is used to smoke the malt in this doppelbock, and this variety is only available around Christmas time.
For more information, check out the official website. The tavern website also lists some recipes which use the rauchbier in them. You can also find out where to buy these beers in your country. If you live in the European Union, you can even order beer online from Schlenkerla.
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More of the German Breweries Series:
Kellerberg
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