Christoffel Robertus

Brewed by Sint Christoffel Bier
Style: Vienna
Roermond, Netherlands

Bottle (BB 02/05). Head is initially average sized, frothy, off-white, mostly diminishing. Body is hazy dark amber, bottle conditioned. Aroma is moderately malty (toasted bread, grain, cookie), lightly hoppy (flowers), trace yeast (horseblanket), with hints of allspice and spruce. Flavor is moderately sweet, moderately acidic, lightly bitter. Finish is lightly sweet, moderately acidic, moderately bitter. Medium body, watery texture, lively carbonation, slightly metallic. Slightly unpleasant sour twang (despite being fresh enough) hurts the flavor score for me. But there are some intriguing background notes in the aroma that keep this interesting (winter holiday smells...pumpkin pie spices and evergreens).

(Bottled) Nice, hazy orangeish red color with medium, tight, but mostly vanishing head. Mild, toffee-sweetish aroma with yeast. Sweet, fruity and toffee-syrupy flavor. Very smooth, medium to full-bodied, quite low-carbonated palate. Quite easily drinkable, despite the sweetness. A nice dessert drink - like a water-blended, toned-down version of Silly Scotch.

Deep amber/brown color. Aromas of fruit, malt, and spice. Taste is sour malt, with a bit of citrus.

Thin brownish head, fine-bubbled, fast gone; over hazy beer with mahogany colour. Dark malts, as well as dark candi or even molasses, which seems strange for a Vienna elaborated by a Weihenstephaner disciple. Bit grassy as well, earthy. Bread taste, reassuringly German, with quite herbal notes, as a wild herb plucked fresh. Nettles? Finishes burnt-caramelised bitterish (long). Light to medium bodied, quite carbonated MF. Good Vienna, despite nose. Worthy of Leo Brand’s principles. A style I can dig.

Bottle. Dark amber red with big head. Aroma is spicy and fruity. A bit citrusy with sourness in the finish.

An interesting attempt at a Vienna.Quite malty with hints of spices in the background.A beer with a difference.

Pop, phissh, and the swingtop sprays my forearm, somehow...rich, dark brown color, complete opacity, save for the sides, big, milky beige head of foam. Fruity nose, grapes, cherries, berries, raisiny, sweetness, with a roasty appeal as well, putting me in mind of brandy, or port wine. Bold on the palate, a full flush of flavor, very tasty, full of hops on the fore, and malt all the way through. Is this supposed to be a doppelbock? Not bad, whether it is or isn’t. Nice zing in the taste, medium to ful bodied, tingly and tasty, though it drops off a bit too early, would be better if had a bit more heft. Pretty nice, as it is, though...yeah, I’ll take another...

(330 ml swingtop bottle, bought in Denmark). Copper colour, hazy, good thick head. Lovely aroma of spices, leather and caramel - from the aroma, I’d swear this was a Belgian ale. Bottom fermented it is, and it’s easier to sense this is a lager through the flavour and aftertaste, which still are very good. Malty flavour, mild spices and caramel without too much sweetness. Lightly hopped. Moreish.