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Heller-Trum
 scrapes in
 decent
 good
 excellent
 sublime
Heller-Trum, Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Marzen (Germany) 
This is a highly distinctive "smokebeer" from the Heller brewery, which started out as part of Schlenkerla tavern in the town of Bamberg. The almost indecipherable label must be drawback for many non-german speaking beer browsers. Smokebeer is produced from malt smoked over beechwood, and has some similarity to peat-smoked malt in the whisky industry. This beer pours in a thick, dark, chocolate brown stream with a fluffy cream head. The nose is immediatly, and almost overpoweringly, smoky: exactly like smoky bacon being crisply grilled. Beneath are some nutty malt notes. On the palate it is a full, smooth, rich-textured beer with that dark, roasted chestnut and woodsmoke flavour playing against bitter malt notes and a nice, more lean hop and acid balance into a long finish. It's really difficult to grade such a singular beer (some people will hate it), but this is beautifully made and well worth trying in my opinion. 5.1% ABV, 50cl, £1.99, Easywine, Beersofeurope, Peckhams.  |  |
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