Aecht Schlenkerla Fasten Beer

Had an interesting beer last night called Aech Schlenkerla Fasten Beer. Here’s the description from BeerMenus.com:

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Brewed by Brauerei Heller-Trum

The Original Schlenkerla Lentbeer is an unfiltered smokebeer, brewed according to the Bavarian Purity Law of 1516. Bottom-fermenting yeast gives the reddish brown lentbeer a natural cloudiness. Its smokey aroma is already noticeable in the smell, combined with a fine hoppy note. In the drink the fullbodied, highly drinkable lentbeer shows its strong malty flavour, rounded up with the smokey taste and a light bitterness. Due to the nourishing yeast, the Original Schlenkerla Lentbeer has the “Brotzeit already included” (German word for afternoon snack). Served / Sold: – Only during lent from Ash Wednesday to Easter – Only from the wooden keg at the Schlenkerla Data: Original Gravity: 14.5% Alcohol: 5.5% EBU: 32

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I’m never a huge fan of smoked beers and I think the smokier people go, the worse (smoke flavor dominates over all flavors around it), but this one was mild enough to be enjoyable.

As to why it is served only during Lent…I think it’s because it’s the only beer in Germany not made with meat. Ok, that’s a stupid little joke. I’d like to think that by having a beer that is only available during Let, it can serve as a respite during an otherwise religious time focused on sacrifice and deprivement. Beer has always had the habit of making dark and punishing situations better.

Also, on a side note – This beer has yeast in it, but it’s made me interested to try beer brewed by the original Bavarian Purity Law of 1516 – where beer could only be made with three ingredients: water, barley, hops. Notice anything missing (pssst… it’s yeast). If you’ve got any non-yeast or medieval beer suggestions, pass em on.