Samichlaus Classic Bier - Brauerei Schloss Eggenberg

TheHammer

Ontario (Canada)

3.19/5  rDev -19.8%
look: 2 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Where's the head? It poured with half a finger and then disappeared. The body however boasts steady carbonation and a clear body somewhere between amber and ruby.

Smell: Wow, there is a LOT of malt here as the thick molasses/caramel smell is almost overpowering. Warming made it even stronger.

Taste: Caramel and Toffee malt are dominant through the entire beer, and apparent from showing a little bit of it's high alchohol content at the end of the beer, there's not a lot going on here but that.

Mouthfeel: Points get deducted for the complete lack of head, the aftertaste is unsurprising sweet malt, which is nice, but regrettably the beer turns flat in fairly short order.

Drinkability: Sweet in extreme, and will get you tipsy quick due to the high ABV. That still being said, it conceals it alcohol well, and is light bodied.

Final Thoughts: This one is all about the malt, and if you like sweet malt taste, you will love this beer. It's a bit too cloying for my liking, but it's worth a shot.

Serving type: bottle

02-25-2013 02:43:31 | More by TheHammer

Hoagie1973

New York

2.89/5  rDev -27.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.75

Clear chestnut brown. Not much head, just a light cap.

Malty sweet nose; boozy, fruity quality with caramel.

Flavor is crazy sweet like candy. Residual sugars are almost overpowering. I've never tasted a beer this sweet. Tons of brown sugar. Warming and boozy, but 14% ABV is not apparent. Nothing harsh, just lots of sugar saturated fruitiness.

Definitely unique; a sipper for sure, meant to be enjoyed at length.

I would suggest pairing with something to complement the sweetness; not sure what though.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 16:05:03 | More by Hoagie1973

MaximalC

Illinois

3.49/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5

Pours a transparent rose-amber color with perhaps the most non-existent head I've ever seen (probably due to the massive ABV). Aroma smells of caramel, brown sugar, alcohol, and trace amounts of dark fruit. The very first sips takes the concept of "warming alcohol" to new heights. Your palate can track the alcoholic vapors' incursion into the mouth's every nook and cranny, leaving a warm sensation in the throat and all the way down the esophagus. The massive alcohol is nearly matched by the mammoth sweetness of the malt--a blend of caramel, brown sugar, and raw sugar in equal measure. Subtle amounts of dark fruit, anise, and spicy yeast lend some complexity, but it's difficult to appreciate through the assault of sugar and alcohol. I could be persuaded to declare some trace vanilla in the finish as well, though that could be merely an illusion I've associated with the profoundly boozy flavor it so often accompanies. Some bitterness prods the rear periphery of the tongue well into the finish.

The mouthfeel is oddly flat yet tingly at the same time, and a pervasive stickiness coats the lips unapologetically. This beer certainly doesn't lack for boldness, though I'm afraid it may be a bit much for my tastes (and I say this as a man of bold tastes myself). The sweetness becomes cloying as the beer warms, and the 14% ABV certainly isn't going anywhere either. An adventure to be sure, but one may be enough for any but the staunchest alconaut.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2013 03:38:48 | More by MaximalC

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

3.71/5  rDev -6.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Best before 10, 2017.
Poured in to tulip.

A - Translucent medium amber/copper colour with a thin layer of cream coloured head.

S - Sweet bready and caramel malt aroma up front with some noticeable alcohol.

T - Sweet bready malts with some caramel and toffee notes. A big warming alcohol presence.

M - Medium body. Dry. Light carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

02-14-2013 01:27:58 | More by TheSevenDuffs

mmmbirra

Italy

4.43/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottled 2011, drunk February 2013.

Clear, brownish copper. Slight foam when pouring, but there is no lasting head whatsoever. A few bubbles float to the top but it appears very lightly carbonated. After sitting in the glass for a while the bubbles stop and it looks more like a glass of brandy than beer.

The smell is of sugar and heavily toasted malts; figs and and raisins and cherries. Some alcohol in the nose, but not as much as one would expect when considering its high alcohol content. Very clean.

The taste is just as clean, and follows the nose with rich malt, cherries, raisins, and dark fruit. Sugary sweet, almost syrupy. More cherries.

Carbonation is there, but bordering on non-existence.

A squeaky clean dobbelbock with perhaps a little too much sugar, though the extra sweetness helps make it a wonderful digestivo. Reminds me a little of Baladin's Xyauyu'(without the oxidation) and is just as unique. Absolutely worth seeking out if you're into sweet after-dinner drinks. If you don't, you'll probably think it's too sweet.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2013 20:26:40 | More by mmmbirra

peensteen

Ontario (Canada)

3.59/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

2012 vintage

Clear ruby red-brown, ring of white head, no lace at all. Smell is of fruit and alcohol, cherry, huge malt bill here, dark bread and sugars, caramel and more dark fruits, again more alcohol but restrained for 14%. Taste is malty and fruity, sugar coated dark fruit in alcohol, cherry and a bit medicinal, sweet toffee and bread, more alcohol heat aftertaste. Lightly carbonated, full body, very chewey and syrupy as well. This was pretty good for being so strong and so young, something I can see improving with age, the next bottle I have of this wont see the light of day for the next 5-7 years.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 23:57:14 | More by peensteen

KFBR392

Illinois

4.19/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

2012 Vintage

Appearance: This is a pretty beer. A beautiful red amber color which just looks menacing and delicious. Carbonation was much more present then I would have expected. The newest vintage helps that out. Zero head retention. Looks like a large glass of brandy. This beer just looks sexy!

Smell: Wow. A huge blast of caramelized malt. The booze undertones provide a very spicy undertone to this aroma. This beer just smells like it is going to pack a full on punch.

Taste: And the punch lands squarely on the chin. Huge sweet malt on the front of this brew. The sweetness just continues for days giving off a wonderful caramel, toffee, maple syrup, molasses flavors. So rich, feels like I'm drinking a glass of syrup. The alcohol blasts through at the end and really knocks you on your butt. All of flavors are rounded together so wonderfully.

Mouthfeel: A thickness very different then a imperial stout thickness. The palette is drenched in a sticky caramel warmth. Goes down easy, so be careful drinking this brew!

Overall: I've put off trying this beer for a long time. What was I thinking?! I would only recommend this to a mature drinker, my girlfriend just about passed out trying this one. Has the feel of drinking a glass of cognanc or brandy. Classics are classics for a reason and this is certainly a good one.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2013 05:33:43 | More by KFBR392

spinrsx

Ontario (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

330ml Bottle from the SAQ Quebec for 4.50$ - 2011 VIntage

Appearance - Clear light brown colour with a small size fizzy off-white coloured head. There is an average level of carbonation showing and there is some faint lacing. The head lasted for only a few minutes.

Smell - Malts, dark fruits, peat, butterscotch

Taste & Mouth - There is a below average amount of carbonation and I can taste butterscotch/caramel and malts mixed with dark fruits. There is also a peatiness and I can taste the booze. It ends with a malty sweet and boozy aftertaste.

Overall – A little too much of a wee heavy flavour to this one for me - which isn't my favourite style of beer. It's still an interesting beer that clocks in at 14% and is remains quite drinkable. I've go a few more to see how they develop over the years.

Serving type: bottle

01-25-2013 01:42:51 | More by spinrsx

jtierney89

New Jersey

4.5/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

05 vintage

Clear rusted hue, with not much head. Rum raison on the nose, bit of wood, some pretty offensive solvent alcohol.

Thankfull the beer drinks much better than the nose. Smooth like a port wine. Sweet sugary taste balanced with a touch of alcohol heat. Has a sherry like woodiness. Aged amazingly, velvet like mouth feel, incredibly smooth with good balance between sweetness and alcohol. Very impressive.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2013 00:11:55 | More by jtierney89

Digimaika2

Ontario (Canada)

4.06/5  rDev +2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

(3.75) A: Crystal clear amber coloured with a fast vanishing bubbly head.

(4.25) S: Bourbon soaked raisins, orange, banana, nut qualities, figs, and spices (faint cinnamon). Very good.

(4.0) T: Similar to aroma with boozy raisin, tart orange, caramel, dried dark fruits (figs and dates), spices, and pecans. As expected, the warmth of the alcohol is quite noticeable but it isn’t harsh at all and compliments the dark fruits very well. Mellow and smooth.

(4.25) M: Full bodied with low carbonation. Thick and syrupy with a pleasingly very dry mouthfeel throughout.

(4.0) D: This is very good and I’ll be aging a bottle or two more, along with drinking a couple more as is.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 06:05:17 | More by Digimaika2

pkalix

California

4.19/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

dang, and the memories come flooding back...
little to no head, lots of tiny bubbles rising to the surface and crackling upon surfacing. true copper/amber/orange color. much more of a 'carbonation' than i was expecting for such a high abv brew.
smell is almost non-existent, but maybe barley?
taste? sweet. alcohol-ly, slightly twangy bitter. i never knew this was classified as a dopplebock.
much thinner than i remember. back before i got into anything too extraordinary or diverse, this was the killer. it had to be crossed off the list along with its sister, the pale, enroute to completing the '101 beers from around the world'at Der Baron's in Las Vegas. this and thomas hardy. and celebrator! but dang i really like celebrator these days... it's also a dopplebock, my favorite style. but this isnt as bad as i remember it. i will still prefer a 9% belgian over this, but i had to try it again after discovering it is classified as a dopplebock.
overall, though, i'd have to say it's a worthwhile endeavor; just dont allow it to get warm, i imagine. the 14% abv will surely come out to bite ya then. it's a stately brew, even while sitting in my pathetic 11oz butwiper clydesdale mug.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 01:14:30 | More by pkalix

patre_tim

China

4.51/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

A: Dark brown with orange tinge, fair carbonation, filtered, almost no head just a white residue from carbonation.

S: Smells like barley, puke, caramel, alcohol.

T: Pleasantly surprised. I get the barley, some sweet caramel, crème brule, some floral fruitiness, heavy hit of alcohol makes me think I am drinking a liquor. There is an underlying sweetness that backs this all the way. Almost an orange and a cherry blossom quality.

M: Thick and syrupy, alcohol burn, medium carbonation.

O: Bottled in 2012. Loving this one. I think its great, like nothing I’ve ever tasted before. Love the sweetnes and the complex flavours, as well as the bottle with the pic. Definitely a sipper or dessert beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 04:25:52 | More by patre_tim

jdhilt

New Hampshire

4.43/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours with a two-finger, bubbly white head that fades quickly leaving no lace. Crystal ruby/amber color. Light carbonation and light - medium bodied. Nose is sweet raisins and alcohol, flavor is smooth and sweet dark fruit and honey. NOT a session beer - the 14% ABV is quite noticeable . . . savor this beer. $5.10 for a 330ml bottle, from Tully's Beer & Wine Wells, Me. Bottled in 2010 - cellars well.

Serving type: bottle

01-17-2013 23:24:37 | More by jdhilt

JohnnyBarman

Ontario (Canada)

4.38/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Single bottle, 2012 vintage. Glad to see this in the LCBO after being rejected a few years back. Enjoyed as an after-supper sipper on the first cold night in a couple of weeks.

Poured into my Duvel tulip. Nice bright caramel-ruby in colour, with about a half inch of head that burns away in a matter of seconds. For a brew that is at 14%, this doesn't surprise me, but regardless of the reason it ain't the best looking brew to come out of the fridge.

Smells sweet and boozy, nice rich caramel, lightly burned sugar, vanilla, plum, and cherry.

Damn this is one tasty brew. Lovely and sweet, very rich - a real pleasure to sip. Big sweet caramel and vanilla flavours, with the booze and fruit coming in later. Light puckery finish, not as bold as I'd have thought, but still delicious. Like a sweet barleywine. I know it's a doppelbock, but honestly at this strength it shares so many similar characteristics to other similar styles. Whatever it is, I'm really enjoying it. Great mouthfeel to it as well - not overly thick or heavy, but with a nice balanced carbonation to keep things in check. A fine sipping beer.

Great winter brew - definitely planning on holding on to a few of these for next Christmas.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2013 04:18:38 | More by JohnnyBarman

andrenaline

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

A treat to see at my local LCBO...

A - Pours a crystal clear ruby red colour, finger of head with little retention and no lacing.

S - Dark fruits, dried raisins, hints of apricot, candied sugar and a touch of toffee and leather on the finish.

T - The sweetness took me by surprise, syropy butter caramel and toffee, the dark fruit notes of raisins and plums come through, vinous red wine notes, candied apple and apricots, and alcohol sweetness lingers on the palette alongside a hint of leafy hops and bready malt.

M - Lighter bodied and a tad syropy for my liking, ABV heat is present but not overwhelming.

O - This stuff is not for the faint of heart. More of an after dinner dessert type drink, and a sweetness reminiscent to ice wine. It's a sipper and the first of the style of brew that is genuinely unique and memorable. Well worth seeking out, but certainly not something I could drink more than one of in a single sitting.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 22:12:29 | More by andrenaline

Bouleboubier

Pennsylvania

4.36/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

(2011 bottle - tasted early Jan 2013, poured into a snifter)

A: small bit of tan head, no retention, no lacing - liquid is a deep copper color, quite clear - reminds me of maple syrup

S: melanoidin-rich malt, somewhat bold - toasty, sugary-sweet dense bread - fresh, invigorating alcohol, in the background at first and balanced real well, which eventually comes to the fore, exhibiting a vaguely floral, medicinal edge

T: alcohol is way more apparent on the palate, but buffered wonderfully by the malt - the decidedly bock-like malt character shows nice depth - fruity aromatics create some complexity - the aftertaste is the best part, as the malt slowly resurfaces from beneath the herbal alcohol warmth

M: almost shockingly sharp (booze) up front, gives way quickly to a mildly syrupy body (w/o cloying sweetness) - the alcohol seems to float above the medium-dense malt foundation - really smooth - a warming flush starts seconds after ingesting, washes away, stays warm mid-chest - the alcohol lightly burns and lifts off the palate, out up into the nose - surprising level of dryness in the finish, tastebuds experience slight dessication

O: definitely a sipper - I could imagine how aging this would mellow out the overall burn of the alcohol, establishing the malt more, finding balance, very likely turning this into a 5-start brew somewhere down that line

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 21:39:17 | More by Bouleboubier

Stocean1

Ontario (Canada)

4.33/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a thin off white head that immediately dissipated. Deep copper semi-clear but thick like syrup. Thin patchy lacing. What I expected.

Smell is plums and cherry, lots of booze, reminds me of a rum filled chocolate, I like.

Taste is a bowl of sweet rum soaked cherries and raisins, this should be accompanied my a slab of christmas fruit cake. Has some underlying earthy peat coming through. The hops do not stand out whatsoever. Big, bold, and good if this is what you are looking for.

Mouth is full bodied as expected, syrupy, very sweet, not overly bitter, boozy, little carbonation.

A very nice brew that has a big well balanced taste. Will grab another ($3.95 - very decent) and put it in the cellar.

Serving type: bottle

01-09-2013 20:36:36 | More by Stocean1

rickyleepotts

Arizona

4.5/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I have no idea what this beer is going to taste like. I saw this the other day at Total Wine & More, and the bottled looked interesting. Sure enough it was on the list. So I grabbed a bottle for $4.99 and was excited to drink it. I was excited because I like the name, it was around the holidays (when this beer is brewed) and it is 14% alcohol by volume! This is a BIG beer, and some folks on Twitter said it smells and tastes like booze. A 14% beer that hasn’t had proper time to age is probably more like drinking whiskey. Which is fine… I like whiskey!

Oh, and another thing I like about this one. It says “malt liquor” on the label. Forget beer when you can drink malt liquor!

In the Glass: The beer is ruby red and has a VERY thin head. It appears thick and flat in the glass. There is no lace here, but the beer does coat the inside of the glass nicely making me think the flavor is strong and the aftertaste just hang on for dear life. Beers like this are usually for special occasions. What is the special occasion today? The fact we get to drink this beer!

Nose: We are drinking this right from the fridge, so it is still a little too cold. But the aroma is not as pronounced as I expected it to be. It is sweet, and has loads of raisin aromas as well as some hints of cherry. I am not smelling the booze that everyone on Twitter was talking about. When I say it smells “sweet”, I am not talking barleywine sweet. I am talking burnt sugar sweet. Think of something that is caramelized in the kitchen. That is what I am getting here. There is some big raisin aroma on my second whiff.

Flavor: Holy. Crap. That is incredible. Those same dark fruit notes from the aroma are there, and they just smack you in the face. The booze that everyone is talking about is more pronounced in the flavor. That booze is pretty much all you taste right off the bat. This is not a beer you would chug, and I am actually surprised they don’t sell this in bombers. They might, but our store just doesn’t carry them. Plus, the ABV is so high, it might not be possible (or against the law) to sell a beer that high in a bottle that big.

When it comes to the flavor, I am VERY pleased and quite impressed. It is not like any other beer that I can think off the top of my head.

Mouthfeel: This might be the best part about this beer. Well, the flavor is pretty great… but the mouthfeel is really nice, too. Right off the bat, your palate is just destroyed with the booze. Then, as you swallow, the booze mellows out and the sweetness sets in. Those same dark fruits that you were smelling are there, and are blatantly obvious. Also, as you sit there, the aftertaste loses luster really fast, but with every swallow you are back to the raisins that I was smelling. After the booze mellows after your first swallow, you would never know this was 14% ABV.

Aftertaste: I was expecting the sweetness to stick around for a while… but it doesn’t. It’s there, and then gone. The burp is nice, but is forced. The beer has VERY little carbonation. It reminds me of what a cask beer produces… almost flat. It’s not flat, but after one drink you will see what I mean. For a beer that has an ABV this high, meaning you are not going to have more than 1 or 2 of these, I expected the aftertaste to last a little longer. I like it when beers last for 5-7 minutes. Those beers are easily paired with a nice cigar.

I must say, I really enjoyed this beer. I might buy another bottle to sit on for a few years to see how it mellows out in the cellar. We are starting to get a pretty impressive cellar going. I think we are actually out of closet space! If you get the chance to try this beer, do. It’s not too expensive, and has a nice flavor. Bravo Castle, you did a fine job with the Samichlaus Bier.

Samichlaus Bier – The bottle says: “Brewed only once a year on December 6. Samichlaus is aged for 10 months before bottling. This specialty is perhaps the rarest in the world. Samichlaus may be aged for many years to come. Older vintages become more complex with a creamy warming finish.”

Rating: 4/5 (If the aftertaste would have lasted a few minutes longer, I might have given this a 5/5. But with that weak aftertaste, I can’t go all the way. The flavor is great… but I have to rate on all aspects of the beer, not just the flavor.)

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2013 04:36:41 | More by rickyleepotts

JimTeal

Nevada

4.73/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Complex way beyond complex. All the things said about this really special brew are probably true, and few of us are really qualified to review such a rare example of brewing arts. It is almost syrupy, sweet, sugary and oh, did I mention it packs a major league wallop of 14%ABV, careful. And yes, the alcohol is up front, but give it a few seconds to settle on the tongue and combined with tons of absurdly good flavors this brew is astounding, and I am glad to add a 4 pack (3 remaining) to my cave under the steps. I tried a 2010 vintage, it is newly 2013 so if it got better over the last few years, look out, this one is dangerously beautiful.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2013 22:30:17 | More by JimTeal

kvnstfrd

Missouri

4.6/5  rDev +15.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Stored for one year. Poured from a 330 ml bottle into a 12 oz. snifter.
Dark brown, slightly red and crystal clear. No head to speak of. Oaky smell of a good tawny port, fruit cake and alcohol. The taste tells me my nose was right. This is very much like a tawny port or creamed sherry. Also a similar warming alcohol sensation after the swallow. There are some hops in there, but they’re dominated by a wonderful sweetness. Mouth-feel is thick and almost oily with little detectable carbonation. I’m not sure this fits into the Doppelbock category, but this is one unique and awesome brew!

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 18:40:02 | More by kvnstfrd

emyers

Illinois

3.88/5  rDev -2.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle. Bottled in 2010.

Appearance: Pours a clear golden-amber color with essentially no head, just a hint of white lacing on the edges. This beer looks incredibly viscous in the glass - carbonation bubbles seem to be suspended as opposed to rising to the surface. Actually, it looks like a glass full of maple syrup.

Smell: Big sweet caramel up front with sweet dark fruit and a little solvent alcohol. Smells like it's going to be one sweet, strong beer.

Taste: Yep, it's sweet alright. The dark fruit comes out a little more here. Tastes like figs and sweet cherries covered in caramel and then another dusting of sugar, with the solvent-like alcohol coming through in the finish. The alcohol presence is expected, and frankly I don't think I would enjoy the beer as much without it there.

Mouthfeel: Thick and syrupy with virtually no carbonation. Really coats the inside of the mouth as it goes down.

Overall: This is a big, sweet, complex sipper. And when all is said and done it's a damn good one. While I would definitely prefer it with more bittering hops, it's a great beer to sip by the fireplace on a winter night.

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 08:11:49 | More by emyers

BedetheVenerable

Missouri

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

Presentation: 11.2oz brown pop top, beautifully foiled, with an elegant label. The last of my 2006 4-pk, so I figured I'd give this a review on Christmas night after a wonderful holiday with my family. Poured into my Founders snifter. From my parents for Christmas, several years ago. Cheers to you, guys!

Appearance: Pours a beautiful deep red/amber, a bright hue reminding me of well-aged rum or whiskey. A firm pour produces a half-finger head, but it fades quickly to a thin whisp of a ring around the glass. However, there are TINY but lively bubbles of carbonation rising around the edges of the glass, even after six years in the bottle. Elegant.

Smell: Rich, creamy caramel, dark fruits (rum-raisin, maybe?) and the slightest hint of apple as well I think. A hint of sugary candy sweetness and light notes of toasted nuts. It smells boozy (like a spirit) but without the sharp burn. Powerful, warm, inviting.

Taste: I've had this several years younger and, I can now unequivocally say, this is, at six years of age, by far the best I've seen this beer. Powerful and boozy, but not hot at all, and with a softly prickly level of carbonation that matches with a viscous, heavy mouthfeel. Sweet dark caramel, sugary, candy-like sweetness, light notes of dark fruit, and a hint of apple here and there. It shares some characteristics in common with a good Belgian Quadrupel, but this is definitely its own beast. Just a hint of a sort of earthy/mushroom note that I've found in poorly-aged English old ales (Gale's Prize Old, for example, from 10-12 years ago) but here they're quite light and add just another layer of complexity. Stunning.

Mouthfeel: Rich, full, and with a perfect (light) level of peppery carbonation.

Overall: Adds up to slightly more than the sum of its parts. It's a $20-24 four-pack, depending on where you get it, and it's not easy to find. When young-ish, it's not particularly palatable, either. However, when aged for six years (even in decidedly sub-par conditions), it's really something special. If you find it, and you have the cash (and patience) it's definitely worth the price to lay some down long-term. After all, $12 for a bomber doesn't seem that unreasonable these days (even if such prices are becoming more of a hindrance as funds run tighter), so double that for a four-pack of 14% beer doesn't seem too bad. This is the perfect and (dare I say, despite my love of English barleywines) almost quintessential night-cap for a cold winter's evening. Especially Christmas.

93% A

Serving type: bottle

12-26-2012 04:41:32 | More by BedetheVenerable

starrdogg

District of Columbia

4.43/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Huge thanks to my Dad who got this for me for Christmas two years ago. Drinking it with him now, 2 years later. 2009 bottle.

Beer pours a dark reddish-brown with a thin white head. Smell is of caramel malt, candied sugar, dark fruit and a good amount of nuttiness. It honestly smells like an aged Belgian quad and is rather impressive. Flavor follows the nose - it's sweet up front, but not overwhelmingly so, then it finishes with an awesome malty nuttiness, again, just like a quad. It hides its 14% incredibly well and is certainly unlike any doppelbock I've ever had. Mouthfeel is medium-full bodied with moderate carbonation, nothing particularly positive or negative here. Overall, I'm really quite impressed with this beer. I've never had it fresh, but I can certainly imagine that it's sweeter and boozier, and thus some age does this one some serious good. This is an impressive beer that ages as well as any quad out there and has a similar flavor profile. Go buy a 2012 now and stash it in the cellar for 3+ years.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 01:28:01 | More by starrdogg

Holmes698

Pennsylvania

4.88/5  rDev +22.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a 11.2oz bottle into a Bruery Tulip glass.

A: Like a burnt orange with an amber tint. Perfectly clear with some faint bubbles coming up from the bottom of the glass. 1/2 finger of head that dissipates quickly to a fine ring. Nice alcohol legs.

S: Slightly boozy, but not too much so. Little bit of butterscotch, malts, sweet dark fruits.

T: Simply amazing. follows the nose to a point. Very complex with toffee, caramel, butterscotch, hard candy and a nice host of malty sweetness. There is a very mild alcohol burn, but for 14% this is well hidden. As this beer warms the depth of character really come out.

M: Slick and coating. Very low carbonation, but its there.

Overall: One of the best beers I've had. I got 3 bottles if this and will have a very hard time not drinking them all very soon.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2012 14:11:12 | More by Holmes698

beergoot

Colorado

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

Assuming my bottle -- labeled "Samichlaus Classic" is the same beer the other reviews are about. Bottled in 2012.

Very nice copper color but the thin, fizzy head nearly completely disappeared within a few minutes. There's a classic doppelbock sweetness in the aroma along with a plum and slight citrus-like fruit scent. Heavy, vinous feel; syrupy. Powerful sweetness and alcohol meld with the taste: raisins and apricots, lots of alcohol heat to balance out the immense sweetness; hard to differentiate between the alcohol burn and hop bitterness, but they're both present in the mix.

A somewhat underwhelming appearance and smell will surprise you once the taste and mouthfeel come in to play. For a 14% ABV doppelbock, though, I'd say this one is pretty decent. Plenty of doppelbock character abound in this heavy hitter. A must-try for doppelbock and big beer fans. Heck, I may spring for a four-pack and let 'em age for a year or so and see how this beer plays out with some time.

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2012 00:54:52 | More by beergoot