Hurlimann Samichlaus

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

1995 version, sampled at 10 years old. Orange-brown beer, no head, small suspended particles in the beer. Massive sweet malty and fruity aroma, big brown sugar, dark malts, some plumminess. Amazingly aromatic. Sweet malt flavour, taste of baked rye bread, sweet malts, black cherry, but also some savoury soy elements. Absolutely amazing beer.

We did a vertical tasting of Samichlaus alongside our Bigfoot barleywine vertical. We had the rare and wonderful opportunity to taste a ’95, ’96, and ’97 Sami side by side. All were sweet as expected but the tastes varied from year to year. In order: 1995 - A hearty sweet and potent brew despite its 10 years of aging. Complexity along the lines of beef boullion, ruby port, and some slightly odd but not bad play-doh notes. Wonderful if not overpowering. But, this is Samichlaus, it’s supposed to be overpowering! 1996 - quite similar to the 95, but I liked it a bit better. There was some extra zest or zing to the nose that gave a sparkle to the beer not present in the ’95. 1997 - Roastier, deeper, and tangier than the last two. Tang was earthy like tamarind or dried lime. All were outstading, I’ll be buying a few a year to enjoy in the next decade. My ratings above are an aggregate of the whole.

Bottled from ’95. Very smell head, whiskey brown color. The smell is amazing, raisins, cork, mulled spices, glöögi, plums, prunes, and some other things I identify as very distinctly meaty. The taste does not disappoint. Some cognac, very sweet, evident sweet grains (think horse’s sweetfeed). Definitely a sipping beer.

Another big thanks to Dave for sharing this dinosaur from ’95. Pours deep brown with a tan head that actually sticks around. Aroma is of sherry and maple syrup. Plums and raisins come out as well as some alcohol, even after 11 years of aging. Syrupy body with little CO2 but the body is much easier to cope with than the newer vintages. Flavors are sherry and huge malts with dried fruits and lots of chocolate and some heat. Aged gracefully and I bet will do better in the upcoming years.

Now this was damn good. 1996 version that kp brought to Ale Atl. Smells like butterscotch and soy sauce. lots of alcohol but mellow so it’s not offensive or overpowering. smooth, carmel , chocolate, Reisins. almost a chew tobacco kind of flavor but still good.

1990 version, tasted thanks to Chris Quiroga of course. Headless clear caramel brown robe serves as the assault base for enormous chocolate whiffs. Caramel malts and broad range of sherry fruit undertones (grape, date, currant, apple, prune) make for a very complex aroma, with the alcohol being perfectly integrated in a complex woody, fat and oxidized malty ale. Tobacco burn, extreme sweetness and vegetal oxidation/sherryysih nuttiness and spoiled apples grandeur dont work all too well with me, but I can see how people appreciate its vast complexities.

1996: Aroma of dark fruit and mollasses. Much the same in flavor with a smooth finish. Very tasty.

Vintage 1996. Sampled at the after Kennett Square tasting, I’m not sure who brought this one, but thanks! Poured a dark and cloudy brown color with a smaller sized off white head. Aromas of mainly dark fruits with some chocolate in the background. Tastes of dark fruits, brown sugar, cherries and molasses. On the sweeter side.