Freigeist Abraxas

Freigeist Bierkultur
Brewed at Gasthaus-Brauerei Braustelle
Style: Grodziskie/Gose/Lichtenhainer
Stolberg, Germany

Serve in Dimpled mug, English pint, Stein

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   update pic

This beer is magnificent. I was at The Festival in Worcester, MA last year (2012), and everyone was talking about Jean from Cantillon being there BEFORE the fest, yet afterwards it was these guys who stole the show. The Abraxas (not to be confused with the Perennial Abraxxas, which is a completely different beer) is one of the most complex, yet drinkable beers I have ever tasted. Smokey in the nose, then sweet and grassy up front, and sour from the brett as well as grainy in the finish. Amazing idea that I’m fairly certain has never been done on purpose in a commercial setting. Definitely worth trying, but not for those who aren’t ready to experience something unlike anything else they have tasted before. A brilliant beer, but unfortunately not something to swear by - it’s more of a beautiful novelty than anything else.

Really interesting import. Never had anything like it before. Lightly fog yellow color. The aroma is a light tart fruit but mild smoke in the back. The taste follows suit with that so strange mix of tart and smoke. I wish I could find this on tap somewhere at a bar with otu door seating. I would drink this pint after pint.

Rated 2011: The head is medium. It smells nice sour, a bit yeasty, fruity-citrus. The taste is yeasty, sour, refreshing, sweet, sour, citrus, lime. Good one! 11/12/12/12/-/12

Bottle from Party Source. Smoked sour beer is one of the smartest styles ever. This is a delicious beer, but doesn’t quite pull it off as well as the very few others I’ve had in the style. The aroma is like apples with a tart dose of cider vinegar and light smoke. The body is on the thin side with tart cider up front with notes of wheat and just a little smoke. Fruity notes peek around. It aight.

Refrigerated 0.5 L brown bottle poured into a La Trappe glass (closest I had to a bowl). Pours light amber with small white head which dissapates quickly. Medium body, medium carbonation, and light tart aroma. Taste is tart malt, some smoke (mostly pepperoni), and mild grain. Interesting and pretty good, but nothing really special.

Draft at Vedge. Pours a hazy gold with some white head and lace. Aroma of wheat, lemon, smoke. Lightly tart with a noticeable smokiness. Lightish body, mildly carbonated.

Draft @ The Trappist, Oakland, CA. Pours a hazy amber orange color with a small white head. Has a fruity malty spicy yeasty aroma. Fruity malty spicy yeasty flavor with weak hints of caramel. Has a fruity malty spicy yeasty finish.

Complex, flavorful version of a wheat brew. Lots of sweet hefeweizen flavor, lght woodsmoke, toast, and a bit of sourness. Nicely balanced, mellow, very classy, and Herman Hesse on the label! Thanks to Greg.

Bottle from Binny’s Marcey. Pours a glowing orange/gold with a thin dissipating white head. Light haze. Nose is soft smoke, clove, very fruity. Faint tart notes in nose. The smoke is cool. Some almost witbier character as well. On tasting, light acidity, tart and very fruity. Clean smokey quality. Really refreshing and light with some clovey notes. Medium bodied. Really cool beer!

Pours a hazy, milky gold with a thick white head. Aroma is citrus, wheat and smoke. Taste is a nice combo of lacto, citrus, wheat and slight smoke. Really nice, not over the top on the smoke. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone