Christoffel Bier - Bierbrouwerij Sint Christoffel B.V

bosox941827

North Carolina

4/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a branded chalice on tap at Cafe 't Arendsnest in Amsterdam

A - Cloudy darkish orange, with a foamy two-fingered head that dissipates fairly quickly.
S - Czech hops and a bit of yeast off the nose, along with something else I can't quite place - another type of malt perhaps?
T - Well, that's interesting....so this is a pretty bitter (in a good way) example of a pils, but I also get something that I can't describe any other way except "smoke". This almost has a Rauchbier quality to it; it became less noticeable as I had more sips, but there's definitely a flavor in here I have never noticed in a pils before. Otherwise, this is a very good example of the pils style, with a nice sharp, puckeringly bitter finish.
M - Heavier than the average pils, partially b/c of the higher ABV and lack of filtering, I'm guessing. Hangs around for a while after each sip.
Asked the knowledgable bartender about the "smoke" flavor and he had no explanation, but did note that the brewery had recently changed hands. So, don't know if I got an "off" example of this beer, but it was tasty nonetheless. Would be interested to see other if other reviewers get this....

Serving type: on-tap

03-28-2011 17:41:28 | More by bosox941827

UCLABrewN84

California

3.99/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

On tap at Beachwood BBQ & Brewing in Long Beach, CA.

Pours a murky yellow with a foamy bone head that settles to a film on top of the beer. Small dots of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of malt, grain, honey, and fruit aromas. Taste is much the same with fruit and hop flavors on the finish. There is a medium amount of hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer with a nice fruity and hoppy presence.

Serving type: on-tap

04-23-2013 02:38:11 | More by UCLABrewN84

Elbrownbag

Netherlands

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%

04-13-2013 19:27:50 | More by Elbrownbag

Douberd

Netherlands

4.13/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Brown swing top bottle of 330 ml, poured into a footed pilsner glass. ABV is 6%. Beer is unfiltered and unpasteurized.

First time I see such a pilsner. Yellow colour, very hazy body. Nice two fingers in height, white and soapy head. Good retention.
Lots of the Saaz hops on the aroma, some bread maltiness too.
Wow, taste is amazing! Is this really a pilsner, I ask again? Just an initial sweetness on the tip of the tongue and then is bitterness and hops all the way! A light apple taste somewhere in the middle.
Medium body, average carbonation and a very dry and long finish.
What a surprise this was! Definitely worth every penny, will keep it in mind.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2013 14:32:35 | More by Douberd

kjkinsey

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

12-25-2012 22:05:28 | More by kjkinsey

Hopheadjeffery

Illinois

4/5  rDev +3.9%

12-21-2012 03:38:46 | More by Hopheadjeffery

DoubleJ

California

3.65/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Are swing-tops really necessary for tiny 330 ml bottles? I have a feeling that this bottle will be gone, pronto. On to the beer:

Looks murky on the pour. In a glass, the beer looks a browish, yellowish and muddy color. Given that this is an unfiltered lager, I'll give them some benefit. There's a small head on top which sprays dotted lace around the glass. The nose feeatures a sizzle of hops, raw leaves, husky pilsner malt; overall very raw.

"Double Hopped" was no marketing gimmick. Reasonably hoppy and more. Some parts of the beer are rough at a few points, otherwise this is quite a ride. The flavors of hop tea, leaves, woody notes, and a mild sweetness from the malt make this very different from many of the beers that I've tried. The beer is medium bodied with a refreshing bite of carbonation.

Unique. A good alternative to standard pilsners if you're looking for a more intense experience.

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2012 20:34:14 | More by DoubleJ

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

3.48/5  rDev -9.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

33ck Flip-top bottle taken at Cafe de Grendelpoort, Valkenburg during a stay over in Oct 2012.

The beer pours a cloudy/hazy orange colour: on top a white covering of thick foam, which stayed for the whole tasting. This is not a German Pilsner, never has been and never will be (even if that is the style someone on BA has decided to put it in).

The nose was yeasty and hoppy with a strong fruitiness to the fore, a semi-sour citrusy smell became more apparant as the beer warmed in the glass.

Taste wise it was a pleasant blend of hops and malts, each around the same in their strength of flavour. So, well balanced and neither sweet or dry. Refreshing and easy to drink with enough hop bite to excite and plenty of malty sweetness to counteract those bittering hops.

The alcohol sits nicely within the brew and is just about noticed in the mouth feel, wouldn't want it any stronger.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2012 11:00:06 | More by BlackHaddock

sneaks2210

New York

4/5  rDev +3.9%

11-14-2012 22:06:03 | More by sneaks2210

harpus

Alabama

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

10-18-2012 17:51:49 | More by harpus

t0rin0

California

3.25/5  rDev -15.6%

09-08-2012 22:36:03 | More by t0rin0

supermeniscus

Netherlands

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

09-07-2012 11:24:44 | More by supermeniscus

rolltide8425

Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

07-25-2012 03:12:12 | More by rolltide8425

Samp01

New Jersey

3.65/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

33ml flip top bottle. Opens with a nice popping sound. Pours a cloudy dark brownish amber with a small short lived beige head. Aroma is very malty, bready yeast with some light fruity notes. Taste of caramel malt, yeasty bready with some fruity notes and some light peppery hops bitterness. Palate is a smooth medium body with mild carbonation. Finishes with a nicely balanced combination of sweet caramel malt yeast, fruity notes with some light peppery hops bitterness ending is long and malty. Overall a good tasty and easy going brew.

Serving type: bottle

07-23-2012 20:15:08 | More by Samp01

traumaqueen

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

04-03-2012 04:42:19 | More by traumaqueen

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

03-18-2012 21:30:23 | More by TMoney2591

HoistinBrews

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

02-07-2012 23:20:58 | More by HoistinBrews

cornucopia

Puerto Rico

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

01-21-2012 04:19:08 | More by cornucopia

supermantoine

Netherlands

2.88/5  rDev -25.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Appearance is very hazy with a pale golden color. Can't look through it. The head is modest and dissolves within approximately twenty seconds into a very thin layer.

Apples dominate the smell so that it is hard to notice other smells. Also some honey and some woody (cedar?) character and a notable amount of earthiness from hops.

Tastes like bread covered with a bit of honey. Some earthy/grassy hops at the end and apple-freshness. Little interesting but refreshing. Aftertaste is balanced but with a strange musty aspect.

Overall it is refreshing thanks to the apples but nothing special really. Opacity is too high for the style and both taste and smell aren't really interesting.

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 22:47:59 | More by supermantoine

cdwil

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

12-30-2011 21:33:46 | More by cdwil

oldp0rt

Quebec (Canada)

3/5  rDev -22.1%

12-11-2011 20:20:35 | More by oldp0rt

brentk56

North Carolina

2.58/5  rDev -33%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: Pours a cloudy honey color with a rather modest head that fades quickly, leaving just a film and a few spots of lace

Smell: Green apples, a hint of honey/raisin and an odd, cedary character

Taste: Bready, up front, with a developing green apple tartness that overwhelms the underlying hint of honey-like malt; the grassy hops appear after the swallow but the finish is rather metallic

Mouthfeel: Medium body with low to moderate carbonation

Overall: Really rather different and hard to know whether the apple tartness/underlying raisin/honey sweetness was intended or is the result of an extended shelf life

Serving type: bottle

12-08-2011 02:16:53 | More by brentk56

Rochefort10nh

New Hampshire

4/5  rDev +3.9%

12-06-2011 18:26:35 | More by Rochefort10nh

bigox420

Ontario (Canada)

4/5  rDev +3.9%

12-01-2011 06:36:28 | More by bigox420

rekel

Netherlands

4/5  rDev +3.9%

11-28-2011 21:58:27 | More by rekel