Bürgerbräu Wolnzacher (Nikolausbier) Altfränkisches Dunkel

Brewed by Bürgerbräu Wolnzach
Style: Dunkel
Wolnzach, Germany

500 ml bottle, purchased (I think) at Discount in Milwaukee, July 1. Dark, clear maple color, dying off-white fluffy head. Caramel and rye in the aroma, light spiciness and yeast. Much sweetness at the front of the body, very very smooth like the Hell, perhaps some hints of licorice, gin and baked pears. Wants to be drunk quickly, and I’m having to resist. Has almost a thin malted-milk texture, it is so smooth and drinkable. Hops just barely extant. A terrific example of the style, as was the Hell a couple of nights ago. This is a brewery that needs to be better known!

Bottle: Amber hue with fading off-white fizzy head and minimal lace. The aroma has notes of caramel malting, pumpernickel bread, smoked sausage, light spice, earthy yeast esters. The taste starts lightly fruity and spicy (juniper berry, prune, and pear) with a moderate caramel sweetness to follow. Some light bitterness and smoky qualities on the finish. The feel is lively and crisp initially then bready on the finish. Overall it is good, but still lack some punch. Quaffable and worth trying.

The color at medium orange amber seemed a bit too light for a dunkel. The pour indicated a medium carbonation level that formed a one-finger thick short lived fizzy head. The smell was bready sweet malt and earthy yeast with some light hop aroma. The smell reminded me a lot of the English Ales I had been drinking lately. The taste indicated a main flavor reminiscent of sourdough bread and some fruitiness in the form of apples and pears. The hop bitterness was quite restrained. There was also a bit of a tangy citric sourness. The beer was very easy to drink, as there were no funky flavors in the aftertaste. The mouthfeel was nice and dense with a feeling of satisfaction after the 500 ml. bottle was drained. A solid simple hearty lager, that had nice session appeal.

Pours a reddish copper color with a large off white head. Sweet musty caramel, toffee, butterscotch aroma, which was also slightly spicy. Nice balance of malt and hops, nothing special there. Light carbonated mouthfeel, very slick. Roasted chocolate finish.

Bottle: Very malty aroma with lots of caramel and some chocolate. Pours a very hazy orangish-brown with a minimal head. Some sediment. Initial taste is sweet with lots of caramel and then finishes a little bitter. Leaves a smokey aftertaste. As the beer warms a chocolate flavor starts to come thru.

Wow! I was surprised by this one. There must be some Chimay yeast in there. The aroma was captivating, full of vinous and roasted scents. It poured like a dubbel, thick and with a minimal, but lasting head, and a reddish brown bottle color. The taste is like a caramel sundae, with a huge malt profile, and little hop presence. The sweetness and thickness left a round taste on the tongue. There really is nothing negative I can say. If this were a little more over the top (higher gravity, stronger spices) i don’t think it could retain its charm. I like where it sits, as a great spring/fall substitute for a belgian strong ale. (I know this isn't how it is positioned - therein lies my surprise)

Medium sized light tan head, fair retention, minimal lace. Hazy brown color. Malty, nutty nose. Medium body. Grainy, bready malt flavors with a hint of dark roast malts. Finish is dry.

Bottle (BB Mar 08). Head is mostly lasting. Body is hazy medium amber. Aroma is lightly to moderately malty (toasted grain, cookie, husks), lightly hoppy (flowers), with a hint of honey. Flavor is lightly to moderately sweet, lightly bitter. Finish is lightly sweet, moderately bitter. Light to medium body, watery texture, lively carbonation. Seems like a recipe change since I had it a few years ago...quite weak now (old score = 3.6).