Schloss Eggenberg Samichlaus Bier Helles

Brewed by Brauerei Schloss Eggenberg
Style: Doppelbock
Vorchdorf, Austria

Red label Samichlaus Helles was picked up in a 12 oz., brown bottle, and poured into a goblet. The beer came out fizzy and developed almost no head, but the body was a crystal clear, pale gold. The smell was quite an fruity and alcoholic treat. Lots of pears, apples, and grapes on the nose, soaked in cognac. The taste was warm, sweet, and ... well it was hard to get past the sweet. The spices (anise and pepper), vanilla, and fruits were all drizzled in lots of powdered sugar. Some might find this level of sweetness cloying, but I found the strong countering by the drying alcohol a sufficiently palatable combination. As I got further along, some hop bitterness showed up as well. Very richly textured, and oh so warming. Some might consider this a good fireside sipper, but I’d be beware of igniting the vapors. Fits all the classic definitions of a cellarable a beer, and I sure will be stashing away some for a decade or more to get it to peak.

bottle poured a perfect golden with a little white head. Aroma is pilsener- like. Flavor is disappointing; very sweet, malt liquor like.

Bottle @ Liar’s Club Grand Opening. Poured a clear golden color with a small white head. Sweet fruity aroma with light notes of alcohol. Malty sweet flavor and estery. Warming with a medium-full body.

Aroma malty and sweet, but first you smell the alcohol. No head and looks like a pilsner. The flavor is too sweet and too much alcohol. Perhaps it will be good to age it.

Packs a powerful punch that does let go. The first sip hits you hard with with dark caramel malts. The nose and aroma will knock anything back. The only downside is a slight corn after taste. Get this, try it.

The aroma is not what I was expecting. It’s almost malt liquor like with corn, sugar, and alcohol. The appearance is orange with an average head. The flavor is special. It’s sweet and rich with malt and elements from the aroma. The palate is thick. Overall it’s one I would have again.

Pours red with diminishing ring head. Fruit (passion fruit) aroma. Sweet. Perhaps too sweet for now, but maybe next year....

pours a golden orange with no head. Smells like alchohol and sweet malt. Sweet caramel flavor, no bitterness. not as flavorful as the black label sami, but still very good.