Kuhnhenn Stollen Christmas Ale - Kuhnhenn Brewing Company

alpinebryant

Connecticut

4.1/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

2012 bottle poured into a snifter

A: relatively clear raisin brown color until pouring part of the dregs into the glass. I figured Id pour some of the dregs in as well as it would probably have additional flavors, especially from a beer that is supposed to resemble Stollen.

S: Aroma of fruity orange with yeasty hints and belgian scents. To be honest, I dont really like stollen itself in bread form. Maybe I havent had the best that is out there, but this far surpassed my expectations just in aroma.

T: Fruity fruit fruit flavors all over. Orange, banana and clove along with a yeasty brown bread flavor and belgian yeast tastes. Cherry aftertaste and slightly resembling Mad Elf flavors in my opinion of a belgian ale with cherry flavors. Fruit punch cotton candy flavors are also pretty strong and tasty. Anybody with a sweet tooth would clearly enjoy this. There is a nice dry finish at the end with some booze.

M: Dry and medium bodied for an herbed / spiced beer. medium carbonation.

O: Overall I really enjoyed this. I had envisioned a slightly darker beer, but the color is right and the flavors are nice and complex. Not to be understated, I could readily have a few of these without complaints.

Serving type: bottle

03-06-2013 23:19:37 | More by alpinebryant

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

3.85/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

On tap at the 2012 Winter Solstice.

Dark brown body with some translucence around the edges. Offwhite head, decent retention and quite nice lacing. Nose instantly makes me think of red licorice and gummy bears, some spicy bread character, doughy and very cake-y. Taste continues to present the gummy/licorice on the nose, but is a tad more muddled. Still the cake-y and bready character prevails, spices are subdued. Sweetness abound. Low carbonation and full feel. Interesting, and something I'd definitely have again - but perhaps a full glass of this is a bit much.

Serving type: on-tap

12-26-2012 20:23:34 | More by liamt07

MasterSki

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I've had samples of this beer two years in a row, and I found it to be immensely better in 2011 than it was in 2010. On-tap at Kuhnhenn Winter Solstice.

A - Semi-transparent chestnut brown. A finger of white foam settles to a collar and splotchy lacework.

S - Smells like oranges, spiced bread, and cake. Very fruity, with some cherry and plum notes mixed in, as well as a hefty dose of cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg. It literally smells like Stollen Bread.

T - The taste is a little less compelling, and losses some of the spice and fruity definition. A bit muddled and heavy on the bread and yeast flavors.

M - Medium bodied, with lower carbonation and shockingly well-hidden alcohol - I would have guessed 6% at most. Chewy and bready.

D - The 2011 batch is miles better than Kuhnhenn's first attempt in 2010, which was far too heavy in clove and mint flavors. I happily finished my sample glass and would have considered another small pour had we stuck around a little longer. Still, best enjoyed in small doses.

Serving type: on-tap

01-02-2012 00:03:30 | More by MasterSki

northyorksammy

Ontario (Canada)

3.73/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

On tap at Kuhnhenn Winter, Solstice Night Two. Brown and lacey. Citrus lemon and orange, and ginger, cinammon and nutmeg. A big nose of spices. Some sugar. A sipper, yet drinkability assured. Nothing like any xmas beer had before.A little cider and hops.Worth a try.

Serving type: on-tap

12-25-2011 03:44:01 | More by northyorksammy

jampics2

Ohio

2.75/5  rDev -26.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

12oz snifter, on tap at the Brew Kettle's OgreFest. Just my luck, right before we got there the BA 4th Dim went off and this piece of crap went on.

It looked decent at first. Hazy reddish color with some amber and copper notes. There is a nice head and actually some lace. The appearance starts things in the right direction.

The smell is also decent. There are notes of pineapple, cinnamon, wine barrel, clove and orange peel. There's a decent sweetness from the malt, and this almost smells like a fruit candy cane. No nuttiness, which I expected given the name, but, sure, this could be a fruit cake. Very unique.

Things fall completely apart when we get to the taste. The spices and citrus start things off. Then a sickening sweet dough and rotten fruit taste creeps in. There's some orange peel that's out of place and some notable booze. This never even tries to come together. I seriously think this is down there with some of the worst beers I've ever had.

The beer is full bodied with some nice carbonation that makes it avoid being too syrupy. But not even a decent mouthfeel can make up for the damn taste. Truly a wretched beer where it counts.

Serving type: on-tap

03-03-2011 20:01:02 | More by jampics2