Hurlimann Samichlaus

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

1997 bottle from the last batch imported into Britain.Dark and very overpowering.Totally dominated by alcohol.Not really my taste so hard to judge this one-I just didn’t think the 8 year wait was worth it.

This is quite evidently a Christmas beer. Its initial impression is a SLAM of alcohol, followed by sweetness, dried fruit, spice, and toffee. But somehow it is much less interesting than that sounds. The alcohol is overwhelming, asis the sweetness. The fruity, spicey overtones that sound so promising are completely dominated by sweetness and alcohol; think strong rum and coke and you won’t be too far off. Dark reddish brown, no head, no lacing, no visible cabonation, not much mouthfeel of carbonation either. By coincidence I had had a strong dark Germanic beer the day before, a Schneider Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock; not one of my favorites, but far more interesting than this. Again, this is flat and simple, too sweet and too alcoholic, with too little bitterness, more like a fortified barley wine than a doppelbock. I really can’t say I liked it; in fact, it was drain pour.

1996. Poured a cloudy dark brown color. Aroma of prunes and raisins. Smells aged and blended. Flavors of dark fruit and brown sugar. Medium body and viscous with a soft carbonation. Nicely balanced. Big warming sensation and very tasty.

1996 bottle. Murky red brown hue with very little head. Understandible. Caramel, molasses, alcohol, toffee, prunes. Very rich and somewhat sharp aroma. Heavily sweet, lightly acidic flavor becomes a heavily sweet, lightly acidic, lightly bitter finish. Brown sugar! Medium-heavy body, oily texture, soft carbonation, very low alcohol. The bottom line is: verrrrrrrry refined after all these years. Alcohol was stronger in the nose, but never really detracted. Thanks Matt, this is rockin’.

1995. Malt and chocolatey goodness. Very small amount of carbonation. I knew it had some serious alcohol, but I would never have guessed it to be 14% - it is exceptionally well disguised.

Another 96 bottle, this time provided by MikeMac at The Oak Cafe. Again a brillant display of brewing. My rating numbers were just about the same across the board so no need to change it for the rerate. GET YA SOME!!!

1996 bottle, released from my cellar for this moment, it is my last of this great beer, for now I must lament it’s passing...sniff: Beautiful ruby brown hue with a small but forever lasting ring upon the glassware. The aroma has a complex character of fig and prune, caramelized malting, honey and brown sugars, pumpernickel bread and rye, a vinous almost nearly auslese like ester. The taste start with a big splash of overripen fruit and sugar with a healthy dose of bitters and port undertones. The finish is on and ongoing masterpiece of rich candied walnut and touch of tannins. Sure there is some oxidation but it seems it help not hurt this beer and giving it a noble status. The feel is a lush as you could ever want and provides a mind-numbing warming. Pure nirvana in a glass and something you must try if you have the means. Sample along with a 2002 Castle Eggenberg Samichlaus. Not even in the same zipcode in depth or palate. Goodbye old friend....sniff

1996 bottle, consumed 3/18/05 at the Tap Room in Detroit. Smells very fruity, notes of sherry are easy to discern, with berries, butterscotch, and slight vinousness. Pours a transluscent ruby-brown color with a rapidly disipating head. Light sediment on the bottom. Notes of plums and chocolate arise as I swirl the glass. Flavor begins with a very thick, but oxidized, caramel maltiness, with residual sugars coating the palate nicely. Sherry characteristics emerge in the middle, as it gets lightly syrupy and quite sweet. Ripe berries and some yeastiness join the mix. Flavor ends on chocolate, plums and prunes with plenty more sugar and a warming effect from the alcohol. Full bodied, for sure, but you can feel its age. Still, for 9 years, this stuff has aged tremendously well. Nothing unexpected in the oxidation/sherry notes. No wateriness or stale flavors. Low carbonation and to be honest, I didn’t think the alcohol was apparent at all.

1996 bottle. Smelled like vodka, cider and sour. Tasted like vodka on the first sip, nice hoppy sour on the second, but then back to the strong vodka and grain alcohol taste. Interesting if nothing else.