Benno - Stift Engelszell

Thorpe429

Illinois

3.2/5  rDev -18.4%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25

Bottle from the Wine Source in Baltimore. Served in a cervoise.

Pours a fairly-hazy deep gold-caramel color with a thin white head. A bit of spotty lacing iand a collar.

The nose carries a bit of bread and faint caramel alongside a bit of candy sweetness. No real saison yeast or spice to speak of. Flavor is similarly bland. Some honey, bread, and light toffee. Nothing indicating this is a saison. Faint fruit and spice as it warms.

Body is light-medium. A bit light on the carbonation, and somewhat dry through the finish.

Meh.

Serving type: bottle

02-12-2013 01:33:27 | More by Thorpe429

BEERchitect

Kentucky

4.18/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

As the new kid on the Trappist block, Stift Engelszell chimes in on the scene with an inquisitive ale of rich Belgian Pale Ale malt presence but with the dry, spicy character of Saison. Benno is a unique and refreshing option on the Trappist beer menu.

A careful decant of the bottle yields a deep gold, medium amber color. The ale simply looks toasty and caramel-like. The classic yeast hazy keeps the beer diffused in its body while a dense cloud of froth floats above. Its head might be short statured but its ivory foam is long lasing and speckles the glass with signature Belgian lacing with each sip of the ale. Its overall appearance is of more amber-type Belgian Pale Ales.

Toasty, dry malt, pecans and husky grain character starts the show in semi-robust fashion. Spices are first and foremost with cinnamon leading the charge. Complements of light clove, fresh cracked peppercorn and a decoration of clove set in and add to the spice heavy taste and aroma. Lighter in fruit notes- a melange of apples, grapes, dates and figs burrow under the spices and fuse seamlessly with the terse caramel and cotton candy-type sweetness.

Malty-light in body, its dry sweetness allows for the malts to spring from the tongue to usher in a quick and decisive finish of peppery zeal, rose wine acidity, mild husk astringency and a crisp, clean herbal hop finish of lemongrass. The ale favors as much wine-like effervescence as it does ale-like creaminess.

Benno is a wonderfully crafted ale that compares very favorably when considered in the likes of Unibroue Maudite and De Koninck Ale. It simply belongs in the portfolio of time honored Trappistine history, regal, spirit and taste.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 06:03:13 | More by BEERchitect

RedneckBeerz

North Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -10.7%

05-19-2013 14:56:51 | More by RedneckBeerz

acurtis

New Jersey

2.75/5  rDev -29.8%

05-18-2013 20:21:58 | More by acurtis

djrn2

New Jersey

2.75/5  rDev -29.8%

05-18-2013 20:04:01 | More by djrn2

JakerLou

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +2%

05-15-2013 22:10:47 | More by JakerLou

vande

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -10.7%

05-14-2013 00:22:50 | More by vande

acevenom

Louisiana

4.51/5  rDev +15.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a glass mug. The beer pours hazy copper with a finger-length white head and lots of tiny, visible bubbles. The head sticks around for a while and retains well throughout consumption. The beer smells like lemon, Belgian yeast funk, sweet and bready malt, and coriander. The beer has a nice malt profile that's evidenced in the taste, being nice and bready with some sweetness. I get the lemon and coriander as well as some earthy hop bitterness in the back end. The body is medium with lively carbonation. The finish is dry and the aftertaste coats the mouth. This is a nice drinking beer. This is an excellent beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-10-2013 01:12:08 | More by acevenom

Rusty_Pabst

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev +2%

05-07-2013 14:21:40 | More by Rusty_Pabst

tehzachatak

Massachusetts

3.98/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

330 mL bottle poured into a Deschutes teku. (note: I was going to use an Orval chalice, but then looked at the Stift glassware, and interestingly enough, it oddly resembles a teku. food for thought.)

A - a fairly careful pour yields a finger and a half of slightly ruby tinged head, suspended over a much darker than expected, red-amber body. really stunned by the red coloration to this beer - almost looks as if it has fruit. appears to have high carbonation.

S - smells like a much darker beer than the style notes, again. some fruit, a little spice, and biscuity malt. kiss of lime peel and honey. does not smell like it has much alcohol in it.

T - tastes much lighter than it looks. sweetness, some serious tang reminiscent of an intense sourdough bread. are there bugs in this beer? will need to go read about it.. some citrus. a little hops and honey on the finish.

M - really light- not a ton of body. cannot believe this is almost 7%. highly active carbonation. the light tang makes it really pleasant to drink.

Serving type: bottle

05-05-2013 23:25:54 | More by tehzachatak

JAHMUR

Connecticut

4/5  rDev +2%

04-08-2013 20:27:43 | More by JAHMUR

RochefortChris

South Carolina

4/5  rDev +2%

04-03-2013 11:04:09 | More by RochefortChris

C2H5

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +14.8%

02-08-2013 06:43:47 | More by C2H5

chanokokoro

Illinois

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

Poured from a 33 cl bottle into an unbranded tulip glass

Pours amber with golden highlights capped by a fluffy white head. Great retention and plenty of lacing along the sides of the glass. Plenty of yeast, on the nose, however different and not as strong as the the saison/farmhouse yeast found in most saisons. The honey does come through as well as hay, and some malt touched by a bit of toffee. Yeasty, caramel, honey maltiness, a light touch of citrus throughout. Smooth mouthfeel, light, medium bodied with moderate to low carbonation-much lower than most saisons I've had. A very interesting and enjoyable beer. Well worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 04:54:39 | More by chanokokoro

avalon07

South Carolina

3.8/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured from a bottle to a pint glass. Had a brown-orange color and a cloudy consistency. Some light sediment floating around. There was a big, foamy, long-lasting head. Excellent lacing.

S: A very underplayed aroma of yeast, fruit, and malt.

T: Tasted of Belgian-style yeast, some malt, an almost bubblegum-like element, a fruity ingredient, and the typical funkiness of a saison. Not quite as focused as most saisons, but a decent enough flavor.

M: A well-carbonated beer with a lively finish. Medium-bodied.

O: Benno is a solidly made beer, in spite of some bumpy areas. Drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

01-20-2013 21:37:00 | More by avalon07

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

3.75/5  rDev -4.3%

01-20-2013 19:43:47 | More by Daniellobo

jadeal

Tennessee

4.63/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

11.2 oz bottle in a chalice served cool

Pours up golden with big lacing that was retained throughout consumption

Bread, honey , funk, light citrus

Mild sweetness (honey), sourdough bread, orange with some other hefe flavors, tartness and hops with a small alcohol presence

Carbonation with tartness bringing in the salivary glands, not heavy or cloying

Big, proper taste with an approacable abv. Complexities that I expect from a Trappist ale.I have two remaining... going to start looking for more...Gregorius is next

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 16:32:46 | More by jadeal

ystazi

Illinois

4/5  rDev +2%

01-19-2013 03:44:28 | More by ystazi

bsuedekum

Missouri

4.5/5  rDev +14.8%

01-17-2013 23:39:28 | More by bsuedekum

BlackBelt5112203

South Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

330 mL bottle poured into a chalice at cellar temperature.

L – Medium amber color with a 2-finger creamy, frothy cream-colored head. Fantastic retention and awesome lacing. Clear with tons and tons of carbonation bubbles.

S – Bready, grainy malts, sweet honey, a little bit of orange and lemon zest, and spicy Belgian yeast with a nice clove aroma. Possibly some banana esters as well.

T – Starts off sweet with bready and grainy malt, honey, and some banana esters along with slightly tart orange and lemon flavors. Clove and pepper yeast spice and a touch of Brettanomyces funk show up mid-taste-to-finish. The finish includes subtly bitter floral hops and a return of sweet clover honey.

F – Medium-bodied with great carbonation, a very creamy and smooth mouthfeel, and a slightly bitter, slightly sweet, slightly spicy, and very dry finish. Sweet and tart citrus flavors linger for a little while. There’s also a very subtle throat-warming sensation from the alcohol.

O – This is a great beer and maybe my favorite saison that I’ve had so far. It looks fantastic, is very tasty, has great depth of flavor, and has a tremendous creamy mouthfeel. Awesome beer from the newest Trappist brewery. I can’t wait to see what beer number 2 from them has to offer.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 02:24:30 | More by BlackBelt5112203

smakawhat

Maryland

4.3/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from the bottle into a tulip glass. Brewed in year 2012/11.

A real gorgeous looking beer off the pour. Gorgeous orange orb glowing amber, with an opaque body. There are glowing hues of all shades amongst the edges of the glass. Lively carbonation rising, with a good rising middle fire in the center. Head is off white, maybe even a little tan, forms so nicely off the pour giving a creamy top, with a bit of island merringue like clumping. Settles incredibly slowly, always leaves a thin puck, and a good thick penciled collar while drinking.

Nose is real solid, candi sugar slightly, with a mix of balanced honey sweetness. Some milk chocolate sensations hang out in the back, very solid smelling.

Sweetness hits nicely, with milk chocolate angle in the palate, mixing with caramel too. Mouthfeel is incredibly crisp and lively. Dry and crackly crackery with a champagne like feel. Matches nicely with the sweetness but there is plenty of density too. Sweet honey comes in with a bit also after in the finish. Some good ripping barley action as the beer warms up. Yeast profile on this is a bit spicy sort of saison "like" in a way but a bit more subdued.

Overall this is really solid, and wonderfully balanced also. It's also very unique tasting. This a great execution for a trappist beer, I am getting more from these guys if I can.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 21:19:29 | More by smakawhat

apintofknowledge

New Jersey

4.1/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

This is a new beer from a new Trappist brewery (yes, an official 8th Trappist Brewery) in Austria. From my understanding, they are brewing beers outside the traditional Dubbel, Tripel, Quad styles common to other Trappist breweries. This one is described by the importer as a "Trappist Farmhouse Style Ale"

Appearance: Pours slightly hazy with a nice creamy white head and amber to light copper hue. Make a careful pour as sediment is in the bottom of the bottle.

Aroma: Spicy, cracked peppercorn, mild haybale notes, and clover honey

Mouthfeel: Medium light body but with a full, creamy carbonation makes for a nice full mouthfeel

Taste: Initial cereal grain, mildly sweet (think Wheaties) followed by a middle of black tea leaves, mild clove, ginger and peppercorn, a bit of yeasty barnyard funk, balanced with a clover honey sweetness, finishing both dry and sweet somehow with lingering honey flavor and a slightly medicinal tartness, along with what I can only describe as a floral flavor.

Overall: Interesting, tasty, and well worth a try. Somewhere between an Orval and a Belgian Saison in terms of flavor profile. Certainly good enough to pick up again.

Serving type: bottle

12-23-2012 22:30:49 | More by apintofknowledge