Christoffel Robertus

Bought this in a gift pack in Indianapolis may not have been in the best of shape. A nutty bready beer with balanced a restrained hop bitterness. I would like to have this in better shape some day. Page 122 of Michael Jackson’s Great Beer Guide only 426 out of 500 Classic Brews to go.

Reddish brown, moderate head, decent lacing and retention. Aroma is grassy hops with notes of caramel and some darker fruits. Soft mouthfeel, very well balanced and enjoyable. May not have big flavors, but everything here is put together really well.

In the bottle from Beertopia. Pours brown, perhaps a very dark amber, with a bountiful fluffy beige head. Nice mild roasted aroma. Flavor is very pleasant with roasted malt, but also a delicious berry taste. Really a surprise for me, as I did not think I would like this as much as I do. Smooth and delightfully easy to drink, it has character owing to the finishing tartness that was a treat.

poured a brownish-red hue with a thin head. Aroma was a mix of earthy malts and some caramel. Flavor was mildly sweet with a slight bitterness to it that sometimes seemed acidic, still enjoyable.

small head almost orange colour, some sediment, malty sweet, slightly lactic flavour as well, some bitterness

Bottled at Monk’s Café, Stockholm. Clear ruby, average sized head. Raisiny ur-bock like nose. Mediium sweet up front with lots of grainy raisiny malt. Solid mouthfeel. Pleasant grassy spicy hops contribute to a much drier finish with lingering bitternes.

Beers like this are dificult to dislike if they are in good condition, but conversely hard to really love if you are keen on a hop balance in your beer. Everything about the presentation of the beer is fine as it pours well, has a fine head and a sweet malty biscuit like aroma. As indicated, the absence of a real hop presence detracts from my enjoyment of the beer, but subjectivity aside it is a well made beer that will surely appeal to many.

[Sampled at the outside fireplace in 2004.] Amber beer with fresh aroma. Flavor is lesshoppy and with the usually viennanotes of caramel, sweetmalts and fruits.