Year-end Lost 'n' Found

Back to the Aecht Schlenkerla dinner at Brauhaus Schmitz earlier last month. Just before the terrific course of Schlenkerla Märzen and Bamberg Onion, I took video of Matthias Trum introducing the course and giving some further background on smokebier. It was the only video I took of the night and I promptly forgot about it. Not only does it showcase the small Kodak Playsport video camera that I bought (similar, but better, in my opinion than the Flip), but it provides some in-living color evidence of what I wrote in black-and-white text--the humor and the ease in which Trum communicated with the room and delivered interesting information via his speaking and his accompanying PowerPoint presentation. You should be able to pick up most of the audio. Given the low light and Trum's voice moving to and from the camera, I'm fairly pleased with the way it recorded. The video also illustrates what I mentioned of the exemplary behavior of the attendees. The background noise that you hear comes from the bar area away from the dining room where Trum was speaking. Enjoy.

Aecht Schlenkerla Beer Dinner at Brauhaus Schmitz, 11/18/10

Link to Photo Gallery of Aecht Schlenkerla at Brauhaus Schmitz

That I consider this a top five event in my personal calendar of 2010 beer events makes it all the more strange that I've taken almost a month to get around to sharing the story with you all.

Nonetheless, this is a top five event of 2010 for me. Oh wait, I've already mentioned that. Sorry, I still get a little excited talking about what a great beer...dinner...event this was at Brauhaus Schmitz on November 18.

I arrived at the restaurant after a short visit to City Tap House's media preview event of their new pop-up brewery weekend concept (the inaugural one featured Sixpoint from Brooklyn) and a quick cab ride across town. And, I arrived with enough time to order up a delightful glass of Jever Pilsner as something of a palate reset-er between some of Sixpoint's adventurous brews and Schlenkerla's smoked beers.

The full menu listing follows below. For a rundown of the Aecht Schlenkerla dinner plus an insightful Q&A with owner and brewer, Matthias Trum, please visit After Hours at The Brew Lounge, hosted at The Washington Times Communities section.

But, before you leave--or after you come back, if you will--how about a few tidbits of fun Bamberg and Schlenkerla trivia? You'll never know when it will come in handy on Jeopardy or Trivial Pursuit :)

-> To schlenker means to stagger around, almost drunk-like. It's the inspiration behind the brewery's informal name. Read more here. The official brewery name is Heller-Bräu.
-> The brewery's pub was known as the "House to the Blue Lion", circa 1877, where proprietor Andreas Graser was known to schlenker about
-> The sausages of the first course were invented by Chef Thiel and the only ones known to incorporate smokemalt into the recipe.
-> Matthias Trum is the a 6th generation family brewer, the company's 15th since 1405.
-> The lager uses a base pilsener malt and really doesn't emphasize the smoke.
-> All Schlenkerla beers use beechwood in the smoking process, except the Eiche Doppelbock which uses oak for its different burning temperature for a smoother, less pronounced smoke flavor.
-> Refrigeration was a Franconian invention.
-> The northern Franconia region is home to 344 of 670 Bavarian breweries and has roughly one brewery for every 5,500 residents.
-> Wanna know what the meaning behind these following two pictures? Read through the Q&A with Matthias Trum over at The Washington Times. (pictures courtesy of Matthias Trum/Aecht Schlenkerla)























Welcome Bier ~Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock ---a stronger version of the original smokebier
First Course Schlenkerla House-made Smoked Sausages with Sweet Cabbage and wrapped in Pumpernickel Bread ~ Schlenkerla Rauchweizen ---a noticeable apple flavor as it warms; as a result, it went nicely with the dessert course
Second Course Cream Soup of Horseradish Root and Parsnips with Smoked Trout Dumpling ~Schlenkerla Helles Lagerbier ---a more "standard"-tasting German lager
Third Course Bamberg-Style Onion stuffed with Ground Pork and Bacon with Mashed Potatoes and Smoked Beer Sauce ~Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen ---a wonderful bier that was so perfectly paired with the Bamberg Onion
Fourth Course Gingerbread Mousse with Carmelized Apple Slices ~Schlenkerla Eiche Doppelbock (Oak Smoke) from a Wood-Clad Gravity-Poured Keg ---smooth, slightly boozy dessert bier that went perfectly with the decadently rich chocolate mousse

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