Aecht Schlenkerla Eiche
.5L bottle, 2010, best by 6/11. Pours an attractive and clear ruby-amber. Thick head falls fast, but leaves nice lacing on the way down. The aroma is smokey, oaky and pungent, reminiscent of chimney smoke cutting through a cold winter night. Slightly different from the other Schlenkerla brews, but not markedly. Smoke flavor is deep and strong, yet with soft edges. Not as sharp as the other Schlenkerla brews -- maybe the result of oak replacing the customary beechwood in the malt smoking process. Thick maltiness blends well, but perhaps too well, as I don't get many of the sweet and malty flavors typical of Doppelbock. There's a light tanginess from the hops, actually. There's some caramel, but the smokiness dominates. The mouthfeel is soft, chewy and perfectly carbonated (medium-low). Eight percent alcohol is incredibly well integrated. This is solid stuff, I just find myself yearning a bit for the usual Doppelbock flavors, such as molasses, sweet dough and dulce de leche, and maybe a bit less Rauch. I knew it would be smokey, but I feel a bit misled, honestly. Sort of a strange mix, though definitely a Rauchbier!