Schloss Eggenberg Samichlaus Bier

Brewed by Brauerei Schloss Eggenberg
Style: Doppelbock
Vorchdorf, Austria

Deep dark amber color, heavy sweet spicy alcoholic aroma and taste, medium body, heavy sweet alcoholic finish. To much alcohol in the taste.

A Mes rate: 33cl bottle. What a load of rubbish. Stupidly strong and lacking any finesse whatsoever. Im sure American folks love it... ;)

Bottle. Vintage 2008, bought at Vinens Verden, Odense. Pours clear orange amber with a small, fizzy, off-white head that soon disappears. Looks a bit like cognac/brandy. Surprisingly mild aroma, some caramel, green apples and honey. Subdued viniousness. Medium carbonation, fine oily mouthfeel. Sweet flavour, fine caramel, some honey and a tad vinious. Does not taste of 14 % at all. Pretty drinkable, though I slightly prefer the pale version.

2001 Vintage: One of my favorite dopplebocks. Great for an after dinner drink or with a rich dessert.

2001 version: Red/Orange beer with a VERY sweet bouquet that can't quite hide alcohol content. The taste is very strong in alcohol, I didnt expect it to be well hidden like in many trappists ales, but here it really seems like we have liqueur-like alcohol sticking to candy, syrup, wood. I don't understand most people's passion about this beer or it wasn't old enough, too sweet.

Re-rate. Its true i havnt had many dopplebocks or beers over 10% and so maybe my first rating was a little off. This beer on its own has deveoped my palate greatly. Aroma is sweet with sheet notes. Taste is very sweet and malty, a little alcohol and some plum fruits aswell. Iv been having quite a few of these fresh over the last month and have a few over at my mums cellar and have said give me one every year till i have none left so i can see how they develope. Rerating: 2005 bottle 2yrs old and fresh 07 bottle. 05 bottle is showing very very slight oxidation signs, still very sweet and syrupy, woody sherry notes, good carbonation. 07 bottle is sweet and has a corn syrup note that im not fond of, the alcohol is too present also. Indeed this beer is better after a few years it seems.

Bottle (2000)... This beer rocks!... Smooth and malty aroma. Smoky and woodsy. Fourteen percent ABV is well hidden in the nose. Beautiful, sparkling Mahogany color. Small, white, creamy head with good lacing... rapidly diminishing to an afterthought. Flavor? BANG! POW! Very Very sweet and malty up front. Vanilla and toffee notes. Sweet, lightly bitter and very alcoholic on the backside. Full-bodied. Lively carbonation with a syrupy mouthfeel. Medium length, tangy, slightly sweet finish. Great desert or after-dinner beer. Sit down while drinking this. Make sure you don’t take your first sip until it’s warmed to room temperature.

2000 vintage sampled on 8/2/04: Pours a viscous dark copper maple color with a thin light tan head. Aroma is rich and heavy with plenty of caramel malty complexity and some dark fruits. Starts very thick and sweet gaining complexity as it goes and finishing sticky, but hiding the alcohol well. This is a double doppelbock that has aged quite nicely and will continue to do so. Also very good for its price.