JakeBrake (14), Bellingham, Washington, USA
Apr 5, 2005
Samichlaus is more accurately described as a "malt liquer" than a beer. Incredibly intense, with a level of complexity usually only found in Scotch, it is best served in a brandy snifter or tulip glass and sipped slowly over the course of an hour. The aroma, probably its weakest point, is powerful and strange. The flavor is intensely sweet and strongly malty, and it is next to impossible to drink this beer in swallows. Strong, warm alcoholic kick, with a powerful sedative effect. Beautiful, deep reddish brown color. Reputed to improve with age – I am cellaring 12 bottles from the 2004 vintage to confirm this.
It’s not for everone, but for those who can tolerate its unique style, nothing else compares.
matrixmorb (6), , Italy
does not count  Dec 1, 2008 Very warm beer.Truly rare,sweet,alcoholic with ahint of brandy.
For a warm and comfortable afterdinner.
A great beer!
 glennmastrange (462), hobe sound, Florida, USA
Dec 1, 2008 Bottle, 2006. Moderate malt and hop aromas of cookie, roasted, nutty, caramel, and perfume with no noticable yeast smell. Background notes of rasin and date, butterscotch, vanilla and lots of alcohol. Head is small, creamy with only fair lacing but the body is definitely leggy. It diminishes almost completely and the color is clear copper. Flavor starts moderately sweet and lightly acidic, then finishes moderately sweet, lightly bitter and a touch sour. Palate is medium to full, syrupy and has an almost flat carbonation. It finishes heavily alcoholic. An extreme Doppelbock. You definitely need to take your time with it...and should let warm a bit too.
terrybail (184), , Ontario, Canada
Nov 30, 2008 330ml Bottle from the SAQ as part of a trade for a server cabinetļ
The aroma was cloyingly SWEET and smoky with a touch of honey and molasses
Pours a nice coppery brown with no head or lacing to speak of
This beer is very very sweet and syrupy the high ABV is well masked but this was just not a very enjoyable beer for me I could not even finish it
Calichio (484), Campinas, Brazil
Nov 28, 2008 Caraca!!! Cerveja bem forte, de coloração avermelhada e espuma bege de média formação e curta duração. Aroma e sabor complexos, muito agradáveis, sugerindo malte tostado, chocolate e talvez amêndoa ou avelã. O álcool é perceptível (já esperava por isso, afinal são 14%). Cada gole é uma paulada... Desce queimando! Realmente, parece licor (lembro que ela é uma "Malt Liquor"). Final adocicado e seco. Tirando o excessivo teor alcoólico, a cerveja é muito boa. Seria fantástica se o fabricante tivesse conseguido a proeza de equilibrar melhor o álcool no conjunto, o que não deve ser nada fácil. De qualquer forma, vale experimentá-la pela singularidade.
craftycarl21 (244), South Hero, Vermont, USA
Nov 26, 2008 Pours a transparent copper color with a small white head. Aroma is quite sweet, with plum, raisin, fig, and malt prominent, along with some vinuous undertones and hints of alcohol. Flavor is very sweet, almost to a negative extent, but not quite. Great syrupy flavors of dark fruit and sugar. Palate is thick at first but the finish is a bit watery. The sweetness hides the 14% ABV, but it’s still definitely present on the tongue. Really nice beer.
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