Schloss Eggenberg Samichlaus Bier

I had the 2006 batch. It is amber with a tiny bubbly head that immediately vanishes to nothing at all, but remains a bit bubbly. The aroma is very odd and off-putting, being a bit of fruit, grain, toffee, doughnuts and apple fritters, plus an odd element that I can’t place. The taste is, thankfully, much better, and it does have an intriguing quality, some nice flavours and feel, body and complexity. The taste is very sweet, with hints of apple fritters, sherry, fruit, and a faint roasted grain element that comes through, with a hint of flowery bitterness letting you know that this is, in fact, beer. The alcohol is clearly evident, although not as much as I’d expect at the strength and it is less noticeably alcoholic than other weaker beers I’ve had, aside from the full, oily feel and warmth. I kind of like it, and sipping a little is fine, but I can’t drink much and the smell is not pleasant.

This is a real treat. Its very smooth, no bitter taste. It leaves a very warm felling after every mouth full, probably to do with the ABV 14%. Although its classed as a Larger its more of a dark ale. Each bottle has the year it was produced in on the top of the label, the one I’ve tried was from 2007.

I looked forward to tasting this strong, dark amber beer. It’s a vintage 2004 and I tasted it November 2005. The aroma has notes of roasted malt and dark fruits. The flavour is initially very sweet, but then it’s just a nice sweetness wit notes of roasted malt, candy sugar, dark fruits and towards the finish also citrus. It’s incredibly full-bodied and even it it’s 14% I do not find notes of alcohol - pretty impressing! And it is an impressing beer - to put it short!

2006 vintage. Pours the lightest dopplebock color I have ever seen. Looks like light orange copper. Decent sized yeasty head that fades somewhat quickly. Smells like sugar and malt, taste like a barley wine minus the hops. Great caramel beer.

2004 bottle - Pours dark amber, almost ruby, with a very thin head. The aroma is heavy on sweet malt with a hint of dark fruit and a little alcohol, but not as much as I expected for the 14% abv. The flavor is sweet and malty with some dark fruit and oak notes. It’s full bodied and syrupy. Again the alcohol is there, but it’s not overpowering. Judging by that and some other reviews, I think three full years of aging have been good for this beer. I have another ’04 bottle that I think I’ll keep for at least another year, if not longer. I highly recommend a few years of aging if you buy the latest vintage.

Pours clear medium amber, little to no foam head. Aroma of malts, hops, flowers, toffee, so far not so impressed. Flavour is full bodied, yeah chocolates, malts with burnt syrup with some light cotton candy. full flavoured malts dominate, with a light cotton candy feel and taste. A bit sweet, not what I would consider sessionable, but drinkable. Alcohol well hidden, but who cares.....can only drink one or two (if you can take the extreme sweetness)....

Hopefully I’ll run into an aged version of this or else I’ll have to wait a few years for one I’ve set down before I can re-rate this. Fresh this thing is just too alcoholic and sweet. Pours clear copper / orange with a small off-white head. The aroma is very thick rich and ultra sweet with cotton candy, corn syrup and heavily toasted malt. The body is very thick and chewy with a velvety feel and too much prickly carbonation. The flavor starts with the traits on the aroma and the sweetness of cotton candy being dominant. The finish is overly hot with lots of caramel and toffee. Fresh this is for people with a lot more of a sweet tooth than I have. I’m looking forward to trying this with age on it to see how dramatic its evolution is.

Delicious! Wonderful chocolate/liquor flavor and beautiful dark body. Excellent beer for the winter months. Buy a few and pop ’em in the basement for a couple years.