Bitteschläppe
Excelsior Brewing Co.

BitteschläppeBitteschläppe
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From:
Excelsior Brewing Co.
 
Minnesota, United States
Style:
American Brown Ale
Ranked #258
ABV:
6.8%
Score:
79
Ranked #26,664
Avg:
3.41 | pDev: 18.48%
Reviews:
24
Ratings:
78
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 27, 2023
Added:
Nov 11, 2012
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  12
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by mrseano:
Photo of mrseano
Rated by mrseano from Minnesota

4.75/5  rDev +39.3%

Mar 28, 2014
More User Ratings:
Photo of stevoj
Reviewed by stevoj from Idaho

2.89/5  rDev -15.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3
Draft at Hotel. I was trying hard to like this, to find some redeeming quality, but alas. Cloudy medium brown pour, small, filmy head. Light toasted malt aroma, taste follows, getting sweet. There's an odd element in both the aroma and taste, i can't put my finger on it. But it takes this in a bad direction.
Nov 27, 2023
Photo of woodychandler
Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania

3.79/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
I would like to give my eternal thanks to my local, in-person trader, @tone77 for his massive recent drop-off that included this beer! I was astounded by how much beer he brought for me & shamed by the fact that mine was merely a paltry offering. 8=( I must atone to @tone77 !

From the Bottle (his drop-off, his call): "Bitteschläppe Munich-Style Brown Ale"; "Bit-a-shlap-uh/noun. German gibberish. Munich-inspired brown ale that will slap you silly with malt-flavor and aroma. You may call it what you want, but call on it you will."; "Medium-bodied with a malty sweetness that carries the beer to a soft finish. Notes of caramel and toffee."; "Choose Your Craft".

German gibberish, eh? I got them to add the pesky umlaut that eluded the person who added this beer in the first place, but as someone of German ancestry, I kind of chuckled at "bitch slap" the same way that a shipmate & I laughed when reading a "Rolling Stone" article about The Prodigy's "Smack My Bitch Up" back in 1997. Gibberish? Perhaps, but with an underlying message.

I Pop!ped the cap in order to begin a slow, gentle C-Line pour into my awaiting glass. It foamed nicely, evincing very good carbonation on its way to forming just under two fingers of dense, foamy, rocky, light-tan head with equally good retention. Color was Brown to Dark Brown (SRM = > 22, < 27) with NE-quality clarity & cola highlights. Nose had a pungent cocoa powder chocolatiness & while I can understand while it may come off as infected, I do not think that such was actually the case. Mouthfeel was medium-to-full, not quite creamy, but on the approach. The taste was akin to a tangy chocolate-covered cherry! 8=O Its bitterness was low for the style and I did not really experience caramel and/or toffee. Finish was sweet to semi-sweet, just about as sweet as I would prefer without its being over-the-top. I appreciate the opportunity to try it, but one was plenty for me. YMMV.
Dec 10, 2020
 
Rated: 3.69 by elec from Minnesota

Nov 14, 2020
Photo of tone77
Reviewed by tone77 from Pennsylvania

3.59/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a brown 12 oz. bottle. Has a very dark chestnut color with a 1/2 inch head. Smell is full of dark breads, nuts. Taste is dark breads, light cocoa powder, a touch of nuts. Feels medium bodied in the mouth and overall is a pretty good beer.
Jul 30, 2020
Photo of defunksta
Reviewed by defunksta from Wisconsin

3.65/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Appearance: Pours a dark brown color with a hint of clarity. A medium off-white head. SRM of 22-23. (3.75)

Aroma: Strong aromas of roasty bittersweet chocolate. A touch of molasses and mint provide some airy notes to it. (3.75)

Flavor: Flavor follows the nose exactly with more bittersweet chocolate and hints of peppermint. Some flower that is enveloped by the chocolate. Finishes dry with a prominent roasty bitterness. (3.75)

Feel: Medium-bodied. Low carbonation. Sort of flat. Leaves a roasty bitterness on the palate. (3.25)

Overall: As other reviews have said, I don't get a huge caramel, nut or toffee presence as the bottle describes. More bittersweet chocolate. Roasty with a slight peppermint note. English yeast yes, but the flowery flavor is enveloped by the chocolate. (Final Rating: 3.65)
Nov 10, 2019
 
Rated: 3.75 by adosen01 from Minnesota

Jun 29, 2019
Photo of vette2006c5r
Reviewed by vette2006c5r from Minnesota

3.26/5  rDev -4.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5
Bitterschlappe pours a opaque brown color, with a big long lasting and lacing head. Weird sweet aroma, smells a bit like garbage. Flavor is a mellow sweet flavor with hints of hazelnuts, and a bitter and cheap aftertaste. Watery body. Overall, its a not bad tasting brown ale, mellow and light, nice nut flavors makes it drinkable.
Apr 12, 2018
Photo of J199
Rated by J199 from Minnesota

4.3/5  rDev +26.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Delicious, a smoother more authentic brown ale than say a New Castle
Mar 26, 2018
Photo of pat61
Reviewed by pat61 from Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev +10%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
L: bright auburn permeated with streams of rapidly rising bubbles under a 1" tight white cap with a very fine bead and fair to good retention.

S: big malt aromas with some dark sugars, caramel, grain, faint toffee and a hint of cocoa.

T: Mildly sweet, rich malt flavors lead the palate with toffee, and bread crust with a faint trace of cocoa and cinnamon

F: very creamy with a medium full body and very soft medium carbonation

O: a big, full flavored, satisfying beer that is well balanced and not cloying
Nov 13, 2017
 
Rated: 3.9 by NodakEric from Minnesota

Oct 08, 2017
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Reviewed by StonedTrippin from Colorado

3.75/5  rDev +10%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
a better than its ratings brown ale that has a nice rich nutty flavor, is light enough but also really fully malt driven, and one of the not flavored beers i have had from these guys that is quite good. as red as it is brown, and very fluffy on the head, clearish, and lively. aroma of light cocoa, but not as much chocolate malt as i am used to in the style, and hints of hazelnut, almond, and soil. its not quite as dense in flavor as it is aromatically, and almost drinks light for what it is, crystal and caramelized malts, with some brown notes, cocoa powder and dr. pepper, which is odd but i think accurate to describe this one, slightly sweet in the center, but resolved full circle by the time its down. not rich really, but not watered down in feel either, its a real sessionable beer but with a certain satisfying quality i really care for. enough of everything, and simple in a good way. seems a little strange to be so light considering brown ale season and minnesota winters, but this is really working for me right now, nuttier and more english yeasty and flavorful there than most. tasty and well made beer, impressive for a to style brew from a relatively unknown...
Apr 12, 2017
 
Rated: 2.5 by Dms844 from Minnesota

Feb 15, 2017
 
Rated: 3.69 by darkpreferred from Minnesota

Feb 04, 2017
 
Rated: 3.22 by Nolster from Minnesota

Jan 19, 2017
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Reviewed by IPA1984 from Minnesota

2.63/5  rDev -22.9%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 3.25
This is an OK beer coming from a person who is not a huge brown ale guy more of an IPA fan. Has a good body and color is nice. Can taste the caramel grain that is lasting with poss hint of wheat, and I live next to the brewery so I get to taste all of the beers often.
Jan 18, 2017
Photo of Tone
Reviewed by Tone from Missouri

3.66/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Pours a hazy, brown color. 1/5 inch head of an off-white color. Slight retention and decent lacing. Smells of strong sweet malt, caramel malt, and peanut butter. Fits the style of an English Brown Ale. Mouth feel is sharp and clean, with an average carbonation level. Tastes of strong sweet malt, caramel malt, peanut butter, Euro yeast, hint of pale malt, slight hop, and a hint of wheat. Overall, weak appearance, simple aroma, good body, blend, and complexity. An odd beer, the Euro yeast and peanut butter are distinct, and the malt body is unusual.
Jan 18, 2017
Photo of uchty
Reviewed by uchty from Ohio

3.88/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
What I like about this Brown Ale is the hops. They aren't overpowering, or dominant but they aren't covered up by the sweeter flavors. Definitely a Vienna Lager flavor there. The aftertaste is caramel and pasty on the tongue. The next taste breaks it apart from the hops. The next beer I want to drink after this a Pilsner. I'm a fan.
Jul 12, 2016
 
Rated: 3.25 by inbierveritas from Minnesota

Jun 25, 2016
Photo of AleMan66
Reviewed by AleMan66 from Minnesota

2.88/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
I poured this from a bottle into a clear teardrop glass. It pours a nice brown with a thin white head. It's on the bottom rung of brown ales that I've had. It's less malty than I like with some unidentifiable floors. Too bitter!
May 21, 2016
Bitteschläppe from Excelsior Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 79 out of 100 with 78 ratings