Uerige Altbier (Classic) - Uerige Obergärige Hausbrauerei GmbH / Zum Uerige

kmpitz2

Tennessee

3.95/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours lightly oranged tea color with a finger of head that falls to a solid true coat over top. Nose is very toasty with lighter raisiney notes hiding behind it. There is a big toffee sweetness in it as well. Flavor is very interesting. The hops are much more dominant here than in the nose. With a light toastyness and a moderate raisin. Hops is grassy and herbal in flavor with a pretty healthy bitterness. I like it. Feel is moderate with a carbonation on the lighter end of moderate. OVerall, I find this to be a pretty nice brew. I'm not overly familiar with the style, but this is an enjoyable beer. I'd have it again...one day hopefully while in Germany to see what it is like without a trip across the ocean, as its nice now, but I bet better over there.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2006 01:34:16 | More by kmpitz2

Reidrover

Oregon

3.98/5  rDev 0%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

LOve the bottle for this one..a work of art. Now the beer..lovelly looking ale it is an almost glowing amber with a huge sticky, frothy off white head...great lacing. Aroma is strong on the malts..some small hops too. Very soft malty flavour..semi dry finish,, some hints of honey and a small hoppiness at the very end. Very nice on the palate. Not the "biggest" beer in the world but certainly a top class Alt.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2004 05:31:56 | More by Reidrover

msubulldog25

Oregon

4.08/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From the unique swingtop bottle that IS 'Uerige', a 0.33L/11.2 oz. pour into a Kulmbacher stange. Label on the neck offers: Bottled on 05.03; Code 04 06.

A: An auburn-tinged chestnut brown, faint light penetrating. Thin streams of carbonation wriggle upwards through a murky fog of suspended yeasty bits. Head builds to nearly two fingers of ivory foam, leaves banding lace. Not quite sure if this is intended to look so unfiltered (my first time to try this particular beer)...

S: An herbal/minty hopping fills the nose, dry earthen malts. Almost 'clay'-like - so dusty; slight woodsy smokiness. Hints of apple skin and nutmeg.

T: Dark bread crusts, toasted and dusted with raw cinnamon shavings. Burnt bitterness atop, a grassy/herbal hopping. A little 'black tea'-like at times, with hints of dried dark fruit. Vague touches of brown sugar and honey. Ends mostly bitter, chalky and mineral-like.

M: Lip-smacking maltiness, sharp and drying across the tongue. Medium mouthfeel (borderline 'thin'), lively carbonation. Lasting char/smoke, yet somehow sweetness keeps sneaking in.

D: Nice hop/malt balance. Had some bratwurst and spätzle earlier in the evening; I'll bet this would have made a great pairing - next time... Very well done.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2008 03:35:25 | More by msubulldog25

nickd717

California

3.6/5  rDev -9.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Gourmet Haus Staudt in Redwood City.

Pours cloudy medium brown with a lasting off-white head and good lacing.

Aroma is malty and nutty for the most part. Nice but not too much to it.

Flavor is not sweet at all. Caramel malt, grain, slight fruitiness, and slight hops.

Medium-bodied and crisp with good carbonation.

Very good for the style overall, but not outstanding for a beer in general. Drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

06-24-2010 17:31:29 | More by nickd717

Mitchster

Michigan

1.63/5  rDev -59%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1

$3.49 for a 11.2 oz bottle at Merchant's. Pours out to a medium amber, burnt orange, forming a modest off-white soapy head with poor retention and absent lacing. Carbonation is moderate. The aroma is difficult to pick up as it is quite weak, bit there is lightly soured caramel and sweetened condensed milk with an otherwise clean ferment. The mouthfeel is smooth and light bodied with a woody dry finish. The taste is quite odd..there is a wierd chemical taste to it that I haven't tasted in a beer before...it tastes very medicinal and perfumy and soapy. Moderate woodsy bitterness.

I don't know what to make of this beer, but it's not good. I wouldn't buy it or recommend it. This beer tastes like carcinogens and death. Down the drain 1/3 of the way into it.

Serving type: bottle

08-12-2006 21:54:35 | More by Mitchster

clayrock81

Virginia

4/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a cloudy leather brown w/ orange tints and a little bit of floaties along with a two-finger offwhite head that slowly receeds. Smell is slightly sweet, slightly nutty/yeast with some minor fruity hops in there as well. Medium-bodied and slightly chewey, this is a dry beer but still rich and smooth and easy down the hatch. Has a biscuit/bread/nutty taste along with some slightly sticky and sweet malts. Hop bitterness leads to a dry backbite that balances the beer with some fruit flavors. A great beer to just chill out with.

Serving type: bottle

08-14-2009 21:36:32 | More by clayrock81

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

3.98/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Bottle from Premier Gourmet, split with Steve. 11.2oz cool looking swing-top, bottled 01-11.

Poured an orange brown, with a clear body (careful to avoid the gratuitous amount of sediment at the bottom of the bottle on the first pour). Off-white head that leaves a bit of a collar and bit of retention. Nose is fruitier than most alts I've come across, predominantly plum but some general dark fruits otherwise. Some notes almost resembling brown sugar, and sweet dark breads. Taste has some dried dark fruits, more plum as per the nose, dry and bready notes. Grassy and distinct Noble hops notes in the finish, with a big herbal and earthy quality. Mouthfeel is medium light, with a medium low carbonation and substantial hop character in the finish. Quite nice all around, and having a greater fruit character than most altbiers I've had before. Certainly could been better if a bit fresher, but certainly a style I've warming up to quite a bit.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2011 03:51:26 | More by liamt07

bditty187

Nebraska

4.08/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Moderately hazy, I really like the color offered here, it is a coppery-amber hue with just a tickle of tawny influence. It looks even more beautiful when I hold it to a light. The head was off-white; the bubbles were tightly compacted and about two fingers in height. The head retention was impressive; it was a slow fader, as a tight cap lasted the entire consumption. Subsequent lacing was quite prevalent, thick, and well organized. Lovely.

Altbier is a style that has never impressed me. I realize the two Uerige Alts are considered the best. Still, I wonder how much better could they be? Well I got my hands on “Classic” and one sniff of the bouquet told me this was a whole different ballgame! Hops are present and accounted for, grassy, herbal, with a kiss of spice. Malt is luscious at times, caramel syrup, almonds, raisins, and a trace of dry crackers. Too bad the potency is only modest. Still the nose is inviting.

The palate was damn good and it even seems to show a little age. A beer this small has a long way to travel. I bet this beer would be killer fresh. Still, the palate has charm, hops upfront that offer a grassy, herbal quality, lightly spicy too. The middle is a good mix of fruit (like raisins and plums) and caramel malt sweetness with a dry, cracker underbelly. At the end a kiss of alcohol-like heat is noticed and then the beer sails to the finish. The finish is graceful, it is a soft mix of all of the above flavors, and nothing stands out above anything else. There is something about the finish that is magical. There is some intangible quality I can’t put my finger on, let alone describe. I guess I can just call it “complexity” and leave it at that. The palate is damn tasty. I’m impressed. I can’t imagine what this beer would taste like on cask.

Medium in body with subtle carbonation that helps produce a silky-smooth mouthfeel. It is to die for.

This is quite drinkable; too bad it is not sold in a bigger bottle. Too bad it ran me $5.00 for the 11.2 ounces in Milwaukee, WI. Too bad Germany is so far away. Worthy of its reputation…recommended.

Update as of 02/02/06: I got another bottle of Classic. Like my first bottle (review above) it shows a little age. I am not going to adjust any of the numbers or really write a new review. I will say I can reaffirm the already known; this is a damn tasty Alt. I want nothing more then a stunningly fresh bottle! I'll try again...

Serving type: bottle

11-05-2004 03:34:09 | More by bditty187

Boto

Connecticut

4.13/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

33cl. bottle: This one pours a slightly hazy, somewhat coppery-brownish color. Mine had very little head that dropped off quickly and left no lacing. The aroma is good. Some notes of fruit (possible apple) and caramel. Some grassy hops also. The taste is quite good. A hint of sweetness in the beginning, followed by a dry, biscuity taste, along with some bitterness. A large amount of flavor for such a low alcohol beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2007 21:18:42 | More by Boto

UncleJimbo

Massachusetts

4.3/5  rDev +8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Sampled from a bottle.

This altbier poured a slightly hazy, copper color with creamy, off-white foam that was very persistent and clung to the glass. There was a good, steady carbonation from the bottom of the glass. The smell was nicely malty with a hint of cocoa and a touch of hops. The taste was hoppy up front with a strong malt backbone. There were some fruity, malty flavors and a slight bitterness and hoppiness in the finish. The mouthfeel was smooth with medium body and good carbonation. The aftertaste was both malty and hoppy, and it lingered pleasantly. This was a very nice altbier.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2005 04:42:53 | More by UncleJimbo

BretSikkink

Mexico

3.95/5  rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Slightly clear but deep bronze brew, good head architecture. Retains almost none of that head, thinnest of rings around the outside, little islands of tiny bubbles float around the middle. Dark fruit Vienna malt aroma, a touch bready and quite earthy.

The flavor is dark fruit, a lot of caramel malt. Actually a fair amount of hop presence, as compared to the other Alts or doppelbocks. I think the hops are a little peppery and maybe a little citric. The mouthfeel is a little oily from the hops, thick and viscous though. Great brew, I prefer this one to the other Ueriges for drinkability, although for 4.5% it's not the easiest-drinking beer.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2007 04:07:07 | More by BretSikkink

lackenhauser

Maryland

3.2/5  rDev -19.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Very nice brown color with a very generous level of carbonation. Malty aroma with a hint of sweetness-almost a touch of cinnamon in the backround. Flavor is mostly malt-slight hop bitterness in the finish. A very slight metallic aftertaste but its not unpleasant. Good body. A drinkable beer-well worth trying after hearing about it for years. I would love to get to Germany for the real thing on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

11-04-2004 01:30:59 | More by lackenhauser

clvand0

Kentucky

3.68/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This one pours a light orange color with a small head that falls fast and leaves a little lacing on the glass. The aroma is sweet with some fruitiness and has some grain character. There is a lot more grain character in the flavor. Also, the fruits are there along with some spicy hop flavor. Finish is spicy and slightly bitter and the drinkability is good. Rather light bodied.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2006 17:54:23 | More by clvand0

Offa

California

4.85/5  rDev +21.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This is phenomenal, and seems to me the benchmark for a great altbier.

Dark copper, it has a big tan head soon shrinking to a thick foamy top, some lace.

Aroma is nice caramelly toast, raisins, wood, spice, toffee hint.

Taste is caramelised toast, fruit, woody-spicy bitterness to balance and give a light bite at finish. Very well-rounded, it is complex and balanced. It's wonderful, characterful, yet easily drinkable session beer.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 05:54:34 | More by Offa

blitheringidiot

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Brown clear bubbly pour from an actual flip top bottle.

Grainy light leafy with some mustiness reminiscent of an authentic German rather than an American Style.

Buttery tight fizziness. Dry finish. Earthy leafy notes that reminded me a bit of champagne.

An easy drinker. Thanks to PopeDX for the offering. The more familiar that I become with these Altbier styles, the more I enjoy them.

Beer is good. Happy beering.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2004 15:52:13 | More by blitheringidiot

Globetrotter

Virginia

4.22/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Found this at One Stop Liquors in Johnson City, Tennessee, and had it shipped by air to Moscow. Bottled on April 14 (presumably 2004), I opened it on 12/7/04. No effects of the shipment were noticeable. The very long thin neck on the brown bottle is distinction enough. This beer is proof that ignorance is not bliss: I've spent a bit of time in Düsseldorf, but never knew about this beer or the brewery. Stupid, stupid, stupid!

Pours a slightly hazy pinkish copper (shouldn't an Alt be darker?) under a two finger off-white head that settles fairly quickly to chunky film, leaving a lot of good lace potential that remains, unfortunately, unfulfilled. The nose is mild, with sweet malt the overriding characteristic. The mouth is mildly carbonated and fairly light. The flavor follows suit at first, with lots of sweet, slightly caramel malt up front, backed by very little hops character at all. The bitterness builds steadily, though, rather like Ravel's Bolero. The hops are flowery in essence, with a twinge of carnation into the finish. The crescendo comes in the aftertaste, as a wave of good strong espresso flavor rolls across the tongue and down the throat some 10-15 seconds after the liquid is gone. Remarkable for its punch, this is a very nice and unusual beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2004 17:52:50 | More by Globetrotter

BeerSox

Virginia

4.13/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

33cl bottle into pint glass

Cloudy chesnut hue with a pillowy and dense two finger head. The head rises quickly with even a gentle pour. Sticky lacing on the glass. As the beer descends between gulps, the fluffy head remains intact.

Light roasty grain with some flowery organic yeast aromas that give it a fruity scent.

The flavor is light, mostly walnut flavors. Not much bitterness to speak of, except for a little balancing hop flavor at the end. Medium bodied with good carbonation. Some burnt flavors mix in as well. The finish is the walnut flavors.

What an enjoyable beer. I bet this beer is incredible fresh. It's easy to drink a good session ale. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2008 18:01:03 | More by BeerSox

Absumaster

Netherlands

3.8/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This beer is a copper, brown beer with a creamy head and little visible carbonation.

Smell is malty with some roasted and bitter notes.

Taste is bitter and dry at first, then the maltiness balances the bitterness for some part, but bitterness is high, so that outbalances the beer a bit. Some light fruitiness in the back, but mainly hops and malts are the main players. Aftertaste is bitter and dry, just like a good Alt should be.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2007 16:46:45 | More by Absumaster

Phatz

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -14.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Presentation: Very cool swing-top bottle. Most of the label is in German and therefore foreign to me however it does say bottled on 25.11. (whatever that means).

Served chilled in a stange glass.

Appearance: Pours a hazy copper color with lots of suspended particles in the body. a huge head in the stange has decent retention and leaves plenty of lacing.

Smell: The smell is simple yeasty caramel malts.

Taste: The taste is dry with both fruit and vegetable attributes. It has a caramel malt base with some smokey flavors and grain. There are hints of apples and carrots and finally some grassy hops. The aftertaste and the burp a vegetal.

Mouthfeel: really quite dry and lingers on endlessly.

Drinkability: Maybe it isn't fresh or maybe that is the way this beer is built. It is enjoyable for one but not really my cup-o-tea so one is enough for me.

Hope this is helpful.
Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

12-19-2006 04:42:57 | More by Phatz

granger10

Wisconsin

4.45/5  rDev +11.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Reddish in color with a copper hue. Medium white head floats above. Lacing is minimal. Smell is more sweet than bitter but I get some hops there along with a bready yeasty flavor. But in the taste the hops are the dominate flavor. These hops are not bitter at all but really, really flavorful. They have a floral taste and a piney flavor. Honey sweetness lures behind the hops. A hazelnut base flavor comes from the yeast. Finish is dry and crisp but leaves just enough hoppiness for me to want more. To me, this is the ultimate session beer. The hops are very flavorful but not overly so. The balance is quite amazing and more flavors seem to come out the more I try this. I can see why this is a classic!

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2004 18:36:19 | More by granger10

brewcrew76

Wisconsin

4.43/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Dated 25.11 on the bottle

A - Hazy, raisin, chectnut color with a thin tan head the fades immediately.

S - Robust aroma, caramel and grainy malts, nutty, raisins, figs and a hint of honey.

T - Caramel malt with a herbal quality, slightly nutty, fruity, hint of grapes.

M - Somewhat thin and tea like but it works well. Balanced with a dry finish.

D - I liked this one the best of the 3 and found it the most complex.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2009 03:51:46 | More by brewcrew76

paterlodie

Belgium

4.75/5  rDev +19.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Sampled from the bottle; filled 31-1-2005 bb 02-03-05. Uerige alsways have been my favorite alt. Just by pouring out you already know you must have a good beer in your hand. Nice and thick yellowbeige head and a beautifully clear and brownred color make the appearance just perfect for a altbeer. Nose is sweet caramel& roastmalt together with litle yeastspice and hoparome make it a great smell too!
Taste is very complex for a 4.5 %ABV brew; caramel& roastmalt, very dry, litle sour and very bitter witch goes well wit the amount of roast used. Just what you want in a altbeer so perfect again. Mouthfeel is great too, all your tastingpupils are just gonna be in tilt after a couple of sips except for the sweet ones who don't react at all. Dinkability is perfect again if you like burnt and bitter taste. One of my all time favorites.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2005 15:41:11 | More by paterlodie

ElGordo

Oregon

4.1/5  rDev +3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pours an orangish-brown hue with a smaill white head. Minimal retention. Sweet smell of roasted malt and toffee, probably muted because I didn't let this bottle properly warm up. Very complex palate holds notes of roasted malt, brown sugar, and light hops. Finish is bitter and slightly smoky, like a rauchbier. Nice, sturdy, creamy body. A fairly unique beer, unlike most American-brewed alts.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2004 00:24:20 | More by ElGordo

rtepiak

Poland

4.22/5  rDev +6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

a very drinkable and elaborate alt. dark amber with a mild head. clean with consistent bubbles coming up. nose is malty brown sugar with a smoky quality. palate is that with a bold bitter leather quality that is a bit sour smoky. this could be a big turn off seeing as this one doesn't seem as malty as others. not particularly sweet going down but earthy bitter with a oily resin quality in the malt. i don't know if the crisp quality does the style justice. the sweetness seemed to hide the bitter smoke before. this is well. just as drinkable but in a different manner. very flavorful but very light weight. dry and oily too. walnut. apple and a pilsner bitter finish. a must for the style. a great 'lighter' beer to go with must food... particularly seasoned poultry.

Serving type: bottle

06-15-2009 05:43:54 | More by rtepiak

MuddyFeet

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured from a cask gravity keg, it is a see-thorugh brown in color. The color of stained wood, it matched the bar. There was no head, and no lace (product of the gravity keg). The alcohol was noticeable on the tongue. It definitely came across as stronger than the 6% listed here by the taste, but not sure about the effect. Hops were slightly noticeable but they were woven around a fruity flavor, but not particularly sweet. Bit of a bite. The alcohol flavor seemed to prevail over all else. It would be a good sipping beer, and it was a good beer, but not really something I would go looking for in the future.

Serving type: cask

06-27-2004 02:58:09 | More by MuddyFeet