Diebels Alt - Brauerei Diebels GmbH & Co KG

rvdoorn

Netherlands

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

Look: the beer pours an amber-copper color with medium head
Smell: Roasted malts, caramel and quite floral hops
Taste: Roasted malts, grain, and nice spicy bitter hops
Mouthfeel: dry finish with a medium-light body and medium carbonation
Overall: Nice beer for dinner

Serving type: bottle

07-27-2011 19:57:12 | More by rvdoorn

BavariaYeti

Rhode Island

4.45/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This is the bier that Deutschland uses as a measure for all Altbier...so I do to, having lived in the country for some years. So as my standard for Altbier it is a perfect blend of lagering and hops. It presents a pretty opaque color, for Deutschland, and has a nice but mild hop aftertaste.

Serving type: bottle

06-25-2011 01:27:23 | More by BavariaYeti

jerryjeff

Tennessee

4.45/5  rDev +16.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Aroma: Nutty, almost chestnut scent with roasted scents

Appearance: Poured into hefeweizen glass (all I had) to light amber/mahoghany with 3/8" inch head to start. dissipated relatively quickly with no lacing

Drinkability: Rather excellent taste with a slight residual bitterness on the finish. Would like to see how many I could have

Mouthfeel: Slightly buttery on the palette with some presence here, low to medium carbonation really letting the flavor come through

Overall: I thought this was really great. Either I'm just romanticizing the style which is one of my favorites and that I'm having one while in Germany, but it has a great taste, mouthfeel and finish.

Serving type: bottle

05-12-2011 07:37:02 | More by jerryjeff

mbrown26

North Carolina

4.72/5  rDev +23.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

One of the best beers I've had. Still learning, but this thing was tasty.

A: A beautiful brown color with a thick white head.

S: Smelled malt and figs/raisins. Lots of nose.

T: One of the best well-balanced beers I've had. Nothing was overpowering and the flavor was spectacular. This was my first altbier, but I'm sure a stunning example.

M: Just right. Carbonation wasn't too much and every sip left me looking forward to the next one.

D: Very smooth. Well worth the drink, if you can find it.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2010 06:10:22 | More by mbrown26

drpimento

Wisconsin

3.13/5  rDev -17.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Not bad, nothing special either. Poured with a nice, foamy, frothy, light tan head that shortly fades to almost nothing and a tiny bit of lace. Color is a clear dark amber with light red highlights. Aroma is malt, roast, and a bit of metal. Flavor is quite mild - malt, roast, dark bread dough. Body is ok and so is carbonation. Finish is like flavor and has about medium length. Very easy drinking and a session if you don't have much better and like a very mild dark beer.

Serving type: can

09-22-2010 16:54:34 | More by drpimento

jeranbrews

New York

3.23/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A - Low white eggshell head. A very interesting dark oak brown color body that was a bit clear but as vibrant as it was dark.

S - The best part of this beer was the smell. Some very nice smooth appetizing grape and caramel smells.

T - A slightly bitter leafy, lemon grass / hay flavor. Kind of stale and sour

M - Effervescently nice, but at the same time watery and hollow.

D - Overall, not bad color, a great smell, but a dissapointing taste.

Serving type: bottle

06-23-2010 14:33:58 | More by jeranbrews

mtstatebeer

West Virginia

3.1/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

0.5l bottle. Pours a completely clear brownish-amber color with a large frothy off-white head. Aroma is pale and caramel malts, bread, and grassy hops. Flavor is slightly roasted, bread, pale malts, and some herbal hops. Mouthfeel is light, dry, and a hint of bitterness at the end. Decent beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-05-2009 03:04:50 | More by mtstatebeer

lstokes

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Clear dark amber with an off-white head, the smell is basically dark caramel malt with raisins, but is fainter than it should be.

The taste is also less than fresh, but is nice. Toast, raisin, caramel, very strong hop finish which cuts through the somewhat thick mouthfeel but which to my tongue also doesn't let the malt character fully develop. Somebody said rhubarb earlier, and I think that's exactly the weird discordant note that bothers me.

A pretty drinkable beer which makes me want to drink more alts, but not an exemplar of the style or anything.

Remember to let it warm up before you drink it--the complexity doesn't really come out if you have it cold.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2009 17:57:50 | More by lstokes

PapaEugene

Netherlands

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

One of my favorite German beers. Usually buy it at Trinkgut in Kleve together with my other German favorites.

A: A beautiful brown/copper color with an initional decent white head.

S: Roasted malts, hops, and some caramel sweetness.

T: Like a pilsener but enriched with roasted malts and an additional dose of hops. A slight metallic tone in the aftertaste.

M: Medium carbonation and a light body. Very dry finish.

D: I like this one a lot, but not in any moment. I seem to have a preference for this beer at dinner time.

Serving type: bottle

10-04-2009 08:28:42 | More by PapaEugene

engisch

New Jersey

3.85/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a carmel amber color. It is darker than I had expected it would be when I poured it. It has a quickly disipating white bubbly head.

The smell is sweet with what I believe to be a hint of apples (although perhaps I'm just crazy). The taste is a nice balance of thin sweetness with a dry bittering of hops, but not overpowering. A nice tastey beer that is still refresing, but has a bit more hops flavor than is typical for the region. Very tastey.

I can't compare this to many other alts, as it is a style that I have only had a few. But from what I see, it is a pleasant light and refreshing style.

Serving type: bottle

08-09-2009 12:29:28 | More by engisch

MuenchenerKindl

Germany

4.3/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Sever in a small glass the dark caramel liquid had some carbonation but not much head. The head was small off white and left no lace could be the fault of a server wanting to be too quick after taking too long.

The smell was good and malty, lots of dark caramel malt, very sweet yet a finishing hops with a lot of bitterness. Truly a classic style brew.

The taste follows lots of thick malt in a classic big malt style. The hops were very good and made for quite a hearty brew standing up well with the roast lamb chops and basmati rice.

The mouthfeel of this brew was also very good nice thick body and encaptured carbonatio.

The drinkability of this alt is good ,just what I wanted I only wish they would have brought a mass.

Prosit, MK
.

Serving type: bottle

08-01-2009 16:15:40 | More by MuenchenerKindl

TommyW

Massachusetts

4.03/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A- Dark copper/brown body with an off-white, sudsy head that fades to nothing.

S- Bready malts, hop spiciness, and some notes of dark fruit.

T- A little bit of sweet malt starts off the taste, followed by some nice roasted malt flavors. There is also a note of caramel or perhaps molasses as well. The finish is dry with a slight hop bitterness.

M- Medium body, medium carbonation and very smooth overall.

D- Nice balance and smooth feel make this one pretty drinkable for me.

NOTE: A lot of the finer characteristics of the smell and taste really come out well when this beer warms up a bit.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2009 12:50:38 | More by TommyW

Quej

Ontario (Canada)

2.9/5  rDev -23.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

A - Dark, clear, lots of head and good retension with some visible carbonation.
S - Very little smell at all. Slightly sweet I suppose.
T - Sweeter, some roasty tastes of coffee and some yeastiness gives it a sweeter fruity taste. Lingers long and dry and slightly sweet.
M - Heavy mouthfeel, lingers like an awkward person, overcarbonated and syrupy.
D - Too heavy and thick, otherwise alright.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2009 12:31:15 | More by Quej

Absumaster

Netherlands

3.45/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A dark copper beer with a settling white head.

A slightly roasted smell with some malt and a trace of chocolatemalt.

Taste is clean. The malt is a bit straw-like and combines nicely with the roasted chocolate malt. There is an earthy taste to this beer, a bit of husk, which makes the beer a bit dry and astringent. Aftertaste is dry and light roasted.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2008 13:32:23 | More by Absumaster

wl0307

United Kingdom (England)

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

Purchased from the Beers of Europe; at 4.9%abv., BB 12/2008, served chilled in a 200ml stange glass.

A: pours a clear reddish amber hue, coming with a slowly dissipating off-white head and moderate carbonation.
S: aromatic in its woodiness and hoppiness, accompanied with an intensive focus of lager-sourness, semi-roasted tea-leaves, and utterly enticing raw-nuts; not terribly complex but the unique touch of jammy-plum-like sourness is especially welcomed.
T: initially it's more lager-like on the texture, with a decent level of doughy sourness and fizziness, but the whole palate is quickly engulfed in sour chestnuts (with the bitter skins), bitter woodiness, and plenty of plum-like dark fruits; a decent aftertaste of roasted tea-stems and the bitter edge of burned sugar lingers, before giving way to more bitter nuts and hop leaves... Just so... enjoyable and more-ish.
M&D: in a sense this is a well-balanced Altbier that benefits from the hops and fruitiness as much as from the wood-ageing process. There's no WOW factor to the drink, but just like a good honest English Bitter I just can't resist another sip of it~~

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2008 20:12:38 | More by wl0307

TheSarge

Illinois

3.88/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Diebels is a perfect looking altbier. It pours with a good amount of light tan wet looking cranium, and sticks around for a good bit considering the style. The body is cleanly filtered, and is copper in color.

This brew is rich in aroma. It has nodes of caramel, sweet bread, and slightly metallic. There is a slight fruity flavor too.

The taste is almost sweet and chocolaty up front, but gives way to an almost cooked veggie flavor.

The brew is kicking with a bite the whole way through, which gives this a coarse feeling. There is a chalky undertone as well.

Overall this is an interesting beer. It's pretty complex for as little ABV contained.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2008 15:00:21 | More by TheSarge

thierrynantes

France

3.85/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Beer bottle (50cl), tasted in 2002.
Appearance : clear amber brown color, good white foam head
Smell : Caramel aroma, malt
Taste and mouthfeel : Flavor dominated by malt, bitterish and quite light bodied.
Drinkability : good beer in the style not very common Alt bier

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2008 14:45:06 | More by thierrynantes

JBogan

Nevada

3.28/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a deep copper color with reddish tint. Thick tan head which turned into a thin film after a few minutes. Minimal lacing left behind.

Smelled of malt and bread, perhaps a bit of coffee in there too. Nice aroma.

Malty presence with a small amount of what tasted like tobacco. Still some coffee bean in the background as well.

Mouthfeel was decent but perhaps a bit flat. I've been drinking pilsners all week so maybe that's the reason it felt this way in my mouth compared to what I'd been used to. Smooth but unexciting.

All in all, a pretty drinkable brew. Not my favorite style, but it's reasonably priced and fairly easy to get so if the mood strikes me for this style beer again, I would consider this one.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2008 12:38:16 | More by JBogan

stcules

Italy

3.58/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Copper - amber (beautiful color). Beige head, compact and creamy. Light perlage.
Malt, biscuit, light fruitiness and tea. Definitely pleasant. At the smell it can remember something of an english ale.
The taste too. Round and full maltiness.
At the aftertaste some bitter notes, almost tending to rhubarb. Notes of caramel.
Very pleasant.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2007 19:51:01 | More by stcules

Globetrotter

Virginia

3.45/5  rDev -9.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Found in a Vienna supermarket, this brown 33cl bottle has a thin neck and a green and gold label featuring a buck jumping over some barley stalks above the name. Purity law applies. Best before 11/27/07, I opened it on 2/3/07.

Pours a clear deep copper hue under a one finger off-white head that fades quickly to film and collar, leaving only a couple of lace strings behind. The nose is mild, with just a hint of grain. The mouth is light and very prickly. The taste is mild at first, with just a bit of dark bread and no caramel. Then the hops kick in, crisp and spicey, leaving a nice dry bitterness in the mouth. Espresso notes linger well into the aftertaste, begging for another sip to relieve the parched palate. This is not a great or exciting beer, but it is contagious. Must have another...

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2007 22:49:31 | More by Globetrotter

HappyHourHero

Indiana

3.43/5  rDev -10%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Tall pale-cream colored head holds strong. After several minutes it left a few specs of lace as it morphed into a scattered film. Not much in the aroma, just some musty/grainy malt. Not much flavor, just a slight pale malt sweetness, nothing from the darker malts, and hardly any hops. It tastes more like a Pils. I really like Altbiers and I know there aren't a whole lot out there, but you can do better.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2007 21:30:13 | More by HappyHourHero

brentk56

North Carolina

3.55/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a light copper color with a foamy head that drops quickly without much lacing

Smell: Started out skunky (green bottle!) but that disappeared and left a reasonable combination of caramel malt and floral hop aromas

Taste: Starts out with a touch of caramel, but the floral hop flavors quickly arrive and leave the malt in the background; dry and slightly metallic finish

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with a healthy level of carbonation

Drinkability: Not a bad beer, but I like my alts to have a bit more of a balanced, malty approach

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2006 22:10:03 | More by brentk56

biegaman

Ontario (Canada)

3.53/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured with good head, a nice colour - like a burnt amber, mahogony highlights. Awesome chalky, mineraly nose. Some amber/caramalyzed malt comes through first. Heavy in the mouth, but a somewhat dry finish leaves it more light-medium bodied. Fairly malty overall, but not over the top. More restrained than say a bock, but certainly a lovely, bold touch of malt. Falls apart a little too quickly than I'd like. Leaves an odd mineral feel in the mouthfeel (but void in the taste) Plenty more caramel as it warms. Some brown malt maybe? This was nice, but seemed to me it could be something more...

Serving type: bottle

06-29-2006 01:15:47 | More by biegaman

ernie

Russian Federation

4.33/5  rDev +13.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Dark and misterious it pours out of the bottle to form a modest cappuccino crown over a dark-ruby liquid. Aroma is toffeish, with flowery-hoppy tones in the background. Carbonation is low. The taste is outstanding, reminiscent of English Ales with a perfect balance of nuts and malts vs. hops and fruit. Aftertaste is complex, bittersweet and crying for more. Great Germanic ale!

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2006 10:27:04 | More by ernie

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

3.9/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

This bottle looks a little different (than pictured), and is labelled as 4.9% abv. Best before 15.06.06.

A: Bronze-caramel; off-white head is fizzy, no retention or lace.

S: Clean hops (grass & a little spice), slight toffee & cotton candy esters.

T: Nice bittersweet balance. Toffee and a nicely rounded hop flavour (grass, earth, floral). Probably some styrian golding hops here, maybe some Saaz. Hints of fruity esters (like cotton-candy). Very well rounded. The taste score is pushing a 4.5.

M: Light to moderate body, moderate carbonation.

D: Quite good.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2006 16:25:16 | More by Derek