Schloss Eggenberg Samichlaus Bier

Brewed by Brauerei Schloss Eggenberg
Style: Doppelbock
Vorchdorf, Austria

Bottle. Nose is alcohol heavy, like liquor-like heavy. Malty sweet behind it, but the malts have to fight their way out. Some caramel and a touch of coffee. The color is bourbon-like, clear but dark brown. Alcohol is somehow more subdued in the mouth, thankfully, allowing more caramel malt flavors to come through. Very smooth mouthfeel with some burn from the alcohol.

Bottled in 2004. A clear ruby red color, lighter than I’d expect. Only a tiny head which fades quickly. Super-malty aroma, hints of raisin, plum, and licorice. Malt overload flavor as well. Thick, chewy. This beer is huge and it tastes it. When I started it was a bit too cold - definitely improved as it warmed. Doesn’t even taste hopped. Flavor is vinous, caramel and toffee. Tastes like a big English barleywine. I didn’t love it but...definitely an experience worth trying once.

Appearance: dark amber copper color, beautiful. Little head and low persistency. Aroma: intensive malty, light toasty and candy. Reminiscences of handcrafted “alfajor”. Fruitiness of figs, raisins, peaches and banana. Vanilla, nut, almond and clove touches. Very liquory (obviously). Damp wood and smoked tones. Flavor: sweet malty, very candy, medium toasty of cereals, toffee, vanilla, honey, almonds and clove. Fruitiness of dark raisins, figs, ripe peaches and banana. Warming and liquory; similar to whisky, amaretto and golden ron. Sweet start; warm final with very slight hoppyness. Complex and "hard". Palate: medium body; creamy and semi-oily texture. Low carbonation. Oh my god!...very good beer.

33cl. pours clear amber, soapy wh. head. nose is cotton candy, really sweet. flavor is really sweet at first, but chills out a bit, winey, caramel, honey, dark fruits, no alc. in finish but sorta watery. really reminds me of avery’s sameal’s ale. not something i want very often.

33 cl, bottled 2006. Shiny copper with a small disappearing head. Aroma is brandywine, dark fruit, wood, maybe even some beeswax. Taste is alcohol and raisin. Not as complex as expected and a bit overly alcoholic and sweet. Probably better with aging, but I can’t imagine that it would improve so much as to be called great.

Pours a deep mahogany, with no head to speak of. Aroma is very nice, loads of malt, malt, and more malt! There is also a big ripe fruit, brandy, and nuttiness. Flavour is quite sweet, and malty, with big brandy flavours. The mouthfeel is THICK, the alcohol is definitely present, but its not a prevalent as you would think for a 14% beer. The alcohol wamrs on its way down my throat, but its welcome, and doesnt overpower. Just a superb sipping beer.

WOW!!! A beer for a king. The Aroma is pure caramel, dark rich fruits and oaky nuttiness. The palate is a step below of a syrup like palate. The malts is pure malts, brandy like flavor, toffee, plums, I’m sure the storage is in vintage wood barrels that makes it special. warms your entire body. drink in stride.

2006 bottle bought at the KaDeWe in Berlin. Pours a beautiful dark amber with a thin, dissipating head. Aroma of brown sugar, plum/raisin, strawberry and alcohol. Mild taste for a brew with this strength. Sweet and spicy, bears little or no resemblance to a lager - or a Doppelbock for that matter - rather more like a Quadrupel or port/sherry. Alcohol warmth in the finish, but not unpleasant. Goes very well with some dark chocolate. Surprisingly good overall. Re-rating. 2007 bottle. Good colour, thin head. Heavy fruity aroma, very nice flavour of dark fruits, saffron and a bunch of malts. No change in grades. Keeping a few on hold.