Hurlimann Samichlaus

Formerly brewed at Hürlimann (Feldschlösschen)
Style: Doppelbock
Zürich, Switzerland

Poured an off amber brownish color. Malty smelling ery high alcohol. Thie taste was too much for me. To high of an alcohol taste, it was over bearing.

Have sampled this twice now. Both 96’ 1st from EDA and this past weekend from Mike Mac. Thanks to the both of you. Oily mahogany brown, ring of bubbles for head. Aroma is full of chocolate, prune, fig, black cherries, sweet caramel malt, toffee, mollasses, buttery bourbon like aromas. Flavor much the same, million things going on at once. Caramel-mollasses-toffee combo tends to dominate, but is so buttery smooth you never notice. Absolutely no hint of alcohol in the flavor. The bottle from EDA had a small hint of cardboard oxidation but never really detracted fron the beer. Mouthfeel is sticky-sweet at times but actually enhances the overall experience. Can only hope the new bottles age like this.

Another beer traded w/ Kramer17801! 12 oz bottle, 1997: Chestnut brown w/ a short lived light beige head. Lots of toasty and bready malty melanoidins in this beers sweet aroma. Sherry, nuts, and alcohol which becomes a bit more solventy when it warms. Also has hints of vanilla and strong raisiny dark fruits. Very sweet up front, but dries out in the finish partly due to alcohol. Light hints of chocolate in the flavor as well as raisiny fruitiness. Deep caramel and sherry flavors mid palate. Aftertaste is toasty malt and raisiny sherry. Gets a bit chewy as well. Mouthfeel is hot, not burning, but it is hot! Medium full body and lower carbonation. Nice complexities, but the hotness in the alcohol takes away from total enjoyment.

(Bottle (1997) via trade with <!-- A HREF=http://www.ratebeer.com/ViewUser.asp?UserID=2 target=blank -->kramer17801<!-- /A -->, thanks Jason!) Muddy brown in color, not overly dark. Murky. Chunks of stuff in bottom of bottle. Very thin tan head dissipates quickly to edges. Aroma of molasses, prunes, raisins and brown sugar. Palate is fairly smooth, a little thin. Flavor is pretty intense, some complexity here but not tons: all of the aromatic notes are represented in the taste but mostly sweet brown sugar. A slight smokiness as well. This one’s pretty hot indeed, an alcohol burn pretty much carries through from nose to finish. Reminds me quite a bit of port or sherry. Quite the buzz factor with the ABV. Enjoyed it but a bit too alcoholic for me along with being pretty sweet.

1997 Vintage. Tasted the 2003 vintage of the Castle Eggenberg Samichlaus Bier at the same time. Dark mahogany in colour with a tan, frothy head. Cherry, prunes and raisin aroma with notes of bread - Kinda like a nice bowl of fruity cereal (umm...should I try this for breakfast?) Alcohol flavours are surprisingly subtle, very smooth. Very well balanced fruity flavours and a very thick mouthfeel.

Bottle. Pours red/brown with no head. No lacing left in glass. Strong alcoholic scent. Notes of caramel, wood, and malt. Strong alcoholic flavour. Fairly malty tatsing aswell. Smooth and warm drinking. Best drank slowly after dinner i think.

(Bottle 35,5 cl) Pours reddish mahogany with a slight haze and a small, rough off-white head. Vinous, rich and very complex aroma. Very full-bodied, shiploads of roasted malt and accents of dried and overripe fruit. Very sweet and very delicate. Slightly oxidized. Impressive though, that the hops still maintain a degree of bitterness. 090506

Bootle, 1997-vintage. Cloudy orange brown coloured with a beige head. Sweet aroma of malts, caramel and dried fruits. Sweet flavour of caramel, dried fruits and alcohol.