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

falloutsnow

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Second go:
From: Friar Tuck's, Savoy, IL
Date: Bottled 06.11, best by 06.12, drank 01.13
Poured into an Ayinger willi glass

After finding a much fresher bottle, I'm revisiting this beer, and wow, what a difference time makes. While before this was fairly bland, this "fresher" bottle is worlds different, with prominent floral, spicy, and woodsy hops with a stronger malt character and overall more powerful flavors. After just finishing a glass, I'd like another. My only complaint: $5 for a 11.2oz bottle.

Pours a 2cm head of light tan bubbles, medium-sized, somewhat like a dense sponge from the top. Head recedes over a few minutes, leaving more than modest, but not super-amazing lacing. Body is a dark brown color, opaque from sediment I poured in, with light turning the edges a slightly lighter copper-brown. Carbonation is not visible due to the opacity.

Aroma of pungent, spicy hops with some floral and forest-floor-leaf-matter undertones. Substantial caramel malts and more modest yeast hover below the hops. This is quite pleasant.

The front of the palate gets some caramel and toffee-like sweetness with a hint of brown sugar and herbal hops. Mid-palate is rather bitter, with herbal and forest-floor-leaf-matter-like hops atop sweetish brown and toasted malt flavors. Back of palate continues herbal hop bitterness along with caramel malt and even a hint of roasted grain flavor. Lingering strong bitterness in the finish, along with some minor herbal and brown malt qualities.

Beer is medium bodied, with medium-level carbonation that creates a crisp, dry mouthfeel that just borders being fizzy, but never arrives there. As the carbonation dissipates across the palate, the mouthfeel becomes quite a bit smoother. Finish is quite dry, with little stickines across the palate.

Bottle from John's Grocery in Iowa City, IA
Bottled on 02.10, best by 02.11, consumed 04.12
Brewery mentions this "keeps four weeks at least."
Poured into an Ayinger willi glass

At first I felt somewhat let down, that Uerige's "standard" alt was a ghost of its sticke and doppelsticke brethren. Then I noticed the bottled on date, and realized that this bottle was just embarrassingly old. Even so, this was fairly decent, and I will definitely keep my eye out for another, more recent, bottle.

Pours a 2cm head of light tan bubbles, medium-sized, somewhat like a dense sponge from the top. Head recedes over a few minutes, leaving a fair amount of lacing. Body is a dark brown-copper color, transparent, with actively visible carbonation.

Aroma of light caramel malts, subtle sweetness, and faint graininess.

Taste is very similar to smell, fairly muted from age (I assume), mostly faint caramel malts, sweetness, and graininess.

Beer still medium bodied, with medium-level carbonation that creates, at first, a crisp mouthfeel that gradually soothes into being quite a bit smoother. Finish is dry.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2012 05:59:29 | More by falloutsnow

dbrauneis

New Jersey

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

A: Pours a hazy mahogany brown with a two finger tall light tan head. The head dissipates down to a eight inch ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass. There is significant lacing.

S: Aromas of caramel malts, floral hops, and some breadiness.

T: Flavors are primarily the malts upfront - caramel, bready, and roasted - followed by bitterness and hints of yeast. I would describe the taste as complex but easy to enjoy. Slightest hint of pepper in the finish as the beer warms.

M: Medium bodied with moderate carbonation and a dry finish.

O: Quite easy to drink and very sessionable. Enjoyable flavor and low ABV

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2012 22:43:35 | More by dbrauneis

soju6

Missouri

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

11.2 oz swing-top bottle.

A: Pours a dark copper color with a good head and nice lacing.

S: Mild aroma of roasted malt and some caramel. A bit of fruit and hint of grain. Aroma blossoms as it warms.

T: Flavor of roasted malt, bit of caramel sweetness, hint of spice and chocolate. A nice subtle bitterness and a dry finish.

F: Fairly medium body, smooth and creamy. Very well balanced.

O: A very easy drinking beer. A great example of the style. Well worth checking this one out.

Serving type: bottle

02-01-2012 22:52:07 | More by soju6

ArrogantBastage

Maryland

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

Bottled: 02.10

11.2 oz bottle poured into glass, careful to avoid the sediment.

A- Deep, rich copper color with a thin head that dissipates quickly leaving a thin ring that hangs on for the remainder of the review.

S- Rich malt with a slight toffee aroma lingering in the background, fresh bread and biscuity malt appear after the beer warms a bit. Raisins appear in the aroma as well.

T- Loaded with rich malt, slightly tart and then a nice hop bitterness rolls in. The finish dries slightly leaving just enough malt and hops to linger between sips.

M- Light body, slightly watery, carbonation is barely there but seems to give a nice lift to the beer helping to add a little bitterness and accentuate the malt.

D- Very drinkable, loaded with malt flavor. Very easy to have more than one in an evening. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 21:56:56 | More by ArrogantBastage

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

bark

Sweden

4.95/5  rDev +24.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

The colour is deep, warm brown-copper. The very high head is airy and pale brown with a fine crater. It sinks very slowly leaving massive amounts of thick lacing. The liquid is clear.

The smell is smooth and complex. Butterscotch, caramel, robust bitter hops, brown sugar, rye bread, overripe apples, hay, autumn forest, hay… There are lots of things going on here, but they stick together.

The flavour is bitter. Very bitter for a German beer, it reminds me of some of the best English IPAs in the robust powerful hoppy bitterness. Notes of rye bread, sweet notes of caramel and brown sugar. Dried flowers and hay, sour Porter-like hints. Very fresh flavours. Medium to full body. The aftertaste is bitter with lots of dried flowers and some toffee. Fresh grass, hay, cocoa, fresh herbs and some light spicy flavours. The long finish is malty, bitter and a bit roasted.

The carbonation is mild, yet the small bubbles are very fresh. The liquid is a bit sticky and mid-smooth.

Malty lika a dopplebock, hoppy like an English IPA and complex like a Quadrupel. All at 4.7 % ABV. One of the best beers I have had: This is beer love.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2011 18:42:46 | More by bark

JLeege

Illinois

2.1/5  rDev -47.2%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

From notes. Poured into a stange.

Appearance- Hazy brown, with a large foamy head. Decent retention and a little lace. The color of this beer is pretty unattractive.

Smell- Caramel, slightly toasty, a touch grainy, and a bit sweaty.

Taste- Raison, slight caramel, dirty earth, a hint of chocolate, and a sweaty almost salty dirty sock taste. Not too good.

Mouthfeel- Medium body and carbonation. The major off taste made it tough to swallow.

Overall- Perhaps a bad or old bottle, but I have had this before and remember the same qualities. I know it is the classic altbier, but it does not agree with me at all.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2011 23:32:08 | More by JLeege

Errto

Connecticut

4.15/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Batch 02.10 which means that this beer is probably past it's prime, but as far as I can tell I was lucky to find it in the States at all. Anyway, here goes.

Pours a deep brown, almost like a dark sand. Much darker and richer color than I was expecting. Head is modest but lingering, lacing is noticeable.

Smell is pretty mild at first, some bready malt and that's about all I'm getting for now.

Interesting flavor - some earthy hop bitterness mixed with a mild malt - definitely less "biscuity" than some of the American-made altbiers (Otter Creek, Southampton, etc) that I am more familiar with. As it warms the malt shines through a little more - bready, even a bit sweet. Really unusual spice flavor, almost some black pepper in there.

Overall, a nice beer. Probably tastes better fresh, and I realize finding that will be an uphill battle, but I will try.

Serving type: bottle

08-15-2011 00:11:28 | More by Errto

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.5/5  rDev -12.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Slightly less caramel sweetness and with simplified complexity, this classic altbier carries a strict balance that doesn't tilt toward hop bitterness as do many Dusseldorf altbiers.

Medium amber in color and mostly clear, the beer forms a creme of white foam that's shy on both retention and lace. Inviting and casual, the beer neither impresses nor dissapoints the eye.

Caramel and bread crust aromas remind me of richer Oktoberfest beers. Without deeper malt/melanoidin notes or earthy hops, the nose gives the impressions of caramel, grain, and bread.

Flavors remain caramel focused, but with the added taste of bread crust, mild grain, and malty sweetness. This one-dimensional taste rides through the mid palate until the arrival of hop bitterness to balance in finish. Light herbal or grassy taste accompany the rising bitterness but never overtake the caramel.

Medium textured with medium maltiness and subtle carbonation, the beer has a mild weight that gives it more heaft than Oktoberfests, yet with the bitter balance that's unexpected from other traditional German beers. Mediun dryness in finish help to crispen the beer in preparation for the next drink.

Very drinkable and unoffensive, this beer is meant for large consumption, and done so quickly. A great thirst quencher for food pairings but lacking complexity for deep evaluation. Light graininess and slight over-attenuation gives a mild watery effect late.

Serving type: bottle

06-17-2011 18:49:15 | More by BEERchitect

mikereaser

Pennsylvania

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

A - pours a dark brown with an inch of tan foam that quickly faded and left spotty lacing.

S - roasted malts with hints of chocolate and a bit of burnt aroma. A bit of brown sugar sweetness with a biscuity smell.

T - Nice roasted flavor, slightly burnt toffee with hints of coffee and chocolate. very nice flavor overall.

M - smooth and creamy, like a nice roasted coffee, it has light carbonation and is medium bodied.

D - very easy to drink and goes down easy. This would be a nice fall beer.

Serving type: bottle

06-12-2011 02:13:15 | More by mikereaser

zeff80

Missouri

4.22/5  rDev +6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Poured out a hazy, bubbly cola brown color with a one-finger, off-white head of foam. It left some sudsy trails of lace on the glass.

S - It smelled malty and fruity.

T - It tasted of plum and biscuity malt with a mild spicy hop bite. Really great tasting altbier.

M - It was crisp, sharp and very smooth. An easy drinking, medium bodied brew with a dry finish.

O - This is a really good example of the style. Very tasty and worth the price.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2011 23:07:23 | More by zeff80

Sachsenfreude

Germany

5/5  rDev +25.6%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

The perfect Altbier! Not a single characteristic could be changed for the better.

appearance; thick and sticky off white head. Excellent retention and lovely lacing. The main body is a slightly cloudy, weathered bronze.

smell; perfect blend of roasted malt and herbal hops. Definitely some sweetness in there that is too complex to describe.

taste; warm toasty malts with some burnt chocolate flavors, then the hops kick in, very spicy and balancing, with just a breathe of alcohol sweetness. Raw licorice with no sugar added, beautifully bitter but not overwhelming. The aftertaste is somewhat earthy and grainy with hints of cocoa powder.

mouthfeel; a bit creamy and thick on the palate but easy and light to swallow. Leaves a bit of stickyness on the mouth.

drinkability; I drank three in ten minutes need I say more...

It's hard to do this beer a justice, as adjectives worthy enough to describe it simply don't exist! My favorite beer in the world...possible, the best Altbier in the world...definitely!

Serving type: bottle

03-14-2011 14:36:47 | More by Sachsenfreude

B967ierhunter177

Pennsylvania

3.35/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Uerige Alt (Classic) pours an auburn color with a thin head that lasts. The aroma is a mix of caramel, chocolate, and toast that leads to a flavor with caramel, dark chocolate, and anise notes. Very well balanced. It's got a medium-full mouthfeel that is very filling. This is a good altbier. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2011 09:15:27 | More by B967ierhunter177

njmoons

New Jersey

4.2/5  rDev +5.5%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Good Stuff

A: Dark golden brown. Poured with a good two fingers of foam, which dissipated quickly.

S: Malt, caramel, bready. The initial taste is sweet malt, the hop bitterness takes over in a pleasant balanced way, and there is a distinct breadiness (biscuit) in the finish.very tasty.

M: Very nice, enough body to match the maltiness, but in line with the balance of the beer.

D: I could drink them all day long based on flavor and ABV!!

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2011 18:59:53 | More by njmoons

nickfl

Florida

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

A - Pours with half a finger of off white foam on top of a copper-brown body with good clarity. The foam settles slowly and leaves light lace.

S - Toasted malt and light toffee with a very slight hint of fruity yeast in the background.

T - Rich malt with lots of toast and dry caramel up front. Some darker malt notes of plum and raisin come out in the middle with a light, earthy hop flavor. The beer finishes with lots of dry toast and moderate hop bitterness that effectively balances the residual sweetness of the malt.

M - Medium body, moderate carbonation, and a slightly dry finish.

D - Quite nice and much more malty than I expected it to be. There is a lot of toast and caramel with some surprising fruity notes. The hops are present, and while they are not particularly intense, they balance the malt while also adding a light, spicy touch to the beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-31-2011 07:55:00 | More by nickfl

metter98

New York

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

A: The beer is hazy brownish amber in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a finger high off beige head that slowly died down and left a thick ring of bubbles around the edge of the glass.
S: There are light aromas of caramel malts and floral hops in the nose.
T: The taste is somewhat complex has flavors of bready, caramel and roasted malts as well as some yeast and a mild amount of bitterness.
M: It feels medium-bodied on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation. There is a bit of dryness in the finish.
D: The beer is easy to drink and the low alcohol content makes it quite sessionable.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2011 22:50:44 | More by metter98

mikeg67

New Jersey

3.48/5  rDev -12.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

.33L bottle, 11 month old. Pours amber color with foamy, white, long lasting head. Good lacing, some carbonation. Aroma of hops and caramel malt. Light to medium body, tangy at first then somewhat sweet. Moderate earthy hops dominate the flavor with caramel malt, brown sugar and dark fruit provide some balance. Long earthy hops finish. Decent brew but, personally, I would prefer local hoppy ambers. Maybe I'll try a fresher bottle next time.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2010 20:42:34 | More by mikeg67

dasenebler

Maine

3.78/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

.5L purchased at the Altstadt brewhouse. Bottled 11/2/10.

Rich, clear copper-brown, darker than most Alts. Small head retains admirably and laces well.

Aroma has some toasty, lightly roasted malts and sulfuric acidity.

Flavor is crisp and bitter, with an underlying malty backbone of nutty caramel, albeit subtle. Bitterness kind of dominates, making for a slightly unbalanced drinking experience. Lacking in hop flavor. Drinkability is however very high, as this brown ale is still remarkably light. Mouthfeel is medium-carboanted, and drinks smoothly.

What is the deal with some of these Alts being disproportionately bitter? (And I am a guy who loves IPAs.) I tend to enjoy the more balanced examples of the style, such as Schlüssel and Schumacher.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2010 18:41:51 | More by dasenebler

flagmantho

Washington

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

Poured from 330mL bottle into a pint glass. This was bottled February 2010.

Appearance: rich, hazy dark brown body with a thin finger of ivory foam. Pretty tasty looking.

Smell: light aroma, but its composition is quite nice. Very malty, sweet and a little fruity. I like it.

Taste: caramelly malt flavor, but rather dry. Noble hops are definitely present and there is a nice balancing bitterness. Flavor is also slightly biscuity. This is a good beer but it doesn't exactly float my boat.

Mouthfeel: nice body; medium with good carbonation. Overall, quite creamy and refreshing.

Drinkability: a solid beer, but as I said it's not precisely my cup of tea. Totally drinkable, though.

Serving type: bottle

09-04-2010 20:33:32 | More by flagmantho

sliverX

S. Georgia & S. Sandwich Isls.

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

Poured a light copper/brown semi clear a steady stream of bubbles cascade to the top of the glass, thin white head that hung around real well for how thin it started at.
Smell is a very sweet malt profile with an apple like fruitiness.
Taste is malty, slight burnt malt lingering taste, the smell is represented in the taste but it takes a back seat to a very bread like character.
Mouthfeel is very lively on the tongue medium bodied.
Drinkability this is said to be one of the most sought after altbiers and is deserving so. Can't wait to try the other 2 from the brewery.

Serving type: bottle

06-14-2010 01:52:09 | More by sliverX

Japerrault

Idaho

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

A: Hazy brown ale with a thin creamy head.

S: Roasted malt, caramel, toffey, resiny/spicey hops.

T: From the aroma, I was expecting a sweet malty ale, but this one is quite dry. Really no sweet at all. Roasted grain and somewhat smokey tones come through first, followed by some hops bitterness in the finish.

M: Quite light and dry feeling. Carbonation is good.

D: This is a fairly light easy drinking beer, but the bitterness from the roasted grain, and the hops may be a turnoff to some. I like it.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2010 02:25:18 | More by Japerrault

sachsich

South Carolina

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

Another great beer from Uerige! Its a little bit thinner than their Sticke, but thats to be expected. Little to no head on the beer but good lacing. Great amber color with great taste, mouthfeel and drinkability. This is a great session beer where you can have many without getting full

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2010 21:45:39 | More by sachsich

jstilwell

Massachusetts

1.73/5  rDev -56.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1

Tried a sample at Bogies Beer and Wine beer -n- chocolate tasting.

Stepped out last minute with a buddy to pick up a few things and grab some samples. Its actually been a while since I offered up a negative review...Here goes:

Pour is clear amber copper with an off white head. Not much aroma here, a bit peppery with maybe some mild nut undertones. Time for the taste, not good. My pal greg spontaneously uttered, "Tastes like a telephone pole" which was agreed upon by some surrounding sippers. This is dry, thin, unpleasant, and unique...in a bad a way. There is a taste in there somewhat reminiscent of rye, but almost like chemicals or shoe polish or something. No drain to dump 3oz. sample so we sucked it up.

As I look at the postive reviews, I can only imagine this does not hold up well, and is far better fresh or on tap.

drinkability? HAHAHAHAHAHA

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2010 17:35:18 | More by jstilwell

corby112

Pennsylvania

2.93/5  rDev -26.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours a cloudy dark chestnut color with ruddy mahogany edges and a two finger frothy beige head that quickly settles into a lasting ring. Minimal lacing.

Sweet dark fruit aroma with hints of licorice, peppery spice and chocolate malt.

Slightly watered down mouthfeel with some nutty/chocolate malts, sweet dark fruit notes, licorice, saaz hops and a slightly dry metallic finish.

Serving type: bottle

11-07-2009 07:04:19 | More by corby112

RedBrewer83

Oregon

4.47/5  rDev +12.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into Chimay goblet. Been looking forward to this one for awhile.

A: Pours a dark chocolate amber with hints of orange in the light, not a huge head, only about one finger that quickly falls to a thin foam.

S: Pleasant aroma of toasted biscuit malt, faint toffee, yeast and just a hint of hops. Not overly complex or big, but very well rounded and full, very classic alt style nose.

T: Wonderfully balanced flavor in this beer, almost the perfect flavor profile for an alt style beer. Very bready with just a hint of toffee, the yeast flavors really come through and the crisp hops on the finish provide just enough bitterness to give this a clean finish. Very nice!

M: Light to medium body, very smooth and clean on the palate with a crisp finish.

D: This beer is extremely drinkable; flavor and mouth-feel combine to create a fantastically smooth beer! Really love this one!

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2009 03:59:52 | More by RedBrewer83