Neuzeller Closter Zell (Golden Abbot)

Brewed by Klosterbrauerei Neuzelle
Style: Premium Lager
Neuzelle, Brandenburg, Germany

Bottle, Very sweet with a good aroma, light bread smell, head size diminished quickly and flattened out, amber color, strong honey-like flavor, creamy texture, very good overall- refreshing without being too light- creamy sweet and smooth

(500 ml bottle: $2.49 at Holiday Wine Cellar in Escondido, CA) I love how Golden Abbot is described as a "pale lager" on the back label because this is anything but! Not in flavor and not in appearance. It’s golden-amber in color and fairly clear with only a smattering of carbonation bubbles rising through the beer, so quite a bit darker than the typical pale lager. Hardly any head to speak of during the pour, and what little there is fades very quickly. Very malty and bready "brew house" nose is wonderfully appealing and enticing. Deliciously toasty and malty with a surprising amount of honey sweetness for a German lager, but to balance this, there is a pleasant sourness like sourdough. Almost no hops or bitterness in this beer, so the sweet malts do reign supreme. Body is medium with the sweetness making it seem a little syrupy. Carbonation is light. A very unusual flavor, certainly not what I was expecting, especially that honey sweetness, but frankly, I’m glad this beer has surprised me. Certainly not a beer for everyone, but I’ve enjoyed this beer immensely and having now had three of the Neuzeller beers imported into this country and liking them all, I will not hesitate to buy any of them repeatedly in the future.

Pour is deep hazy golden and dark with a small thin off white head...smell is skunky at first, turning sweet with honey...taste is strange and imbalanced...sweet honey, slightly bitter, vegetable, skunk, grossness...syrupy mouthfeel...

Bottle. Poured hazy golden color with a large frothy off-white head that mostly lasted and produced good lacing. Moderate sweet malty aroma. Medium body with a slick stexture. Medium sweet fruity flavor with a smooth balanced finish of average duration. Smooth drinkable brew.

An amber beer with a nice tan head. The aroma is sweet malty with notes of straw and caramel. The flavor is very sweet malty with notes of caramel, fruit, and straw, the fruits being peaches and oranges. The end is nicely bitter to balance the sweetness. I find the body a bit thin inspite of the 6.3% ABV.

Had a bottle of this last night after work. Picked it up weeks ago at Belmont Party Supply in Dayton. The nose is very interesting and appealing. Spicy earthy yeast, and cereal grains. Very different, and a pleasant change from the usual. The brew pours a hazy golden clover honey amber. The large creamy bone head is exceptionally stiff, and fully lasting leaving light lace rings. The flavor is very sweet. Almost no hops presence to be found. It’s been a while since I’ve had a Kolsh, but that is what came to mind. The light floral finish hints at caramel. The light body is watery, and soft.

Pours a clear golden color with a small thin head. Lightly sweet and buttery with very little carbonation.

This lager pours a yellow gold color from a 500ml bottle. Medium sized white foamy head. Aroma is fruity and sweet, touch of grass and some honey. A medium bodied lager. Malts are fruity and sweet, touch of cereal. Lots of fruity sweetness, as well as a lot of honey like sweetness as well. Hops are floral and earthy. A touch too sweet for a lager. The carbonation is wonderful, soft and full and sadly that is the best thing about this beer. A little watery and way too sweet for my tastes. Mouthfeel is full. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly sweet with a touch of grassiness.