Looking for retail who sells German Imports in the Northern New Jersey Area

[parkah]

Hey Gang,

I'm search for a retailer in the Northern New Jersey area that may carry or be able to special order a beer from Bamberg, Germany called Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier "Maerzen Style". I have found some distributors in New Jersey and New York City that carry the beer, but don't sell to consumers.

Any suggestions or information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
- parkah -->

[hops99]

If you ask the distributor, I'm sure they'd be able to tell you what retailers they sell that particular beer to.

[steveh]

If it can make its way to the Chicago area, I'm sure it can be offered in New Jersey. I agree, talk to the retailers - then work up to the distributors. Here's the U.S. importer from the Schlenkerla web site:

B. United International
PO Box 661
York Estate
Redding CT 06896
Phone: +1 203 938 0713
Fax: +1 203 938 1124
eMail: bunitedint@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.bunitedint.com/

I have a bottle of their smoked bock in my fridge right now, waiting for the right opportunity to be tasted.

S.

http://www.schlenkerla.de/ - go to the recipe section of the Schlenkerla link to the left, look up the Bamberg onion...I had this at the brewery when I visited - absolutely delicious! And you won't have to eat again for DAYS! ;)

[brewmonkey]

It is already imported into the states so they wont have a need to get it from Germany. Now the issue is if it is allowed into NJ by the ABC from your state.

[chazwicke]

I enjoy all the Schlenkerla beers. Try the Weizen.

[parkah]

Hey Gang,

Thanks for responding to my original post. Before I posted I had (in-fact) contacted the Bamberg brewery and they directed me to B. United International. Seems because of customs the brewery can't ship to the States.

Anyhow, I contacted B. United International and they directed me to a distributor in Jersey called Hunterdon Brewing Company. I've contacted them, but haven't gotten a reply.

So now i'm stuck.... and I'm so missing the smokey flavor of this beer. Any other contacts or suggestions are welcome.

- parkAH -->

[chazwicke]

I think you should take a trip to Bamberg if you enjoy this fine beer. At the source, I had what I consider to be one of the top 5 beers that I have EVER had. I don't mean to say that Schlenkerla in general is always in my top five. Just what I had that fine October day in 1993. I actually spent a couple of days there. But everything was perfect. The setting, the weather, the freshness of the beer. It was superb! I have not yet gotten back to Bamberg during my travels in Germany but I can say it is a destination well worth making a special trip.

[steveh]

I agree wholeheartedly with Chaz - Bamberg is a beautiful town, and Schlenkerla isn't the only brewery around either. It's an easy train ride from Munich, too. I spent a near identical few days there, only it was mid-May '97!

S.

[parkah]

hahah... actually guys, I just got back from Bamberg where I spent 2 beautiful days sitting out drinking the smoked beer, eating great food and people watching.

Now I'm on the search for this beer in the states so I can recapture those days and share my experiences with my friends.

- parkah

[steveh]

I had bought a bottle of this a couple weeks back and it had been languishing in my fridge too long. What a wonderful beer! For Rauchbier lovers, that is.

I popped the cap on the bottle and as I turned to replace the opener in a drawer I could smell the smoke-roasted malts just from the spout! Having seen so many light, golden bocks come from Germany lately, I was pleased to see how dark, ruby red this beer was, and quite clear when held to the light. Nice white head, though not long lasting.

Aroma was, of course, deep smoky malts - and the flavor followed suit, yet the after taste was pleasingly dry and clean - not sweet as Schlenkerla's Marzen's aftertaste.

The body also tended toward thinner than the Marzen, but make no mistake - there's plenty of body in this beer. The dryness and thin mouth feel is no doubt due to the higher alcohol content common in a bock beer (6.6 ABV according to Beer Advocate), no residual sugars here.

The only problem in tasting this beer is that I only had one bottle! Time to pick up some more.

S.