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Braumeister Martin Krab at home in his brewhouse
Heller Brauerei batch malts and smokes 3,600 kg of its own barley twice a week on premise. That’s about 8,000 pounds. The beer is mashed and brewed in direct-fired copper kettles. Chains are mechanically dragged on the bottom surface to minimize caramelization.
German Hallertauer hops are highlighted in the formulation to achieve a bitterness value of about 33, but because of unique brewing techniques and the way they culture and manage their yeast the perception of bitterness seems to be what most brewers would (well at least I would) perceive as about 27 BUs. Very smooth.
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Photo: Pouring the freshest Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier straight from the cold lagering tanks.
For their most popular Aecht Schlenkerla “Maerzen” style Rauchbier a very small amount of special black malt (trademarked as Caraffe malt by local Bamberg maltster, Weyermann Malt ) is added for color. Otherwise the world famous Schlenkerla is essentially 99+% house made pale smoked malt.
Fermentation takes place in tanks located in sandstone caves 30 feet below the brewery. Cold and fresh out of the tanks the beer possessed a dense and firm head of foam. A definitive statement for perfectly attractive beer.
Braumeister Krab also regularly brews a Rauch Weissbier (wheat beer) and a Rauch Heller (light) Lager. And during the bock season a Rauchbock. Even the wheat malt is house made and smoked at the brewery.
Photo right: Braumeister Krab and yours truly in Rauchbier heaven.
There were “house” secrets Braumeister Krab would not reveal, but never mind. It didn’t matter as he poured us sample after sample from his personal stash below street level.
As we left I couldn’t help but notice the large oak barrel in the corner. “Beer?” We asked. “Rauchbier Schnaps” were the only two words he uttered as we continued to climb the stairs. The beers were glorious and lived up to all expectations.
The second best place to taste Schlenkerla is at their Inn at Dominikanerstr. 6, Bamberg
Also see: Comfort Beer (The first of two parts to this story)
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