Diebels Alt - Brauerei Diebels GmbH & Co KG

stcules

Italy

3.58/5  rDev -6.5%
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

dpend

Florida

3.55/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I originally reviewed this on tap and then recently found it in bottles.As far a I'm concerned, I'll stick with the draught.The whole six pack had a "old and dirty" taste."Alt" means old and the beer style was originally stored in dirt cellars, but I don't think this is what they should be shooting for.


I am a fan of this style, but there was something about the bottle taste that I couldn't adjust to.I have also had it now in a mini-keg, which I purchased from the same store, and it tasted fine, so I'm going to have to blame the bottles here.If you come across it, try it. It's one of the better examples of the style, just be cautious of the bottles.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2003 15:41:22 | More by dpend

brentk56

North Carolina

3.55/5  rDev -7.3%
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 -7.8%
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

lstokes

Illinois

3.53/5  rDev -7.8%
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

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.5/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

0.5 Litres in the ‘Berliner Republic’ a fun bar in Berlin where the beer prices go up and down like a beer stock market: there is a big screen to see how the prices are moving, choose a beer than is cheap obviously!

I had a lovely tour of the brewery a long time ago, well before BA came into being and we were given some small barrels of this beer to pour ourselves in the tasting lounge: great fun.

This wasn’t the best draught Alt I’ve had, but it wasn’t the worst either, nor was it as fresh as the beer I remember from that brewery trip. It looked fine though, nice brown colour, a cross between mahogany and oak: on top sat a thin off-white covering of bubbles, which soon left the scene.

The smell was semi-sweet malty molasses with a hop backdrop.

The flavours are malty at first, the hops arriving a bit later in the mouth feel to give the beer a mini bite and a mild bitter finish.

Body depth about right, not rich or deep, but enough to carry the flavours and alcohol content without any problems.

Serving type: on-tap

03-09-2012 14:27:19 | More by BlackHaddock

Globetrotter

Virginia

3.45/5  rDev -9.9%
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

Absumaster

Netherlands

3.45/5  rDev -9.9%
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

HappyHourHero

Indiana

3.43/5  rDev -10.4%
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

RenoZymurgist

Nevada

3.28/5  rDev -14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a rich amber-brown ale with a white head that started about an inch or so thick and subsided to a 1/4 inch and left a little lace. The aroma is of toasted malts with a touch of sweetness. The flavor is very dry and begins with a rush of carbonic bite and a dry toasted malt that reminds me of black tea. There is a bit of hops in the bitterness and it is sort of floral but it seems not present enough for me to be able to describe it well. The bitterness lingers into the finish and lends a further crispness to this ale. The mouthfeel is very dry and the carbonic bite is a bit out of balance and takes away from the maltiness. This is a great and flavorful session beer though my favorite in the style is still Zum Ueridge.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2005 03:35:32 | More by RenoZymurgist

JBogan

Nevada

3.28/5  rDev -14.4%
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

marcobrau

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A light brown version of Altbier that pour with a burst of foam that settles to a thin collar. Starts with mostly caramel malt flavors. The hops become more noticeable later on and ending with a dry finish. There's some bits of toffee, and some buttery notes, but not much complexity. Fairly light-bodied with a smooth mouthfeel. A very quaffable Altbier. A beer that I believe would appeal to many beer drinkers looking to try a German beer other than a Spaten or Paulaner, something a wee bit more interesting.

Serving type: bottle

10-19-2003 01:32:22 | More by marcobrau

HardTarget

Texas

3.25/5  rDev -15.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Aroma: A bready yeast and light malt mingle in a fresh aroma. Some light esters? Whiff of an almost Belgian yeast banana or dark fruit smell.
Appearance: A clear amber-brown with a fluffy light tan head of mostly tiny bubbles.
Flavor: Somewhat like a cross between a Pilsner and an Oktoberfest. Nice balance between malt and hop, both show up, but hops take the lead resulting in a nice hop taste and bitter. Some tea flavor and a very mild metallic taste were noted.
Mouthfeel: Medium body and carbonation. A clean dry finish, no oils.
Overall Impression: My first Alt beer, so I really don’t have much to compare it to. It’s pretty good, rich taste, nice appearance, and a clean finish. The rich taste makes me think it would be a hard session. I’m happy after one, but glad I tried the style.

Serving type: bottle

06-08-2004 23:40:50 | More by HardTarget

jeranbrews

New York

3.23/5  rDev -15.7%
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

allboutbierge

Austria

3.13/5  rDev -18.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

After drinking nothing but Kölsch and Weissbier I was begging for something different to try. During a weekend trip to Aachen I found this brew, though it is very easy to find anywhere in Germany.

Color ís almost that of pine bark and head is off white and short lived. Scent is powerful and quickly brings a resemblance to molasses to mind. Flavor can best be sumed up into rye bread meets molasses meets brown sugar. Its a flavorful beer, the flavors however seem out of place. Its interesting at first but by the time I got to the bottom of the glass this beer's individuality had gotten on my nerves and I was already looking for something different. As I have had very little experience with Alt beers this may be typical for the style. German brewers are not known for their wild and unique creations like some American micros are. Mouthfeel was pleasant--silky, full, and satisfying.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2003 22:47:29 | More by allboutbierge

drpimento

Wisconsin

3.13/5  rDev -18.3%
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

GCBrewingCo

North Carolina

3.1/5  rDev -19.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Nice head forms upon pouring and takes quite awhile to subside. Aroma is a little stale and perhaps metallic. Flavor is slightly metallic with a nice malt and hop balance and a toasted finish that lasts and lasts. The malt and hop balance is really nice and impressive and the bitterness is well done. The drinkability is very good with the only real flaw being that metallic aroma and flavor at the beginning.

Serving type: bottle

11-06-2003 00:49:03 | More by GCBrewingCo

mwrseeley

Ontario (Canada)

3.1/5  rDev -19.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Diebels poured a light beige head with some nice initial lace but by the time I had finished the beer the head was gone as was most of the lace. The colour was, of course, dark bronze, like iced tea. My relatively low grade for the appearance has me suspecting that my bottle of Diebels may not be the best available sample. Pity.

The aroma was malty sweet and I picked up on the presence of molasses, bitter coffee and raisins. The roasted taste started out lightly sweet and finished lightly bitter. The flavour, while nicely balanced, could have been turned up a notch or two. On the palate, Diebels was a bit thin and had a moderately dry finish.

I would like to try this beer again, preferably freshly poured in a German tavern.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2004 08:52:02 | More by mwrseeley

mtstatebeer

West Virginia

3.1/5  rDev -19.1%
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

rastaman

United Kingdom (England)

2.95/5  rDev -23%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Quite easy to drink and quite a clean taste. Even though it lacked a lot of flavour, i couldn't find to much wrong with it, probably a bit boring, but a nice session beer. Light malty flavour, with ever so slight bittering hop, no flavours really stand out, not too interesting, but enjoyable enough to drink.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2002 19:39:28 | More by rastaman

Quej

Ontario (Canada)

2.9/5  rDev -24.3%
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

Douberd

Netherlands

2.9/5  rDev -24.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

500 ml bottle, bought in Germany. Poured into a kolsch glass. Ingredients are water, hops, barley malt. ABV is 4,9%.
Dark copper colour, with a slighty beige head, one and a half finger in height, soapy in texture, having average retention. No lacing left behind, no activity in the glass.
Aroma is of roasted malts, but very faint. Not much of an aroma actually.
Taste is of roasted malts again, toffee and dark chocolate. It does leave behind some bitterness, but not as much as I expected.
Light carbonation on a thin to medium body.
An average one.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 20:23:11 | More by Douberd