Mac Queen's Nessie - Brauerei Schloss Eggenberg

falloutsnow

Illinois

3.28/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Bottle from Hyvee in West Omaha, NE
No bottled on date
Poured into a standard US pint glass

Schloss Eggenberg's Nessie puts together an interesting beer using whisky malt that has been, I believe, dried with some light peat smoke. While this sounds particularly interesting, the results are not particularly exciting, creating a fairly typical light-tasting lager beer with some continental hop usage detectable amongst the malt characters. Quite sessionable, perhaps, but I'm afraid I'd find this a tad boring after more than one, and also a drain on the pocketbook due to the import price.

Pours a tall, just off-white head of medium and small bubbles, the foam decreasing in about a minute to a thin cap atop the beer. Leaves substantial lacing along the sides of the glass. Body is a transparent golden orange color away from light, yellow-orange when held up to it. Carbonation is easily visible and quite active.

Aroma is rather malty, with considerable caramel presence. We also are presented with a blended-in bit of peat character and a bit of leather.

In general, I'd characterize the taste as fairly simple, a bit flat, and rather light. An easy-drinker, for sure, but I would prefer a bit more robust flavor. Opens with malt sweetness on the tip of the tongue, followed by floral and grassy hops that last through the fore-palate. Mid-palate continues to pick up malt sweetness, but which also offers a bit of caramelized and slightly peaty flavors. Could see how some would characterize this as fruity, but for me, the sweetness arises from light malt sugars and not fruit sugars. Hops continue to be mildly present in both taste and bitterness in mid-palate, increasing somewhat into the close of the taste. Aftertaste has a bit of cracker character and lingering grassy hop bitterness.

The beer is light-medium in body, but bears little wateriness. Carbonation is present, but not prickly, just makes the beer foam up a bit on the palate. Fairly refreshing feeling. Finish is dry.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2012 20:25:56 | More by falloutsnow

patre_tim

China

3.98/5  rDev +22.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

A: Clear filtered, medium low carbonation, copper body, a little head fades fast and has a slight bronze tinge.

S: Very amber lager like- medium toasted malts, very light, no whiskey or the likes, just a light slight skunk, cedar scent, slight smoke. Malty, not so much hops. At first reminded me of New Albion, by Sam Adams.

T: Smooth, good body, definitely get the whiskey malt (not to be taken for barrel aged which this isn’t). A toned down version of a whiskey flavour without the wood aspect. It’s a very mild beer and I’m only getting alcohol lower down at the back of the tongue and below, though its only 5%. A bit of lemon and sheltzer water.

M: Medium bready body, medium low carbonation.

O: Saw this in Michael Jackson’s top 500 beers of the world, and, having the opportunity to buy this around my 40th birthday I decided to do so. At first glance, and based on the reading on the bottle “whiskey malt red beer” it makes me think of some American ambers, but this one is way more complex with the whiskey character. I understand the classification “Vienna Lager” but personally would not like it to be placed in that category. A malt whiskey beer, with a Scottish name Nessie, brewed in Austria, makes me think this one is a style in its own right. Reminds me of buying Nacho chips that are a European brand on the train in Sweden, or a Chinese version of western food at a high end restaurant in Toronto. Cool bottle, great concept.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 15:09:43 | More by patre_tim

djura

Serbia

2.63/5  rDev -19.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Found it in Romania.

A - Whiskey to red cherry color,medium carbonation lasting few minutes,tiny white foam lasting few seconds.
S - Sweet malt with some fruits aroma.
T/M - Lighter taste for Red beers, almost as scotch and soda beer. 2 much carbonated,bitter aftertaste with some sweetness and some fruitiness.

O - Not so good,not so bad. Interesting because of whiskey malt, but overall, there is lots of better Red lagers.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 22:25:17 | More by djura

Dyerseve

Michigan

3.5/5  rDev +7.7%

02-10-2013 00:31:56 | More by Dyerseve

matjack85

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev +7.7%

01-28-2013 10:16:01 | More by matjack85

OF001

3.28/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

330mL btl. from an advent calendar. poured into a vintage Duvel tulip glass. 7.5C serving temp.

Matt copper pour with one finger head that rises quickly and fades to a 75% coverage island of substantial thickness within 30s. Very nice continues carbonation that continues to maintain just enough head for every sip until the last. almost no lacing.

Sweet- scotch/rum nose; light fruity sugar, fruity(brandy-ish) notes with a light, toasty spice. Pleasant but smells like an Innis & Gunn without the commercialized scotch production notes, a little more separated.

Medium viscosity that is initially smooth but the carbonation kicks in and presses down on the palate to form a matt dry texture that disappears as soon as it arrives, only the present itself again on the finish. It creams out a little and has a slightly, very slight, oily and wet quality before drying out on the finish; like the carbonation at the beginning.

Light toast caramel malts. Upfront sweetness that is somewhat artificial, has some nice, very light smokiness and spiced note. It comes across quite balanced considering the quantity of residual sugars (represented by caramel with a brief note of salt).

While I can see the appeal of this as a barely more interesting competition to Innis & Gunn without the production scotch addition (sorry but it is the closest comparison), it lack the unified contents of a production scotch barrel beer, or the depth of a proper whisky malt beer that would make it otherwise. see Unibroue Raftmen as a basic bottle conditioned example. To be honest I would take about 6-8 other brands of whisky malt or whisky/scotch barrel beers over this.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 05:35:13 | More by OF001

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

330ml bottle, day number 6 in the 2012 Craft Beer Advent calendar. Somehow I believe that this particular offering was available in Alberta not all that long ago.

This beer pours a clear, pale golden amber hue, with two fingers of densely foamy, billowy off-white head, which leaves an undulating wall of specked painted lace around the glass as it evenly subsides.

It smells of semi-sweet, grainy cereal malt, a wee bit of orchard fruitiness, and a very, very mild evocation of yeasty bog. The taste is more bready, breakfast cereal malt, some subtle apple-pear fruit notes, a still innocuous woody/peaty, um, suggestion, and tame earthy leafy hops. Any overt barrel and/or Scotch leanings are pretty much lost in the mire.

The bubbles are fairly laid back in their merely supportive nature, the body a steady medium weight, and generally quite smooth - dealing only really with a low-key pithiness. It finishes off-dry, the bready, biscuity malt still holding sway, and the middling noble hops staying true to their station.

A pretty decent Vienna Lager, I don't know where all this talk of Scottish whiskey barrels and Highland malt is getting us - none of it really manifests in the beer itself. Which is fine by me - I like this as it is - a well-flavoured, enjoyable, and altogether drinkable malty lager.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 04:03:37 | More by biboergosum

Cookeeman

3/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This is Beer 6 from the Rieder Advent Calendar. It pours a pale clear amber, with a thin head that remains for a long while. There is a distinct sweet aroma, slightly reminiscent of rye/whiskey, bread maybe? I'm not crazy about the flavour: there's a sharp metallic taste that doesn't belong, and unfortunately there aren't really any other flavours potent enough to mask it. There are some bready notes, and the whiskey malt adds some complexity, but there just isn't much here. The finish is very clean, but weaker than I was expecting. Another underwhelming offering from this calendar.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 03:19:01 | More by Cookeeman

Derek

British Columbia (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev +20.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Craft beer advent...

A: Coppery bronze with an off-white head, good retention, leaves some nice lace.

S: Sweet toffee, pear, hints of peat.

T: Light toffee & caramel, not really smoky but there's some raspy earth/peat character, light floral hopping, modest bitterness.

M: Smooth, moderate body as a very light residual sweetness.

O: A well-crafted, easy drinker. A bit of an eclectic mix (Scottish ale and Vienna Lager), but I think it really works. Now I want to try the previous (stronger) version.

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 00:54:04 | More by Derek

Bryn

Alberta (Canada)

2.25/5  rDev -30.8%
look: 3 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

11.2 FLoz bottle

A - Toffee colouredand transparent. No head after a minute. A few small white bubbles along the side.

S - Cheap lager. It reminds me of warm lucky lager. It also has a slight whiff peat, but it is very slight.

T - Slightly sweet, malty very weakly flavoured.

M - refreshing, doesn't linger. Like diet coke.

O - EHHHH I wouldn't buy it again, but I will drink down this bottle. It's not a very flavourful beer. it doesn't taste offensive, it's just not that exciting.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2012 23:31:55 | More by Bryn

NightINgale

Quebec (Canada)

3.25/5  rDev 0%

10-29-2012 23:55:53 | More by NightINgale

wordemupg

Alberta (Canada)

3.58/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

330ml bottle poured into tulip 25/9/12

A clear amber with just a few bubbles but a dense finger of off white foam that quickly falls to a thin film leaving a few partial rings of lace

S some fruity notes with some toffee, wet wood and other earthy tones

T spicy malts and its a little sweet, very faint smoke and everything else from the nose is there in one form or another

M a little slick with and nice and creamy from the bubbles, earthy finish with a little spicy kick

O decent stuff and something different, I wont be writing home about it but its worth trying

I was expecting a smokey peaty beer but the smoke is very mellow hard to pick out, not a smoked malt brew but decent stuff

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2012 18:08:55 | More by wordemupg

LiquidAmber

Washington

3.23/5  rDev -0.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured into a Celebrator pokal. Pours a medium burnt orange amber, half finger off-white head dissipates to a film and thick ring around the glass with slight lacing. Aroma of sweet malt, dark fruit, slight hint of whiskey barrel. Flavor is thin sweet malt, slightly grainy. Finishes abruptly with only slight hints of malt and grain. The aroma is nice, but the flavor is very thin, tastes almost watered down. Body is light and uninspiring. I remembered this being really mediocre a few years ago, but after trying other beers from this brewery though maybe I had tried an old or bad bottle; decided to give it another taste.This is a very pleasant beer trying to escape from too much dilution, I'm sorry it's a miss.

Serving type: bottle

07-28-2012 03:36:32 | More by LiquidAmber

crossovert

Wisconsin

3.2/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

New recipe bottle. Though I think this one is 4 years old. A bit on the old side for a 5%er.

It pours a slightly hazy reddish amber with a foamy white head that leaves some nice lacing.

Smells like an old, malty lager. A bit more aromatic perhaps, a different character with the whisky malt but not too much.

The flavor is unique. It is rather spicy with a butterschotchy caramel running through it. Well-carbed.

It is decent. Would love to try it fresh.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2012 05:05:28 | More by crossovert

chel29

Brazil

3.75/5  rDev +15.4%

05-18-2012 02:13:16 | More by chel29

macrosmatic

Florida

3/5  rDev -7.7%

04-10-2012 05:09:44 | More by macrosmatic

szmnnl99

Michigan

3/5  rDev -7.7%

03-24-2012 20:19:57 | More by szmnnl99

Derranged

New York

3.1/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A vintage bottle of the 7.3 abv variety. Who knows how old this bottle really is. Apparently this recipe was discontinued in 2008. Poured from a 11.2 ounce bottle into a stemmed pokal.

A- Dark amber color with minimal white head that doesn't disappear right away.

S- Malty with raisins, figs and some alcohol. Smells a bit like a Belgian Strong Dark Ale.

T- As I expected this was kind of bland. I'm getting malt with some rasins, slight alcohol and a slight bitter aftertaste. Almost has an artificial sweetness to it at the end. Tastes like a bottle of slightly spoiled Chimay Grande Reserve Blue that I've had before.

M- Very thin, kind of flat but is burning the back of my throat.

O- I'd swear that this was a cheap Belgian Strong Dark Ale. Very strange. I have another bottle. Not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I wonder what this was like fresh. Oh well.

Serving type: bottle

03-10-2012 02:51:03 | More by Derranged

GONZALOYANNA

Spain

3.38/5  rDev +4%
look: 5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

330ml bottle.Flute glass.Enjoyed on mar´12. Amberish gold in color.Clear. Off-white lasting creamy crown.Copious rings are left from top to the bottom. Caramel malt,hints of sugar & a very subtle whisky malt note to the nose. Puckering upfront. Gentle malt tendency & noble hop flavors.Herbal hues. Medium body,medium-high carbonation.Smooth bitter finish,wood & slightly smoky touches on the aftertaste.Pleasant drinkability.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 20:58:19 | More by GONZALOYANNA

JGuill

Massachusetts

2/5  rDev -38.5%

02-17-2012 02:16:02 | More by JGuill

Kahlerbock

Kansas

2/5  rDev -38.5%

01-31-2012 15:41:06 | More by Kahlerbock

IronDjinn

Alberta (Canada)

3.63/5  rDev +11.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Thanks to Jim at Sherbrooke for the sample. From a 330 ml brown bottle, peach/flesh coloured paper label around neck and cap. Pours out a clear deep golden hue, tall loose frothy white head that slowly settles.

Clean metallic grains and biscuity, bready malt on the nose, mild smoke and wood, some perfumey and grassy hops.

Flavour is incredibly clean as well, with metallic grains up front, biscuity malt, just a hint of sour citrus and peat from the whiskey malt, finishing with mild spicy, leafy, grassy hops.

Light-bodied mouthfeel, silky smooth texture, moderate carbonation.

Pleasant and clean, although the whiskey malt doesn't really add much in the end. Certainly a Light Scottish Ale, worth trying once at least though not overly memorable.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 02:57:58 | More by IronDjinn

rab53

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +23.1%

12-05-2011 04:57:50 | More by rab53

Rochefort10nh

New Hampshire

3/5  rDev -7.7%

12-02-2011 18:26:45 | More by Rochefort10nh

JAHMUR

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +23.1%

11-27-2011 21:42:58 | More by JAHMUR