Beer Review: Aecht Schlenkerla Fastenbier

Reviewing the Aecht Schlenkerla Fastenbier from Brauerei Heller-Trum out of Germany.
Score: 91

Enjoying a 10 oz tap pour at the Brickhouse BBQ during happy hour. Served in a god-knows-what-you-call-it beer glass on 03/29/12. Review is from iPhone notes.

Appearance: The beer is a deep amber/mahogany color depending on how the light hits it. Surprisingly transparent given its dark color. Served with no head save for an off-white ring around the glass. Below average lacing, average retention. 4/5

Smell: Barley, bready malt, rye bread, caramel and a modest amount of campfire smoke. Pork chops and hickory wood. 4/5

Taste: Rye spice and black peppercorn upfront quickly turns into a heavy smoked wood and spicy hickory flavor that coats the palate. A lot more smoke in the flavor than in the aroma. Caramel, light bready malt and a non-descript "fatty meat" flavor on the midpalate. Like a campfire in your mouth, the smoked rye and hickory flavors really pop on the midpalate. Finishes with smoke and barley. Very interesting flavors. This beer is growing on me with every sip. 4/5

Mouthfeel: Light bodied, medium carbonation. The smokiness is really prickly on the palate. Smoked and spicy finish. 4/5

Overall: A fantastic smoked beer. Kudos to Brickhouse for getting something so different from the mainstream on tap. I will certainly have another pour of this.

Pairings: A Reuben sandwich or a pastrami sandwich on rye bread with a light amount of hot sauce.

Cost: $4.50 for a 10 oz pour.