Christoffel Robertus

This beer packs quite the unassuming punch. I mean, you think you are going to get some blah kinda brown ale and it’s like a mini-barleywine style beer in a cool swing-top bottle. Aroma is sweet malts. Reminds me of the smell when you steep caramel grains. That sweet worty aroma. Same thing here. Appearance is toffee brown in color, with a smallish sized off-white head. Large bubbles cling to the sides of the glass for dear life, but subside to nothing more than a light scummy ring. Mouthfeel is medium-thick, with a smoothness I really liked. Flavors are sweet malts, some light sour action going on on the sides of the tongue, brown sugar and more malt. Lots and lots of malt in this one, but it’s nice. As I said, it’s like a mini-barleywine in some ways minus the hops and minus the alcohol.

11.2 oz. flip top bottle. Freshness date on label is not stamped. Poured out a dark amber color, with a thin tan soapy head. Aromas are of cheesy hops, along with old, stale malts. Hard to judge this beer since I apparently got an old sample. Flavors are off for the style. Maybe I will re-rate when I get a fresher sample.

2L Bottle shared with family (really fresh bottle): Poured a deep clear brown color beer with a nice nig foamy head with excellent retention and some good lacing. Aroma of caramel malt with some sweet ester is very interesting. Taste is very smooth with some creamy notes with some sweet caramel malt notes. Body is full with a huge malt backbone and some great carbonation. I have to admit to being really surprised about that one.

Sweet bready aroma with little head but very active carbonation. Unfortunately flat watery palate, Taste is matly with molasses and raisin.

2 litre jug (?there must be a name for this - glass jug, metal handle, flip top?). Translucent orange-brown with a small, off-beige head. Aroma is sweet-spicy-fruity. Flavour is the same; dark fruit, syrup-sweet malt, brown spice. Nice hoppy finish. Damn, I like this style.

I was told this was newly received at the shop, but it sure seemed to have some age. Pours bronze with a small soapy off-white head. The aroma has cream, roasted malt, household cleaner and some toffee-ish traits. Medium slick body with very minor carbonation. The flavor starts a bit metallic with some caramel cream, raisins and dark fruits along with some mustiness. The finish is fruitier and lightly sour. This was very underwhelming to me. Hopefully I can get a better bottle and rerate at a later date.

2 liter flip top Jug filled 3 weeks ago. Decants the perfect looking Vienna; shimmering ruby-brown with a decent creamy off-white cap that lasts and laces. Perfect color and texture for this rare style. Aroma is lushious decadent toasty vienna/Munich amber and red malts...malty to the max, light wisps of alcohol and light sweetness like sponge cake. Lush velvety soft mouth feel, big chewy toasted malts, very mellow, light woody tones, a wee hint of cocoa and a light drying finish with clean dark lager taste. This is still my favorite vienna...the one by which I measure all others...it’s authentic and as true to style as you can get...Anton Dreher would be pleased with this brew.

Bottle. Eck. I bought this beer because it caught my eye slightly. I had no idea what I was getting myself into to be honest. The beer was extremely malty. Far far too malty for my drinking pleasure. Extremely sweet as well, to the point where I was unable to finishi this beer. The bottle I drank felt fairly flat so it could have been a bum bottle. Drain pour.