Gregorius - Stift Engelszell

BeerIsland

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +20.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A FaceBook alert had me out on the trail for this draft. Deep brown with a sweet head made this an attactive tulip. This is a complex, big beer but tart enough to desire a second. Although Belgian style through and through, the Austrian have provided enough of a different take to stand out. Thanks, Paul, for getting this one on.

Serving type: on-tap

12-18-2012 04:07:31 | More by BeerIsland

fishdoc

Ohio

3.93/5  rDev +6.2%
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

Etan

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev +4.1%
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

mxchap

California

3.25/5  rDev -12.2%
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

TMoney2591

Illinois

2.98/5  rDev -19.5%
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

WillCarrera

Illinois

4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On-tap at Churchkey in DC, poured into a balloon glass.

A- Pours nearly black, held up to light it reveals some burgundy hues, produces a thin khaki head.

S- Mix of dark fruits (fig, dates, raisins), and roasted malt, maybe some coffee and dark chocolate.

T-Big sweet flavor, at first I'm getting a lot of roasted grain with coffee and chocolate, almost porter-like, but on subsequent sips the dark fruit becomes more prominent. Lots of figs, raisins, maybe some leather. There's a bit of sweet, fruity alcohol on the end with medicinal phenol flavor.

M- Medium to full-bodied, creamy, rich feel.

O- A very interesting beer, it definitely sets itself apart from its Belgian counterparts, definitely give this a try, although the fruity, rich sweetness makes it a sipper.

Serving type: on-tap

11-19-2012 03:22:03 | More by WillCarrera

Rifugium

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

First had: on tap at Monk's, Philly, PA

Dark brown pour, seemingly opaque in the dim light of the bar, topped with a small, wispy head. Aroma of dark bready malts, fairly roasty, coffee and cocoa, yeast, leather. The taste reflected the aroma, pumpernickel, leather, coffee, unsweetened cocoa, prunes, raisins, slight notes of toffee and leafy hops, and some distant fruity phenols that didn't really seem to add or detract from the taste, they were just there. A nice beer overall, very dry, a little alcohol heat, medium body, nowhere near as full as many of the other "big" names in trappist beer, but still nice and drinkable.

I have a couple bottles of this, and I'd like to cellar at least one to see how it holds up over the years, seeing how it is the first commercially available batch from Stift.

Serving type: on-tap

11-15-2012 02:00:32 | More by Rifugium

Beer-A-Lot

Virginia

4.43/5  rDev +19.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the Birch.

A - Nice head. Very dark brown/black color.

S - Bready, yeasty, substantial.

T - Spicy, peppery, raisiny, a bit of leather. Am I drinking a Belgian Strong or a Bordeau?

M - Perfect balance of flavors and booze.

O - An outstanding beer that I hope to have again. This one's good.

Serving type: on-tap

11-11-2012 23:38:52 | More by Beer-A-Lot

jdhilt

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a five+ finger light tan head that fades slowly leaving a good lace. Opaque dark brown color. Good carbonation and medium bodied. Dark fruit and honey nose, flavor is more molasses than honey and earthy coffee. Pricey at $6.99 for a 330ml bottle from Julio's Liquors Westborough, MA. Brewed Nov 2012.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2013 22:22:52 | More by jdhilt

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.25/5  rDev +14.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

As the "little brother" of the Trappist brewing, Stift Engelszell steps into the Strong Dark Ale arena with a bold and majestic ale that carries a regal sense of complexity and with superb drinkability.

Gregorius pours with a deep dark russet brown hue and the expected yeasty rust haze. The beer calmly builds a creamy but short off-white head. Though the beer is restrained with its foamy lacing, it does celebrates brandy-type legging that coats the glass with malt oils with a gentle swirl of the chalice.

Creamy candied aromas and taste begin with an elegant sweetness that's reminescent of grape, hard candy, and powdered sugar. Combined with the robust tastes of grilled dark fruit, blackcurrant, cabernet, mild chocolate, light coffee grind, cola nuts and cashews- the taste is varying but savory and sweet. Added complexities arise with raisin, plumb and prune as the beer warms and the taste buds invite more delicate character. A balance of vinous woods and black pepper balance the sweetness and fruit and close the beer with a dry sweetness that's every bit as wine-like as ale.

Its firm and creamy body is rich, savory and succulent with its initial sip. But finishing warm, its evident that the malts have receded, the bitterness of wood oils rises, and the alcohols pronounce.

And with the same type of satisfaction of Koningshoeven La Trappe Quad, Gregorius has fit the Trappist Strong Dark Ale taste, complexity, and drinakability to a tee.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 07:01:41 | More by BEERchitect

puboflyons

New Hampshire

3.8/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

From the 11.2 fl. oz. bottle that is stamped "Brewed in Year 2012/11." Sampled on May 20, 2013.

It pours dark brown with a lingering mocha head and a slight cloudy look. Decent lacing.

The honey with which it is brewed does introduce itself in a low profile sort of way after I get over the boozy hump. It evolves into something sweet. Also noted on the nose is coffee and dark fruit like cherry or currant.

The body is pretty bold.

The honey is a little difficult to find in the flavor. Instead my taste buds are teased with dark malts, cherry, licorice, coffee, and a slightly lingering bitterness at the end. There are some characteristics that I like about this one.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 22:05:52 | More by puboflyons

LiquidCucumber

Ohio

3.89/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

11.2 oz bottle dated 11/2012

Pours very dark brown/purple with about a half finger of head. The lacing seems to cling fairly well, so I will give them that. The aroma comes off as very earthy almost chocolatey and the typical BSDA fruit flavors are muted. There is definitely a lot of fruit here compared to other beers, but for the style, I don't think I've smelled anything like it. The flavor it a bit more typical, but I think this beer is trying to do its own thing. I've got lots of cherry and bit of fig, but that dark earth also really comes through due to the dryness of this brew. It's quite a bit different than its Trappist brethren, but that is quite alright. It also is a little untamed, as in hot. After the monks perfect their brewing arts in the coming years [I assume they are getting help from the other Trappists], we will have a world-class beer here.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2013 00:09:05 | More by LiquidCucumber

Bouleboubier

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

(found and consumed a bottle at Belmont Station, Portland)

A: dark brown and opaque.... leaves molasses-y legs

S: smells of latrine.... caramel/cream-infused coffee, with the roast sanded off

T: Belgian brown, immediate prejudice... kinda like the lovechild of Gouden Carolus Classic and Orval?... mellow sour/tart tinge, sweet phenols, long toffee finish - sum of the parts balance well in the aftertaste.... later, getting more of bubblegum and grapefruit cushioned by thick, velvet malt

M: smooth-ass, med-full body... not hot

O: not bad at all... a little rough around the edges... all in all, Trappist worthy?

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 04:13:46 | More by Bouleboubier

Brenden

Ohio

3.71/5  rDev +0.3%
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

bskrtz

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev +4.1%
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

UCLABrewN84

California

3.75/5  rDev +1.4%
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

impending

California

3.93/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

B+

33cl into a tulip. Pours a deep copper bronze, minor tan head, minor lacing.

Aroma is of sweet dark fruits, spicy and herbal. At the last moment faint mentholatum comes forth nicely.

Sweet yet dry. A foundation of mild molasses and semi sweet caramel. A nice herbal bitter long evolving aftertaste like roasted tree bark.
delicious, wonderful at room temp
these may be the first Trappists to brew a stout
cheers
jd

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 06:11:07 | More by impending

biboergosum

Alberta (Canada)

3.93/5  rDev +6.2%
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

mattsander

Alberta (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev -4.1%
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

themind

New Jersey

4.01/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Well I didn't know that this brew was a true Trappist bier. That said I feel this bier should be rated MUCH higher. I have had most of the Trappist biers out there and this is comparable. it has a unique aroma, good mouth feel and enjoyable taste. I sense a bit of sourness in this bier which is interesting. Sold in single bottles for about $6.00, I would buy again.

Bottom Line: Like Trappist bier....here you go!

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 00:30:22 | More by themind

lynchmob9

California

3.09/5  rDev -16.5%
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

thierrynantes

France

3.96/5  rDev +7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Beer bottle (33 cl.) purchased from La Cervoiserie, and tasted in 2013.

Appearance : dark red brown color, with thin beige head.
Smell : malty and burnt caramel aromas.
Taste & mouthfeel : sweet malty and yeasty flavors, alcohol presence leading to a bitter finish.
Drinkability : a good beer in the style Belgian quadruple (trappisten bier)

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2013 19:53:47 | More by thierrynantes

janubio

Spain

3.24/5  rDev -12.4%
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

popery

California

3.38/5  rDev -8.6%
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

ciderguy

Pennsylvania

3.24/5  rDev -12.4%
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