Schloss Eggenberg Samichlaus Bier

Brewed by Brauerei Schloss Eggenberg
Style: Doppelbock
Vorchdorf, Austria

2005 bottle (I’ve had many on tap, but wanted to try one that was a bit older) Ruby-amber coloring with a medium, but fading head. Aroma is sugary-sweet with candy, brown sugar, and strawberries. Flavor has a heavy burnt-sugar/malty/dark fruit taste that I really dig. Solid feel with a nice crisp finish. Just a little alcohol in there. Went very nice with some honey goat cheese. The verdict: Still young, but after having the 97 Hurlimann Samichlaus earlier in the year, I can say that this really is a beer that shouldn’t be touched for at least 8-10 years. Its good now, but deserves to be laid away.

Dark amber, with hardly any head at all. The smell has lots of maltiness, as well as the taste. There alot of alcohol taste, which kinda made it tough towards the end of the glass. I don’t think I’d chilled this one quite enough. Have to give it another go. Pretty cool though.

Bottled. Dark amber color with a almost beige head, not persistent. Aroma is sweety with a quite alcohol note. Flavor i s pour alcohol, too strong, Oh Lord! Mouthfeel is dry and a hard alcohol presence.

From the bottle in 2006. Medium brown color, slightly reddish, like a Belgian brune almost, but very thick looking and transparent. Not much of a head. Strong malt aroma, lots of alcohol. Carmel tones. Tastes very sweet, very malty, very strong. You can definitely taste the alcohol. Really sweet, a lot of hops but they are rather overcome. Caramel and creamy tones. Good aftertaste, long hops, but mostly alcohol heat. A little too much alcohol for me, without the flavor to back it up, really. Needs more roasting, more hops. Decent stuff, I like it actually, but definitely you’ll only drink one. I’d like to try one after a few more years. It is very nice for what it is, a very strong, and yet quite drinkable, brew. For me, it is not up there with the best of the strong beers, though.

2004 Bottle cellar aged. Pours beautiful crystal clear amber color with very slight head. Smells sweet with some sherry (oxidation perhaps?). Mouthfeel is very full with caramel malt sweetness. Lots of alcohol here and pehaps a bit out of balanced, but very drinkable in small doses. All in all, a wonderful beer which has aged gracefully.

Bottle. 2007. Dark amber with a sweet nose. Very warming taste. Sweet, mildly fruity, would have never guessed 14%. Something to sip on, might have been better in the wintertime.

Pours a deep blood amber with minimal if any head. Smells hoppy and of faint alcohol. Taste is syrupy and too sweet. This is far too sweet, it reminds me of port.

Bottle. This is a fantasticly amber colored beer with no head. The aroma is very powerful with notes of fruit especially apricot. The flavor is also sweet with strong notes of apricot. This beer is great as a digestive. All in all it is plain great.