Hurlimann Samichlaus

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

1986 bottle. Woody aroma. Cloudy brown colour, no head. Thick mouthfeel. The flavour is a lot like port. Woody, raisiny flavour. Long, sweet aftertaste. Thanks to Martin from Haandbryggeriet, DK.

1997 Vintage Rated April 2006. I assume this was brewed in 1996 and bottled in 1997?. Dark brown headless body. Sweet, alcoholic dominant aroma, but the alcohol is restrained at the same time. Light notes of dark fruit. Alcohol has more bite in the flavour, and the dark fruity malt is much more prominent. Finishes with light dry notes of alcohol and some bitterness. Medium syrupy palate. A treat I did not expect the chance to try.

very little carbonation. very malty with chocolate. little "boozy" feel to it but still surprised it was 14%. very good but only as a one bottle treat now and again.

Had this at Jimmys on the Lower East Side of Manhatten. 1994 12 oz bottle. Dimmed bar so it is hard to be accurate on the color, dark is best I could do. Poured into small pilsner glass with no head whatsoever. The smell hits your nose hard. Stilll very potent and almost like a new bottle. However, the taste has mellowed. Lots of chocolate and barely like sweetness. Finishes with no bitterness. Even thought this beer was 12 years old I believe it could stand for another 12 years. Definitly not going bad yet. Good luck to anybody who waits 24 years. RERATE: drank again 5/5/06 - same place. A good description of the smell is prune juice and rum. Still a great chocolate character. Have been comparing this to other aged beers (i.e. Hardy’s) recently and these is still so strong with lots more room to grow.

1996 bottle, shared by kp - thanks! Dark brown / amber pour. Sweet caramel and port nose and flavors. Some leather, and the alcohol was still present. Some darker fruitiness also comes through in flavor. Very drinkable.

1995 bottle. When the first drop of this fine doppelbock hit my tongue, I was instantly transported to a small hamlet in alpine Switzerland, where a homeless yodeler in lederhosen was pissing in my mouth as I lay helpless in the gutter. The aroma is a cheap port with currants and malt. Heavily sugared taste, with malts and a taste of alcohol that makes you gag. Sticky finish of rotten fruit. I had a second sip and just could not take anymore. This may not be the world’s strongest beer anymore, but it has to be one of the world’s worst.

Deep brown in color with no head or lace to speak of. Can smell the age on the nose along with carmelly/portish notes. Huge mouthfeel deep mollassis, alcohol is not as prevolent as an un-aged one, but still tingles on the way down. I love this beer but ’96 was the best at its peak in ’02, so I guess 6 yrs. is the peak for this beer. Past its peak but still good. ’95 Vintage.

Not at all pleased with this. Too strong and thus a too strong taste of alcohol. Not enough spice to make the taste undergo a change from alcoholic to sweet/bitter. Seems like a rather bland wine...