Kulmbacher Mönchshof Kellerbier

Brewed by Kulmbacher Brauerei (Schörghuber)
Style: Zwickel/Keller/Landbier
Kulmbach, Germany

This flippy top bottled brew marked 1536366 from a bottle shop in Indianapolis poured a medium sized head of foamy off-white colored bubbles that were thick and left behind a hazy very softly carbonated brown colored body and a fair lacing. The mild aroma was malty with brown malt and dough notes. The mouth feel was mildly tingly at the start and at the finish. The mild thin flavor contained notes of brown malt. An OK brew just nothing special. Needs more character and flavor.

Cloudy dark amber color. Off white weak haed. Aroma is malty, fruity with pear and light roasty notes. Flavor is malty too with light caramel and fruity tones, ending in a long fruity finish. Light to medium bodied.

A delightful German lager. I thought it was a bock until I looked it up. More hoppy, though, like an oktoberfest. Candy apple aroma with an almost ale-like finish. Dryish malty on the finish. Great with grilled chicken, rice and beans.

Bottle. Creamy white good fully lasting head. Amber colour. Nice malty aroma. Light bitter sweet flavor. Slightly caramellic. Average finish. Watery plate.

Flip top bottle. Poured a medium sized cream head with poor lacing, carbonation, cloudy, and the hue was copper. Malty sweet, caramel, apple and citric notes. Flavor was malty and sweet, some apples, lightly bitter and lightly hoppy. Smooth and somewhat of a thin mouthfeel. Light body.

Cloudy caramel brown with a large, lasting frothy head. Some dustiness and grainy caramel malt aroma, but it was bloody hard to pin down whether it was because of the environment (as highlandlad refers to) or just the beer itself. Mild bitterness, which the pubs beer menu informed us was at 23 IBUs. This was exceptionally easy drinking, with the half litre going down very easily. Some nice fruitiness apparent in swallowing, with a grainy malt aftertaste. Light to medium body, with a smooth, satisfying carbonation. I’d love to sample more beers of this style, but in this isolated continent I’ll be a long time waiting!!

A puzzle inside a riddle wrapped in an enigma, to pinch a phrase from Churchill. Can’t think of another beer I’ve enjoyed as much, yet found so tough to pin down and describe. It was my first Kellerbier and I liked it a lot. Sloshed into a half-litre German stein at a Sydney Bavarian beer cafe, Kulmbacher Monchshof Kellerbier was a muddy milk chocolate colour with a fine head that lasted so well that it outstayed its welcome (wouldn’t settle and let me at the aroma). At fridge temperature, the aroma was hard to draw out. Light and fruity, with a faint green apple acidity and some familiar pale lager malts. There were no off-notes, but there’s just not enough character to rate higher. Perhaps it’s too subtle to shine in a crowded bar environment. Lovely creamy mouthfeel and light carbonation make this an easy quaffer. Very refreshing. There is some mango coridal fruitiness, plus chocolate notes in a quenching mix. Very low bitterness and a sour fruity finish. Aside from the robust abv, this would make a splendid session ale. (500ml bottle from the Bavarian Bier Cafe, O’Connell St, Sydney; best before 3/11/06)

Bottled, in Greece. Firm, snow white rocky head, lively carbonation. Malty, not too sweet, but low on bitterness. Good!