Schlenkerla Fastenbier
Brewery: Heller (Schlenkerla)
Town: Bamberg
Style: smoke Exportbier
Color: unfiltered mahogany
Head: creamy, tan
Nose: malt with slight smoke
Body: full, soft, low carbonation
Palate: rich malt with underlying smokiness, hoppy
Finish: dry, bitter
Served: from a wooden barrel at the brewery
Impression: This was one of the more elusive seasonals for me to finally have and all I can say is try to time your visit to Schlenkerla for the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter. The Fastenbier is one of their very best and that’s amongst an amazing portfolio. It comes out innocently enough and at a modest 5.5%, it creeps up on you. It’s got considerably more hops in it than their flagship Märzen so it finishes drier, which makes it moreish. It kind of reminds me of a more amped up version of their summer Käusen.
Next beer or back to the beer list.