Gregorius - Stift Engelszell

PDXHops

South Carolina

2.63/5  rDev -28.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

11.2 ounce bottle poured into a St Bernardus goblet. Deep hazy brown with an initially puffy cream-colored head that dies down disappointingly quickly. A bubbly skim clings tenaciously, and a bit of crackly lacing is left up top.

The chief aromas are bready malt and a pronounced woody character that seems out of place, although not altogether unpleasant. Lighter medicinal, dark fruit and leafy notes.

Tastes a bit messy and disjointed. Perhaps some aging would help smooth things out. At this point, though, it's a mishmash of massive candi sugar and dark corn syrup sweetness coupled with a somewhat artificial tasting tangy fruitiness and a ton of alcohol. Just big and boozy vs warming. Milk chocolate, vinous, sugary, woody, cherry pie filling. A lot going on here. It's kind of a mess, truthfully, although I suspect it might be a pleasantly surprising cellar experiment. Pretty nice coating mouthfeel. I find myself unusually intrigued by a mediocre beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2013 00:22:14 | More by PDXHops

apintofknowledge

New Jersey

2.93/5  rDev -20.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: Pours deep chestnut with a medium cream-colored head
Aroma: Herbal, yeast, slightly medicinal, with a hints of smoke and wood (not that I can think of any reason for these to be in there given what I know about the beer)
Mouthfeel: Medium body with a fizzy, effervescent carbonation
Taste: Initially mildly sweet, slightly nutty, into a slightly medicinal and vinegar-like middle, with hints of red wine, sweetened cocoa and plum, finishing in a dry, musty, tart cherry flavor reminiscent of cough syrup. In reading this back it actually tastes a bit better than the flavor notes I make here. Still, all the flavors are somewhat subtle and somewhat muddled, with only a lingering leathery tartness left on my palate.
Overall: Not at all what I was expecting, and not really sure how to categorize this one. Sometimes not fitting within a style or definition is good, but this beer is a bit of an enigma, and I have nothing to really compare it with, but also nothing to truly define it. In the end, I just didn't really love the taste. While Stift Engelszell's other current beer (Benno) is also beyond style boundaries, I quite enjoyed that one. I'm not sure I'd pick this one up again.

Serving type: bottle

01-03-2013 03:53:21 | More by apintofknowledge

TMoney2591

Illinois

2.98/5  rDev -18.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Served in a tumbler at Local Option.

I had to start off with the newest Trappist brewery, didn't I? This stuff pours a clear topaz topped by over a finger of khaki foam. The nose comprises caramel, toffee, stone fruits, fig, and light clove. The taste brings in more of the same, though unfortunately accompanied by some musty apple/white wine grape character throughout. This flavor just ruins everything, literally leaving a bad taste in my mouth. The body is a light medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a fluid feel. Overall, it seemed as though the Local Option crew agreed with me that this beer, though well-looked-forward-to, really fell flat on its face, especially with that weird flavor in there (which is exacerbated by the alcohol level). Without any hesitation, this is the worst Trappist beer I've ever had. Hopefully I can try more from this brewery in the future, though (meaning: Engelszell, don't try to be Orval, 'cause this nonsense ain't no Orval, homies!).

Serving type: on-tap

11-30-2012 22:07:09 | More by TMoney2591

GuyIncognito

Maine

3/5  rDev -18.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I got this bottle from a friend who works at a distributor. I really wanted to like it- 8th trappist beer, from Austria, made with alsatian wine yeast, etc. etc., but it was just a boozy mess. Unimpressive appearance, strong phenols, and lackadaisical finish. At 9.7 abv it packs a punch, but it is a boring, slightly off, punch.

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2012 01:24:55 | More by GuyIncognito

lynchmob9

California

3.09/5  rDev -15.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A: poured 1/3 bottle ibto tulip glass. Pours dark, chestnut brown. Starts out with quarter-inch sandy colored head which dissappears quickly into nothing but ring around glass.
S: interesting...bacon, figs, brown sugar or molasses, sultana, raisins.
T: anise, dry-roasted grain. White pepper. Burnt rye toast. Chocolate covered sugar cone. Beer version of Underberg.
M: long long lingering finish. I like how it lasts forever however not into overall taste profile.
O: the nose was initially very interesting, and the continuing lingering taste is cool however I don't care for the actual taste that is lingering.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2013 02:24:43 | More by lynchmob9

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

3.1/5  rDev -15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

330 mL bottle poured into a chalice at cellar temperature.

L – Cloudy deep brown color with a 1-finger bubbly, creamy tan head. Pretty good retention and nice lacing.

S – Wow there are a lot of medicinal phenols here. Honestly this smells like cherry Robitussin to me. If I try to get past that, I can get some toasted and roasted malts, molasses, chocolate, and cloves.

T – Once again, the cherry Robitussin is there. Again, if I’m looking past this, it starts sweet with caramel malt, molasses, dark cherries, and possibly a bit of chocolate. Medicinal phenols appear quickly along with spicy black pepper and clove yeast notes. Some coffee-like roasted malt appears at the finish.

F – Medium-bodied with decent carbonation, a sticky and mouth-coating feel, and a sweet dark cherry medicinal finish that lasts for a while. Alcohol is slightly noticeable in a throat-warming sensation at the finish.

O – This beer is not great. It’s not so bad if you can get by the Robitussin, but it just takes so much effort to do so. The phenols are just too pervasive in the aroma and flavor. By looking at the current reviews, I only see a couple other people even mention phenols. Maybe others don’t see it or maybe it doesn’t bother them, but it’s too much for me. In my opinion, there are much better Belgian strong dark ales out there.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 03:21:51 | More by BlackBelt5112203

ciderguy

Pennsylvania

3.24/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Bottle purchased from Beer Planet in Brussels - Was really excited to give this one a try. Pour was just as I hoped it would be, nice and dark and full rocky head. Nose was crazy complex, strong aroma of smoke (if not charring), as well as dark bitter chocolate and black coffee. Good, full mouth feel but just as the nose suggested strong smokey rauch flavor. Almost burnt taste. Taste changed little as the beer slowly warmed. Not bad, but not great either. I would argue the Austrians still have a thing or twto to learn from the Belgians.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2013 03:08:57 | More by ciderguy

janubio

Spain

3.24/5  rDev -11.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

330 ml. bottle. Dark brown colour, off white head, not big and not much retention. Smell of figs or raisins, fennel, clove and some cinnamon. Astringent palate, with some medicinal flavor. Light to medium body. Taste ia acid, fennel, cherries and chocolate. A bit messy, not really one of the best trappist I've tasted. I'll to keep one bottle aging and try again.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2013 23:04:54 | More by janubio

mxchap

California

3.25/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance: Medium dark brown color. Poured in a 15cL glass, so no comment(s) on head/retention.
Aroma: Candied fruits (prunes and cherries). Chocolate and caramel malt.
Taste: Bready / malty with spices and some hot alcohol. The finishing flavor of this beer is quite odd and frankly makes the beer sub-par. The candied fruit flavor smacks your tongue at the end with such force. It's almost like a sweet red wine.
Mouthfeel: Strong, alcohol noticeable. Sticky at the finish. Light-medium carbonation.
Overall: A weird beer, but it does have some redeeming qualities (notably aroma and mouthfeel). The fermentation procedures and quantity of adjuncts do not seem to be typical. However, this beer does have a lot of potential.

Serving type: on-tap

12-02-2012 04:35:48 | More by mxchap

jtierney89

New Jersey

3.3/5  rDev -10.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

deep semi murky brown fluffy off white head that dies rather quickly. smells nutty rich and earthy smells sweet musty and woody.

tastes a lot like the smell. a bit medicinal and booze, very musty semi vinious but not like a good wine. drinkable and good but I'm not sure if it's up to trappist standards

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2013 05:11:54 | More by jtierney89

popery

California

3.38/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25

Pours a deep, rich brown. Thick beige head. Sticks around well. Very good looking beer. Unfortunately, the rest of the beer didn't live up to that appearance for me. The aroma is a mix of medicinal yeast and toasty malt notes. Little bit of nail polish remover and wood. The malt has some nice things going on - toffee, dates, plums, caramel, bread and molasses - but it's still kinda simple. There's just too much sweetness mixing with those medicinal Belgian esters, and it doesn't really work. The taste is quite sweet. Somewhat cloying. Oddly vinous and still fairly toasty. It's kind of a mess. Fair bit of booze. Fairly heavy feel. Coats the mouth more than I'd like, but that might be more a flavor issue than feel. Carbonation is normal. This was a disappointment. I was pretty excited to find this beer and try a new Trappist brewery, but it's just not very good.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2013 09:01:40 | More by popery

mattsander

Alberta (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5

A: Murky brown with chestnut edges, tiny bubbles and a wisp of head.

S: Clovey/peppery/spicy, a bit of sour cherry, sweet dark malt... unique in the trappist dark beers.

T: Very spicy with an interesting malt flavor. The finish is tangy and herbal, its kind of an odd beer.

Has the appearance and body of a great dark trappist beer, but lacks the candy sugar / yeast balance I love in this style.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 04:48:23 | More by mattsander

Dennoman

Belgium

3.65/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Ah, the (in)famous eigth trappist beer. Let's see what all the fuss is about, shall we?

2012 bottle, 33 cl. Didn't as much gush when opened, but kept frothing up significantly. Took five minutes to pour.

A: Poured with the yeast, as I always do, this looks like a latté. Pours a murky, creamy brown with a massive beige head. Head disappates to a half finger in ten minutes or so. Fairly appealing, but strange color.

S: Burnt toast and yeasty aroma, something slightly acidic resembling fresh coffee bean roast, even though there's no coffee in here. Roasted malts I'm guessing. No hops to speak of.

T: Roasty onset, smooth middle and a roasty bitter finish. Not very complex, but roastier than any of the other trappists. This leans more towards the stout spectrum of things. Slight booze undercurrent.

M: Creamy, smooth, almost powdery and dry finish. This is one of those beers that MAKE you thirsty. Not great, but befitting the style I guess.

O: Definitely one of the better trappists, but so unusual it's hard to brand it as thus. Nice roastiness that's reminiscent of a decent stout, but it's mostly the muddy brown color and strange powdery mouthfeel that just don't do it for me. Would recommend and drink if given to me, but not likely buy again until it drops in price here, which is likely to happen in the next few years.

Serving type: bottle

12-29-2012 19:29:38 | More by Dennoman

ehammond1

California

3.68/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Bottle (2012)

Thanks for opening this with me, JealousChalice!

Mahogany and dark brown with a creamy brown head of very small bubbles. Leaves sheets of stick down the glass.

Roasted malt, dark fruits, distinctive Belgian yeast, and some ash and char round out the aroma.

The flavor is very reminiscent of a Belgian dubbel, with dark fruits and distinctive, earthy yeast making up the bulk of the flavor, along with a coffee/char/ash tray flavor lingering in the background.

Medium bodied with creamy carbonation.

Good, but nothing paradigm shifting.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 19:08:01 | More by ehammond1

metter98

New York

3.69/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

A: The beer is very dark brown in color (black when viewed from afar) and has a moderate amount of carbonation visible from the bubbles rising near the edges of the glass. It poured with a two finger high beige head that took a long time to die down and consistently left a thin head covering the surface.
S: There are moderate aromas of Belgian yeast and dark fruits in the nose.
T: The taste is similar to the smell but also has some additional flavors of dark malts. Earthy flavors of yeast linger through the finish. No sweetness is detectable.
M: It feels medium-bodied, slightly smooth and a little dry on the palate with a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: Considering its strength, the alcohol is remarkably well hidden from the taste, which makes this beer very easy to drink.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 04:08:13 | More by metter98

Brenden

Ohio

3.71/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

This ale from the world's most recent trappist brewery is a thick medium brown color. It develops a moderately-sized light brown head with equally moderate retention and a pretty good bit of patching on the glass.
This beer has hints of the sweetness I'd expect from the style without going full on with it. It makes for an interesting character, perhaps something a little different in the trappist arena. There is honey used in the brewing process, something that shows in a particular character without the sweetness that's lost in the brewing process. There are, however, notes of toffee and molasses along with the earthiness and bready malts. Just a hint of dark fruits are in there also. There's an earthiness from both yeast and hops that comes out more strongly on the tongue. The note of clove is subtle. While unusual, it does make for a pretty good beer.
This one doesn't have all the big but balanced richness of the greats, but it's certainly not bad. It has enough body, though I might prefer a touch more, and displays a little dryness coming into the finish.

Serving type: bottle

05-13-2013 17:05:53 | More by Brenden

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.73/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

1st beer of 2013: 33cl bottle poured @ home into a Westvleteren chalice, just to make it feel at one with the Trappist world. Some sediment got into the chalice but the beer still looked fine: reddy brown body with a full tanned foaming head.

The nose is malts all the way: molasses and a yeastiness with red berries actually lead the aroma stakes with traces of off Port notes adding a slightly vinegar feel to the overall smell.

The taste was a heavenly blend/mix of flavours: matly, fruity and yeasty. Semi-sweet with that aforementioned Port off-vinegar feel keeping the brew interesting and different.

Body wise it is fine and I thought the beer well worth finding and tasting. A long way from being the best or even one of the best ’Trappist’ brews but never the less a good beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2013 22:33:11 | More by BlackHaddock

theruckus33

Kansas

3.73/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottle poured into snifter.

A: Pours a beautifu mahogany brown with slight toffee cream head. Dissipates into a thin head that leaves a good lacing with some alcohol legs. Under the light taste I notice a lot of sediment and hop flakes floating in the beer, not completely appealing.

S: Fruity and funky, smell apple, grapefruit, with that typical Belgian yeast funk.

T: Apricots, Granny Smith Apples, grapes, and bubble gum

M: Stays on the mouth for a short time,

O: Okay, it's super rare, so it is worth a buy for "rarity sake". But I wasn't very wowed.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 04:50:48 | More by theruckus33

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.73/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Bottle from The Birch in Norfolk, Virginia. Served in a cervoise.

Pours a dark chestnut brown with a lasting off-white head. Nice lacing on the sides of the glass and a cap throughout.

The nose starts with some toffee, honey, bread, earth, and a somewhat-woody note. Molasses, brown sugar, and a touch of clove. Slight date character. There's also something in the background that's slightly reminiscent of root beer. Sassafras, maybe? All in all, pretty well integrated and fairly intriguing.

Flavor has a nice honey component alongside some bread and light caramel. Molasses with notes of clove in the background. Not terribly fruity. Dry and toasty.

Medium body and a fairly-dry finish. Ever so slightly astringent. Moderate carbonation.

Overall, very interesting and certainly unique for a Trappist beer. The honey and molasses notes were interesting, with slight spice through the background. I'm looking forward to seeing how this beer/recipe develops over time.

Serving type: bottle

02-06-2013 02:32:48 | More by Thorpe429

UCLABrewN84

California

3.75/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Brewed in 2012.

Pours a murky brown with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to wisps of film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace slowly drip into the remaining beer on the drink down. Smell is of malt, honey, dark fruit, and some earthy hop aromas. Taste is much the same with toasted bread and fruity flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of spice bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp but medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer but it's much more earthy and slightly rough compared to how I thought it would be.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 03:55:43 | More by UCLABrewN84

Etan

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Roscoe Village Pub, in conjunction with WLV for Zwanze 2012.

A: Brown with purplish hues.

S: Yeasty aroma with heavy vinous notes. Grape, raisin, brown bread.

T: Grape, bread, hint of booze, candi sugar, slight hop bitterness.

M. Medium-bodied with zesty carbonation.

O. Fits the trappist mold pretty well, especially for a first try.

Serving type: on-tap

12-02-2012 05:55:57 | More by Etan

bskrtz

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75

Served cold in glass beer challis.

A) Dense, dark milk chocolate. Suspended fine carbonation with yeasties floating about. Missing the billowy off-white head. Other than that, looks like a classic Belgian Brune

S) Deliciously sweet sour mash. Mild esthers, sour dough, baked apple pie

T) Sweet cooked caramel malts dominate. Stewed dark fruit, figs, raisons. Very complex.

M) Sticky but smooth. This bottle was lacking in carbonation, hence a bit flat. Without proper transport and storage, it may not be the beer. However its a bit flat no matter who's fault

O) A good example of the Trappist Belgian Brune

Serving type: bottle

04-28-2013 01:25:08 | More by bskrtz

Brabander

Netherlands

3.89/5  rDev +6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

I got this bottle (in a sixpack) from a Dutch guy who went to the abbey in the time the first batch was sold. I gave away five of the six bottles and the sixt was saved for a special occasion.

I was in Austria last week and i decided to take back the bottle to it's country of origin. Drank the bottle in the lovely village of Neustift in the Strubai valley together with an American Facebook friend who was there @ the same time.

Poured out of the bottle into a wine glass, did not have the appropiate glassware with me. Nice head but not spectacular. The smell is normal with a bit caramellic malts in the nose. Taste is not very spectacular when you compare this one with other Trappists.

Glad i got to try this one and that's it!

Serving type: bottle

02-18-2013 21:06:58 | More by Brabander

fishdoc

Ohio

3.93/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Lizardville in Bedford Heights, Ohio.

Appearance: Amber, very cloudy, but the bartender said it has been clearing since it was tapped moments before I was served. Small white head, little to no lacing.

Smell: Complex, sweet yet spicy, hint of roses.

Taste: Candy sugar is first, almost to excess. Then comes bitter chocolate with a very dry finish.

Mouthfeel: Lower carbonation than an abbey style, but appropriate for a Trappist.

Overall: Quite different from the other Trappist ales I have had. It will be on the World Tour at the Winking Lizard in 2013 and I look forward to a second look.

Serving type: on-tap

12-14-2012 20:28:25 | More by fishdoc

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

330ml bottle. It's not every day that a new Trappist brewery hits the shelves, so a bit of fanfare is in the air, folks.

This beer pours a hazy, dark reddish mahogany hue, with three fingers of tight, densely foamy beige head, which leaves but a few instances of sea spout lace around the glass as it evenly subsides.

It smells of dark, lightly toasted caramel malt, sozzled black fruit - prunes, wild cherries, and raisins - a molasses/treacle sugar-spike, mild clove and black pepper spice, a slight earthy mustiness, and faint warming alcohol. The taste is somewhat tart dark fruitcake, the essence of honey, as in the way of mead, diluted molasses, a hint of crème fraîche, packaged dates, caramel squares, toasted dark bread, subtle clove, and a further weak mustiness, equaled in its understatement by the very wallflowerish booze.

The carbonation is fairly tame, and at the same time kind of frothy, the body a hearty medium weight, and generally quite smooth, even if a pervasive sourness takes its (less than a) pound of flesh. It finishes off-dry, the fruity, malty, and sugary notes all well tempered by their corresponding sour/tart offsets.

An interesting, and tasty enough take on the entrenched Trappist BSDA - the initial delta indicated on the label - the honey - really taking a back seat to the skulking sour fruit character that comes to fill one's perception of this offering. Which I suppose is just fine, as who really wants another Rochefort/Westy/La Trappe clone (as good as those are), when there's new ground to break? Beer-speaking, of course, as the Abbey itself was founded back in 1293.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 04:54:28 | More by biboergosum