Schlüssel Alt

Brewed by Hausbrauerei Zum Schlüssel
Style: Altbier
Düsseldorf, Germany

Serve in Kölsch/Altbier

Pours a dark orange-copper with a medium off-white fluffy head. Nose is very bready full of freshly baked bread and hops and grass. Taste is spicy hops backed by a solid lightly sweet malt backbone, all in perfect balance. Dry, slightly nutty finish. Body can feel a bit watery but is very creamy. Definitely the best of all original Alt beers and incredibly drinkable.

The best Alt I tasted in Dusseldorf hands down, and I feel this rating is well deserved. It sports a nice medium caramel appearance and a pillowy white foam cap. I was impressed with Schluessel’s malt balance and its slight hint of fruity flavour. Soft carbonation and a very pleasant finish...

This one is a bit over the best before date but was quickly proven to be good nonetheless. 500 ml, BB 22.October 2010, into tulip. A vigorous pour creates deep amber to bronze body with good clarity, topped by thick firm off-white head with excellent retention that clings to the walls and, although slowly subsides, virtually never dies. The nose is rich malt with caramel and toasty notes, peppery spiciness that probably originates from noble hops, fruity esters of plum and raisins. Flavor starts with prominent hoppy bitterness counterbalanced by crisp, well attenuated malt. Fruity esters are virtually absent, slightly nutty finish is quite dry allowing hoppy bitterness to persist into the aftertaste. Medium bodied, soft carbonated with slight astringency. In short: a sessional lagered ale with assertive hoppy bitterness and a good dosage of attenuated malt.

26th June 2007
Warning! Early amateur rating! Bottle in Dusseldorf. Dark hoppy beer. Slightly bitter fruit. Toffee undertone/

From oak barrels at the brewpub. Oak, vanilla, peaches, pepper. Gives assocations to the best British bitters. Very quaffable.

From the barrel at the brew pub, Dusseldorf. Mid brown colour with a decent sized creamy head. Nose was quite fragrant with caramel malt and some herby hop in attendance. Flavour was sweetish with perhaps less bitterness than anticipated. Very clean, smooth and fresh with great balance, giving it big drinkability points. Hard to fault really, and wish I’d had more time to get stuck into a few more of these.

On tap at Zum Schlüssel in Düsseldorf. Lightbrown colour with a lasting head. Malty aroma. Flavour of malt and light caramel turning into bitter taste.

Draft at Brauerei Zum Schlüssel in Düsseldorf. Appearance is dark amber/brown color. Aroma is light with caramel and honey. Taste is sweet malty with light hop and bready finish.