The Hellerbräu from Bamberg is one of the last breweries that still kilns its own barley. Following the tradition of their ancestors, the team smokes the sprouted grain. The dense, aromatic smoke is created by burning beech wood and gives the malt a wonderful smoky note, which is often referred to in and around Bamberg as a ham flavor. Most of Heller’s beers are brewed with this special ingredient.
Their black beer, for example, is an exception: the classic of times long past is brewed with malt that was dried not in beech wood smoke, but in alder wood smoke. Before the industrial revolution, black beer was widespread; Each brewery had its own recipe. The slow onset of mass production knocked the beer style off its pedestal and replaced the characterful brew with light, milder beers. Today black beer is making a comeback and the Bamberg smoked beer brewery is also taking part.
The Aecht Schlenkerla Erle Schwarzbier has a mild smoky taste that is complex and multi-layered. A generous portion of roasted malt ensures an intense roasted aroma that goes perfectly with the fine spice of the beer. With 4.2% alcohol content, Erle is a little leaner than the other Heller smoked beers, but is in no way inferior to them in terms of taste intensity.
Beech or alder – which is your favorite?
Brauerei SchlenkerlaBrewing water, barley malt, hops
