Schell's Hopfenmalz - August Schell Brewing Company

LordofTime25

Iowa

4.43/5  rDev +16%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Pours to a copper color with a thin white head that leaves a nice lacing on the glass.

Smells of spicy hops and bready malts. Nice.

Tastes of spicy hops hits you upfront with a citrus mixed in, but a bready malt that is not overshadowed by the hops.

Crisp mouth feel with good carbonation.

I could drink this all night. One of my favorite in the Anniversary Series.

Serving type: on-tap

04-17-2009 20:03:39 | More by LordofTime25

garymuchow

Minnesota

3.88/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Luckily able to score some of this, even without a local watering hole carrying it.
Light hop aroma with a cascade element (some citrus, grapefruit) and slight malt background.
Very clear and golden. Head is white and fluffy like, but leaves too early.
Nice mix of hop flavor and prominent enough malt backing (definitely can taste the Vienna malt) and a nice toasty quality. Bitterness lingers and varies from mild to moderately high in intensity (sometimes too much).
"drinks like a pilsner" is definitely correct. Light body is smooth and nicely carbonated without standard Schells richness.
Drinkability is high and nice. Occasionally the high bitterness decreases this some.
Thanks Bryan. Good times.

Serving type: growler

04-05-2009 00:45:42 | More by garymuchow

feloniousmonk

Minnesota

3.75/5  rDev -1.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

"...the elegant drinkability of a pilsner, the bready maltiness of a Vienna lager, and the hopping of a pale ale." Vienna, Caramunich, & Caravienne malts, Cascade and Tettnang hops, dry-hopped, fermented with lager yeast at ale temps, and aged 6 weeks for smooth lager crispness. 12.7 Plato, 36 IBU, 5.8% abv.

Clear, amber appearance, slim, whitish head.

Lightly spicy, citric hoppy aromatics, with a classic lager aroma right behind it. Interesting.

Reappears in the flavor, the zest, the pepper, the tangy citric feel, then all is smooth, the hop attack riding softly on the palate, then fading back. Each sip returns the pleasant hoppy character, followed by soft, biscuity malt.

Good flavor, great drinkability. I like this unique lager/ale hybrid. Another tasty easy-drinker in the Anniversary series.

Serving type: on-tap

03-10-2009 06:12:10 | More by feloniousmonk

KarlHungus

Minnesota

4.43/5  rDev +16%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

From the August Schell website, "Hopfenmalz is a amalgam of our favorite beer styles: the elegant drinkability of a Pilsner, the bready maltiness of a Vienna lager, and the hopping of a Pale Ale...fermented with our lager yeast at high temperatures" While drinking this beer without Schell's definition of what it was stylistically I described it to friends as a German IPA, but I think that doesn't do homage to its solid malt character. After checking out Schell's description I think they are right on. Unfortunately, BA does not have a style listing for Pilsner/Vienna Lager/Pale Ale/California Common so I figured a utility style like Amber Lager was the best fit even though Hopfenmalz isn't actually amber.

On tap at Whistle Binkies on the Lake in Rochester, MN. The beer arrived a shimmering golder color with a small head. Lacing was thorough leaving many rings until the beer was gone. The aroma was of bready malt with hints of chlorine. It reminded me perfectly of the smell that hits you the second you step foot into The Herkimer. The taste has the bready, chlorine notes from the aroma, but with a firm spicy bitterness. The finish is dry with a lingering bitterness. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with lively carbonation, and a smooth texture. Overall, this is a very interesting beer. Schells really seems to be expoling new territory with a lot of the beers in their 150th Anniversary Series. I really hope they throw caution to the wind, and choose to keep these beers around even if they are keg only.

Serving type: on-tap

02-08-2009 02:37:06 | More by KarlHungus