Schell 1878 Einbecker Doppelbock

On tap at the Blue Nile. Dark brown color with a thick head. Floral hop aroma and some caramel. Lots of sweet malt, caramel and fresh grain taste. Floral hops towards the end accompanied by a bit of honey. Schells’ finest offering, so far... I have high hopes for this anniversary series now.

On draught during the Winterfest 2008 in downtown St. Paul, Minnesota. Pours a clear copper amber brew with a creamy off-white head that has some excellent retention and some spotty lacing. Aroma of multi-grain and bready malt, some flowery hops, a touch of toffee and some brown sugar. Taste is medium bodied, creamy, smooth drinking with flavors identical to its aroma, plus a slight white pepper and light herbal spice added. Finish has a nice semi-sweet bready aftertaste with a mild bitterness and slowly disappears after the finish. The brewery representative informed me that the brewmaster will be producing ten different anniversary for their 150 year celebration. So far, their first special brew of the series is off to a good start.

Dark caramel-brown color, slim head. Sweet, caramel malt nose, toasty, deligthful...right on for style. Fills the mouth with malty goodness, rich and lovely. Light, but tasty, hops. Fairly full bodied, long, tasty, brown sugar-y malty finish. Sweet, but not overly so, and nearly sublime. Delicious. About 6.5 %, so not too daunting in the drinkability, low enough to let you grab another. I think I have to agree with other opinions, that this is probably the best Schell’s product I’ve had to date. I really like it. Yummy, yum, yum...I mean it, ...yum.

Winterfest ’08. Reddish brown body. Sweet and malty in the body with a bockish malt profile.

Draft at Winterfest ’08. Sweet aroma with cherries. Brownish amber body with hint of red. Some lace. Pretty solid brew. Malty and sweet; very good balance. Enough hops to keep things interesting. Very good.