Uerige Sticke - Uerige Obergärige Hausbrauerei GmbH / Zum Uerige

Halcyondays

California

3.95/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

11.2 oz. swing-top bottle,

A: Pours a medium amber with a light white head, very good retention, spotty lace.

S: Dark bread, hay, sage.

T: Nice dark malt flavour, almost a crystal malt taste on the back end. Good backing hops, herbal and grassy. Good balance.

M: Medium-bodied, creamy, quite smooth, bit astringent at times.

D: One of the classics of the style and quite an nice beer for my palate.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2010 05:19:27 | More by Halcyondays

Errto

Connecticut

3.8/5  rDev -7.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Cool-looking flip-top bottle poured into the closest approximation I have to a Stange glass.

Solid brown in color. Hazy, though the bottle may have been agitated a little. Excellent head retention.

Smell is subtle, malty, a little sweet though not incredibly so. Taste is quite pleasant, again lots of caramel malt, still less "biscuity" than the Altbiers I'm used to but then again, those were all American so who knows. Alcohol comes through a bit, and there is some hop bitterness towards the end. Mouthfeel is very moderate, neither light nor heavy.

Overall, this is quite a good beer. Were it not for the label I would have pegged it as a slightly strong English brown ale by appearance and flavor. This bottle was a gusher probably due to mishandling so I will try to seek out another and update my review.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2010 20:59:18 | More by Errto

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

4.15/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Tall thin brown flip-top bottle obtained at the 2010 Pre-ZBF near Brugge. Poured into a Frankenheim Alt glass (twice).

Lovelly looking beer, redwood colour, clear on the first pour, clouded on the second, both pours had a well formed foaming head of tan coloured bubbles.

Malts hit the nose, roasted, toasted, but not burnt.

The malts carry on into the taste, rich and almost creamy, the 6% ABV is also evident within the flavour and adds that something extra some of the 'lesser Altbiers' lack in body and depth.

Very, very drinkable and pleased I've at last had one of these famous beers. I've drank at the brewhouse a few times, but many years ago and sadly never when the 'Stike' was on.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2010 17:44:32 | More by BlackHaddock

sachsich

South Carolina

4.18/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This was a great beer. Great amber almost cherry wood color to the beer. Had a great head in the beginning but quickly faded to a thin film. Lacing was very evident and great throughout. Taste was perfect for an Alt with little alcohol flavor. Would want many more!!!

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2010 21:32:17 | More by sachsich

CampusCrew

Florida

4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

on tap at kickbacks

appearance: brown complexion. not much lacing though.

smell: subtle caramel brown sugar and bready sweetness

taste: caramel, Low alcohol bite with some bitter hops on the backend. good roasted malt.

mouthfeel: medium bodied, nice session beer

drinkability: solid beer and it was cool to try a beer like that on tap. Thanks KB

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2010 04:38:14 | More by CampusCrew

bobsy

Ontario (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Derek was kind enough to let me help brew an alt with him on Saturday and pick up a thing or two for when i get my own operation going. In the spirit of the brewday this is one of the alts I took over which hopefully inspired the wort.

The cute long-necked bottle opens with a pop, and immediately starts gushing. Pours a rich amber with a few particles in suspension (turns out this is bottle conditioned), and a nice light tan head. The retention and lacing is spectacular, and this is a fine looking beer. The aroma is quite clean, with strong mineral and grassy notes mixing in with mild caramel and lemon.

The flavour is surprisingly herbal, and this is what hits me off the bat. Underneath this, though, is a prominent feel of toasted brown bread, light coffee and earth. Some nut and a reassertion of minerals. The finish is citric with a biting bitterness, and a slightly drying feel. Medium-light body with a smooth carbonation.

I wasn't as wowed with this as I hoped I would be for a German top 25 beer, but it is a nice drinker, and I'd be happy to have a few more.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2010 15:30:07 | More by bobsy

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

3.7/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A: Copper-brown, light tan head, excellent retention and lacing.

S: Floral, grassy, earthy-mineral & caramel.

T: Dark bread, caramel, floral, herbal, grassy, earthy, hint of nut, good bitterness.

M: Moderate body is smooth & malty.

D: A decent drinker.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2010 02:25:10 | More by Derek

HopHead84

California

4.08/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured into my Moonlight glass, the beer appears dark murky brown with a huge, and I mean huge, sea foam beige head. The head is four fingers in my pint glass, and it recedes in a cavernous fashion while leaving thick sheaths of lacing on the glass. The head is comical in its voluminosity.

The nose is of baked bread with lightly toasted malt and notes of caramel. The aroma possesses a decided nutty quality, a dash of chocolate, and a light spicy character that's reminiscent of cinnamon and all spice.

The flavor is of toasted malts, baked bread, a slight spiciness, a low level of bitterness, walnuts, and almonds. Chocolate is noticeable, but subtle, and there's a dash of sweetness midpalate that is quickly consumed. The dry finish is of baked bread, toasted malt, and a dash of chocolate. The carbonation is high and the mouthfeel is dry. A delicious and drinkable German beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2009 09:20:41 | More by HopHead84

Offa

California

4.65/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

This is a very characterful, yet easy-drinking beer, balanced, and (logical since it is an ale) betrays qualities that are about as similar to English ale as I suspect any traditional German beer likely comes.

Deep red brown, bubbly, faintly hazy, it has a huge, pale tan head that steadily shrinks to a lasting, foamy, rocky top. It leaves some decent lace.

Aroma is rich, raisiny, fruit, rich whole wheat toast, lightly winey, with a hint of sweet-sour fruit and toast, hint of earthy leafiness. Faintly like an English ale, it is excellent, complex, very pleasant.

Taste is light, peppery-fruity toast, leafy, spicy hops, light raisininess, hint of caramel. It is lightly on the sweet side before lightly spicy bitterness balances it out for a dry finish, followed by lightly sweet, caramelly aftertaste.

Feel is good, solid, but not oily

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2009 01:26:05 | More by Offa

scottg

Vermont

4.1/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

11.2 oz bottle poured into a pint glass.
bottle on 10.08, code 09.09

This beer opens with a loud "pop" and pours a cloudy mahogany color with a two finger off white head with good retention. Aromas of caramel and stone fruit with a hint of spice. Malty caramel and biscuit flavors, raisin and a little smoke. There is a creamy mouthfeel, medium body and carbonation. Well balanced, easy drinking. I could drink a number of these in one session without getting bored or overpowered in any way.

Serving type: bottle

11-21-2009 04:51:33 | More by scottg

vishneda

Illinois

3.88/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Swing top bottle poured into a polkal. Erupted with a huge pop on open and scared the family dog :) Decanted carefully but still ended up with a huge head. Nice cloudy brown beer that I found very inviting.

Malts dominate the aroma on this one but there is a tiny bit of flowery goodness in the mix. Comes across a little like grapefruit. The flavor is very strong. A gentle sweetness is presented up front but is balanced against very strong bitterness on the finish. In the middle I sensed a lemon or grapefruit style fruitiness and hints of peppermint with roasted malts.

This is a very dry finishing beer and it was too much carbonation for my tastes. The body was ligher than the look would indicate but was fine otherwise. The only thing that was really holding back the drinkability was the amount of air. A stronger pour may have cleared that up.

A good beer, but a bit hard to find and expensive in the states.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2009 17:42:44 | More by vishneda

erz316

Indiana

4.35/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

very custom 350 ml bottle into POM stange. bottled on 27.10, code 1127. whatever

A - a very richly dark copper colour for the body. a full two finger frothy head, off white or maybe a cream colour. head is very creamy, and retains very well. this beer almost perfectly hits the description of what an altbier should be, the only problem is that the body is a bit too dark. other than that, it has the trademark copper tinge, big creamy head and great lacing and head retention.

S - the malts pretty much dominate the nose. caramel malts, and rich hearty roasted barley are the majority of the top and middle notes. there are some shadows of hops in the base scents, but not enough. nose is not strong enough in general to be up to par with the best.

T - a good malty back with some nice aromatic and flavourful hops to liven up the taste. initial taste is a pretty even profile of bitter hops, and roasted malts, most noticeable is the barley; maybe the hops outweigh the malts, but only by a small margin. a really great tasting beer, malts are quite dynamic, as compared to the one sided hops. finish is slightly sweet, roasty malts add some savoriness, and a pinch of the hops help round out the taste. the after taste is a bitter, and savory from barley. subtlety is the name of the game for this beer, there is so much to explore and taste, but one has to make the concerted effort to find the myriad of savory, sweet, and bitter flavours. the finish could be a bit drier, but this is just quibbling.

MF&D - for a beer that is to have a medium body, i think this one is a bit too light. carbonation is moderate, but serves nothing to enhance the size of the body. either way, the drinkability is superb, could have many more rounds of this guy.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2009 21:53:35 | More by erz316

Brad007

Vermont

4.1/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a dark brown color with a thick, fluffy head into my tulip glass. Lots of head. Looks good.

Aroma is full of sweet malt with a hint of raisin and hops in the nose. Grainy and even a bit smoky.

Taste is full of sweet, smoky, grainy malt with raisin and a bit of an alcohol bite. Simple.

Mouthfeel is full of lingering flavors as mentioned above. Beer goes down well and leaves a nice, sweet imprint upon the tongue.

A decent example of the style that is authentic and easy to drink. No hop or malt overload here. Just plain good 'ol altbier. Check it out.

Serving type: bottle

07-12-2009 03:38:39 | More by Brad007

augustgarage

California

3.9/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Poured from a 330mL bottle into my Uerige stick glass. Bottled on 27.10 (October 27, 2008?), making this over 8 1/2 months old I think.

Liquid is sienna/copper with mahogany/rust highlights. Very murky appearance with small yeast globules swimming around. Poor head development and retention; light but persistant carbonation maintains a thin ring of foam though. Fast running legs, but very minimal lacing.

Roasted and caramel malt comes through in the nose, with supporting aromas of fruit and flowers. Pleasant, unique, and restrained.

Honest hop bitterness on the palate, with a tart yeasty sting around the edges of your tongue. Finish is quite dry like toasted sourdough bread. Perhaps some rye flavors and a little bit of funk and malt liquor as well. Tiny bit of DMS I think, but not unwelcome actually...

Pretty light-bodied, though the yeast gives the mouthfeel some depth. You could put a few of these away pretty quickly I imagine (though their cost in California is rather prohibitive).

BJCP suggests this be entered as a specialty ale, but it isn't particularly special really. A bit more assertive and complex than a "regular" altbier, but only just. I may revise this review if I find a fresher bottle. Looking forward to comparing to the Doppelsticke next.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2009 04:09:58 | More by augustgarage

bigbelcher

Arizona

4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Really more like a bock than an alt. Color is a deep mahogany color with small beige head. Aroma was slighly sherry llike with big raisen notes. Flavor was very sweet with malt caramel and more raisins. Not crisp and bitter like an altr is supposed to be but then again it really is miscatorgorized as an alt. Had medium carbonation and body. A nice beer but not an alt.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2009 05:10:09 | More by bigbelcher

rtepiak

Poland

4.43/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

pour is copper with a bit of a hazy to it. rather small head of an off white color. smell is mild and crisp but complex. apples, caramel, smoked malt, and some chocolate. the taste has all those well blended and smooth with a nice but not overpowering caramel note with a smokeiness on the side of mild acidic. very light leather finish. mild bitter. really fantastic. not a dense sweet and not heavy on the stomach at all. will definitely have many times to come.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2009 04:41:45 | More by rtepiak

KarlHungus

Minnesota

4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This beer pours a murky amber-brown color. The head is a firm inch of foam that just sits there. The aroma is of caramel, hints of spice and dark fruit. The taste is fruitier, spicier and more bitter than the aroma. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with lively carbonation. Overall, this is a fine altbier that I would love to drink again.

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2009 20:05:12 | More by KarlHungus

hooliganlife

Missouri

4.18/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

pours very murky, semi dark brown, thick frothy head that lingered forever. heavy retention.

scents of wheat and caramel malts.

taste is very smooth, light caramelized malts, light toffee, heavy malt backbone. nice hoppy flavor mixed through out.

very smooth, light, minimal carbonation, pretty perfect.

this is such an easy and GREAT beer. this is an every day sipper, no matter what season. rather low ABV in general so this is great.

Serving type: bottle

04-14-2009 22:19:01 | More by hooliganlife

DIPAbrewer

Delaware

4.03/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Brilliantly clear deep amber beer with a billowing tan head floating on top. Large bubbles slide down the glass leaving a nice lacing on the glass. Surprisingly clear for a bottle conditioned brew.

Great sweet roasted malt aroma, with faint figgyness. I pick up a little spice in the nose but its very subtle.

Slightly sweet flavor is almost balanced by a crisp spicy bitterness. Roasted malt, caramel, toffee, cinnamon. Finishes dryish and very clean despite the sweetness up front.

Quite drinkable, very nice but a little sweet for my taste. I prefer the Uerige standard over this special version but both are quite good.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2009 23:13:23 | More by DIPAbrewer

youngblood

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

First altbier for me.
A - Dark brown pour with a very creamy single finger head. Dissipates to a thin haze over the surface of the beer within minutes. Almost looks like watered down coke. Very little visible carbonation.
S - Smells very sweet. Strong smell of toffee sweetness. Bit of dirt mustiness in there also.
T - Very strong toffee flavor, bit of coffee as well, some tobacco. This is actually really great. Very crisp, clean flavors. Almost bit of sage in there as well. Very interesting.
M - Very light, smooth, goes goes like marbles.
D - I don't see any reason why drinkability would be low. I'm kicking this back no problem.

This is nothing like what I thought it would be, but I was really surprised. Really glad that I picked one of these beers up.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2009 20:38:20 | More by youngblood

dasenebler

Maine

4.18/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Cloudy chesnut brown, big head, great retention. Tangy and hoppy nose, touch of yeast and caramel sweetness.

Surprisingly hoppy flavor that makes me think of a bitter pale ale. Complex malt structure with caramel, biscuit, and roast. Aftertaste is mildly hoppy and roasty. Unique yeasty notes, kind of phenolic. Mouthfeel is pretty good, if a little watery. Lots of bubbles but overall tame carbonation. I love the taste of this beer-- lots of stuff going on, simply delicious.

This is a great altbier, wish more american breweries tried this style. The Uerige Sticke would be a good one to emulate.

Serving type: bottle

03-19-2009 00:21:12 | More by dasenebler

MasterSki

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev -1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottled October 27th (2008?). Served in the lower part of a pilsener glass (closest thing I can get to a cylinder).

A - Two fingers of dirty white foam with excellent retention and lacing. Transparent reddish bronze color with a few bubbles lazily rising upwards.

S - Twangy zest from the Saaz hops over top of a caramel malt base. The guy who said grapenut cereal is pretty accurate. The smell is pretty strong, but the twang gives off a slightly metallic character.

T - Much more caramel, toffee and also some breadiness, with the hop bite and spices happening at the back of the palate. There's also an element of nuttiness and a hint of fruit (pear?) in there.

M - Mild carbonation, medium body, smooth and velvety. Very refreshing.

D - Very drinkable - medium ABV, nice flavor, refreshing. Excellent German session brew - wish we got more Altbiers.

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2009 04:59:49 | More by MasterSki

Birchgrove77

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

11.2oz bottle bottled 10/2008.

A: Amber, slightly cloudy (due to my error) with a huge taupe colored head. Excellent amount of lacing down the glass.

S: Smells of hops and wort. A bit of an earthy character mixed with caramel and wort notes. Smells as if the beer would be underattenuated.

T: Immediately hit by green apples with a note of peach pits. A very grainy, kind of slightly roasted character. Some definite earthiness in the hops with a bit of a bite.

M: A bit lighter and more carbonated than I expected. Hop presence coats the tounge and the beer seems quite dry.

O: An interesting beer. I had never tried the style and since my company is based in Dusseldorf figured I'd give it a shot. Surprised by the hop bitterness, but not a bad beer. Interesting bottle to say the least.

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2009 02:36:28 | More by Birchgrove77

IBUnit63

Massachusetts

3.9/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle date 10/2008; code 9/2009. Into a Riedel Extreme riesling glass...

Swing top pop is HUGE and almost right in my face...do we have a borderline gusher? HUGE dulce de leche head looks like the top of a root beer float after you pour over the ice cream. Caramel/bourbon hued body has ample carbonation and good lacing.

Creamy mangoes and plums? Really? Light caramel malt with mild Saaz-ish presence. Slight sour note of maybe dark cherries. With the boom from opening could there be a mild infection here?

Very austere malt...again, mild sour cherries. Don't think the infection is a issue...just a really dry alt maybe? Noble and Saaz hop presence provide balance.

Palate feel is husky but a little mild...hops get slightly grassy with the stewed malt. All in all it rounds out to a smooth, somewhat soothing finish.

Very decent, especially with a little warmth on it. Nothing I seek out every day (the style in general) but not a bad example at all.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2009 12:25:31 | More by IBUnit63

RidiculedDisplay

California

3.2/5  rDev -22.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3

Appearance: Very spotty lace, transient stuff. No head to speak of. Hazy brown amber body. Meh.

Smell: Grape nuts cereal! So: barley. Alcohol. Grapes. The barley aroma is fairly overpowering and slightly stale. I enjoy Grape nuts, though, so this is somewhat appealing, although in a very funky way.

Taste: Grape nuts barley flavor again. Some apricot and apple make the fruit flavors a bit more assertive here than in the nose.

Mouthfeel: Flat. Flat. Flat. No thanks.

Drinkability: Barley flavor is too overwhelming, and alcohol asserts itself too much to make this too drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

03-04-2009 02:37:36 | More by RidiculedDisplay