Beltway Beer

For a long time, I’ve thought about starting a beer blog.  After much procrastination, it’s finally here — spurred in part by the new Oktoberfest releases, and an embarrassingly expensive trip to Chevy Chase Wine and Spirits here in Washington, D.C., which has a tremendous selection.

One of the beers I returned with was an interesting-looking bottle of “Schlenkerla Helles Lagerbier” by a brewery in Bamburg called Schlenkerla.  I knew nothing about the beer or its brewery, but was attracted by the very German-looking Gothic script on the label, and because I generally enjoy Helles-style beers.  It poured a brilliantly clear straw-amber color with lively carbonation and a soft, bone white head that quickly receded.  But I got a surprise when I took my first sip:  my tasting notes say “bacon?”  It was a subtle, back-of-the-tongue flavor, but it was there just the same.  Not at all detectable in the aroma.

I got curious and went to look up the beer and the brewery, and it turns out that Schlenkerla is a historic brewpub famous for its rauchbiers (“smoke” beers).  The Helles Lagerbier isn’t a rauchbier, but some of them have a lingering smoke profile because it’s fermented in the same kettles (and with the same yeast) as the brewery uses for its rauchbiers.

Overall a nice, crisp, drinkable Helles, although I found the slight smoke taste a little offputting.

Tags: Helles

This entry was posted on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009 at 9:16 am and is filed under Germany. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.