Schneider Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock - Weisses Bräuhaus G. Schneider & Sohn GmbH

GMB

Japan

4.53/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

G. Schneider & Sohn's Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock: bottle dated 2011; serial # 005218.

I poured about half of the bottle into my glass, then gave the rest of the bottle a modest swirl, poured about half of what remained, then gave the final few ounces a more vigorous swirl, poured them in, and there still remained some sediment on the bottom of the bottle. This yielded a hazy, chocolate-brown body that allows some burnt umber and rust hues to shine through when held up to a strong light source. The grayish beige head rises high and stick around a while before slowly falling to a half-inch ring of foam that evenly covers the top of the beer. I waited and waited for the ring to dissolve into lace. It didn't. Rarely have I seen such staying power.

The beer's aroma is strong enough to reach my nose before I lean in for closer inspection. When I do, I'm greeted with an intriguing bouquet. Dark rum and molasses are at the fore, and complemented by notes of roasted dried figs, prunes and raisins, cloves, and black pepper. A very mild citral aroma lurks somewhere in the background. My mother decorates and perfumes the house in the wintertime by sticking cloves into whole, unpeeled oranges The aromas in this beer remind me of times spent sipping ports and red wine and eating rich holiday fare with the faint smell of those spicy oranges in the background.

My first sip of this beer tells me that it begs to be sipped slowly. Its body is thick, almost syrupy. The alcohol's flavor is well-integrated: It is palpable on the palate, and warms both throat and stomach.

The myriad flavors suggested in the nose are present in each sip, but to them are added those of tawny port wine and cane sugar, roasted hazelnut, black bread, and dates in molasses syrup. The flavors dance about on the palate and grow bolder and more complex as the beer warms. Drink this brew slowly.

Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock is one of the most interesting beers I've tasted. It me over an hour to finish the 11.2 oz. bottle, and when I was finished I thought to myself that I was just growing accustomed to the beer's intensity and complexity. I'll be revisiting this one soon.

Serving type: bottle

10-27-2012 22:48:52 | More by GMB

Vinicius

Brazil

3.5/5  rDev -17.1%

05-21-2013 02:32:27 | More by Vinicius

Kmat10

Alberta (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%

05-21-2013 00:42:03 | More by Kmat10

LambicPentameter

Kansas

4.49/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured out of a brown 11.2 oz bottle into a large snifter glass. Looks to be a 2012 bottling.

Appearance - Chestnut, brown, opaque body with a fizzy tan head of about a finger. Head dissipates after about a minute, leaving a ring of foam around the edge of the glass.

Smell - Dark fruits, raisins, brown sugar, alcohol, some sweetness. Reminds me of a belgian dubbel in some ways.

Taste - So complex. Starts with spicy, wine-like characteristics, with some sweetness and alcoholic ester characteristics. Finishes with plum and dark currant. Really reminds me of a wine more than a beer.

Mouthfeel - Again, very wine-like, in that it lingers and has a cloying aspect to it. Carbonation is just enough to break through the thickness.

Overall, a wonderful beer. I imagine this would go well with a nice cut of steak or a cigar. As it warms up, the flavor just gets more complex and interesting.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 03:18:44 | More by LambicPentameter

Photekut

Azerbaijan

4/5  rDev -5.2%

05-18-2013 22:41:01 | More by Photekut

Danny1217

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%

05-17-2013 03:15:58 | More by Danny1217

ElizabethEleanor

Texas

5/5  rDev +18.5%

05-16-2013 20:29:09 | More by ElizabethEleanor

mick303

Ontario (Canada)

4.59/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

In a tulip glass this produces a large crowning head of tan foam, dissipates rather quickly, but leaving a very nice lacing. Colour is a ruby dark brown, a muted spiced rum appearance. 4

Smell has a very interesting character. Mulled fruits, a herbal spicy alcohol prickle. Overripe bananas, thick molasses caramel! Restrained vanilla, bourbon wood notes, just amazing aromas. Stone-fruit and lively earthiness. 4.5

T – an initial plummy sweetness shows a lot of interesting leather and caramel notes, rum caramel cake, sweet pecan nuts, coffee, a slight dry earthiness on the finish, some cardamom spice. Amazingly smooth throughout, light florals and underlying toasty complexity. Full rich and smooth maltiness with a slight underlying bitterness, mild earthy spices. 4.75

M – an amazing spirity warming aftertaste. Surprisingly little alcohol detectable, such a rich smoothness and then a full bodied finish with some drying alcohol really is something. Very satisfying. 4.5

Amazingly drinkable and delicious, with really good complexity. Such an interesting beer, very rich and good balance of flavors. Such a treat. So much going on, and yet works so well as a complete package, not much to complain about here, a very interesting beer, with a lot of satisfying spirit character that combines so deftly together. 4.5

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 22:21:16 | More by mick303

ambruns1979

California

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%

05-14-2013 02:45:58 | More by ambruns1979

JamLand

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%

05-14-2013 01:15:28 | More by JamLand

Ciocanelu

Romania

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%

05-11-2013 19:10:41 | More by Ciocanelu

IkariBattousai

Nebraska

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%

05-11-2013 18:09:27 | More by IkariBattousai

ncstateplaya

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -5.2%

05-10-2013 14:13:38 | More by ncstateplaya

Bill235

Ohio

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%

05-09-2013 13:28:48 | More by Bill235

machalel

Australia

4.63/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Very dark brown, but not quite black, with a slight fogginess / murkiness. The head is a work of art, with amazingly consistent tiny beige bubbles, almost all the exact same size. Thick and luscious, it lasts for most of the slowly-sipped glass. The lacing down the glass is remarkably strong for the ABV, but is not particularly thick. Close to perfect in appearance, but let down by the lack of clarity and some small particulate matter.

Aroma: Wow, this is amazing. Sweet dark fruits (plums, cherries, dates, figs, currants) initially, mixed with some sweet malt and honey. Slight unfermented wort aroma appears, and some caramelised sticky-bun type notes.

Taste: Very interesting and complex. There was a lot going on here, so I will do my best to describe. The same dark fruit in the aroma makes an appearance, but the taste is almost as if they were stewed and candied. Very smooth malt and caramel, with rich juicy Port / Torquay aspects as well. Honey, brandy, grape skins, and a herbal aspect in the aftertaste. Warmth from the alcohol helps boost the aftertaste, and is quite effective at helping to offset the sweetness. The bitterness from the hops was extremely well balanced, and really helped prevent this beer from being too heavy and overpowering.

Mouthfeel: Medium-full body with medium-low carbonation. Thick and rich, but never heavy. Unexpectedly pleasant drying aftertaste for a beer this big (I assume from the high ABV). If I had to pick any flaw, maybe a little astringent and a little too dry (but I am grasping at straws here).

Overall: This is probably the best beer that I have had in a long, long time. It is extremely satisfying, amazingly balanced, and just so drinkable. It is something that can truly be appreciated sip-by-sip, like a fine wine or liqueur. I am interested in seeing how this one does with some age on it.

Bottle Date: Nov 2012

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 01:50:40 | More by machalel

dalepryor

Kentucky

4/5  rDev -5.2%

05-08-2013 03:47:31 | More by dalepryor

JSouth

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%

05-07-2013 13:10:56 | More by JSouth

mscudder

Georgia

4.51/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Served in a chalice. Cheers to Corey for making me aware of this one!

A - Deep amber hue with a fair kacki head. Good retention and lacing.

S - Super sweet banana bread, prunes and a touch of fig. I like it.

T - Follows the nose with the addition of nuts and nutmeg. No trace of the booze, short of a slight warmth.

M - Full creamy body with moderate carbonation.

O - A fantastic Eisbock that I will return to regularly. Buy this.

Serving type: bottle

05-07-2013 02:36:50 | More by mscudder

kbrown

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%

05-06-2013 00:16:33 | More by kbrown

mwar

Kentucky

4/5  rDev -5.2%

05-04-2013 21:21:19 | More by mwar

BigBarley

Texas

3.84/5  rDev -9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a murky dark brown, with a touch of deep deep red, cloudy and muddy with a surprisingly large off-white head.

Candied sugar, sweet caramel, some dark malt, strong biscuit notes. The same aromas you'd expect from a dopplebock, only exaggerated. Unbelievable sweetness in the nose.

Taste is sweet, sweet, sweet malts all along the front, hiding a hint of caramel, some sweet biscuit notes, and behind it lots of raisin and fig.

syrupy, thick, carbonated. this is a serious beer with some serious body.

All around great, strong, and memorable beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2013 09:29:19 | More by BigBarley

Dope

Massachusetts

4.11/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Bottle number 2011 009776, so I assume 2 years old.

A: Pours a very dark brown with red highlights. Fluffy and very fizzy light brown head. Head fizzes away fairly quickly, leaving zero lacing and zero head retention.

S: Super strong, sweet and fruity aroma. Liked pure raisins, cherries and grapes. Lots of caramel with a little brown sugar and molasses. VERY sweet, like maple syrup sweet.

T: Super heavy and sweet caramel and fruit notes. Good variety of fruits, again with the heavy raisin (and fig now). Notable cherry and mild grape flavors. Maybe even prunes? Caramel and brown sugar from start to finish. A little bit of solvent alcohol in the finish. Less sweet, almost dried fruit flavors in the aftertaste.

M: One of the heaviest brews I've ever had (even though I have had 18-19% monsters). Has almost zero carbonation which doesn't help. Just feels like dead weight in your belly. Thick and syrupy.

O: A very unique beer for sure. Super sweet, super fruity and super heavy. No real carbonation. Sipper for sure. Good after dinner dessert I think.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2013 02:16:34 | More by Dope

hoppymcgee

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -5.2%

04-30-2013 02:31:07 | More by hoppymcgee

hopkrid

Florida

3.75/5  rDev -11.1%

04-29-2013 00:24:44 | More by hopkrid

TheBeerAlmanac

Kentucky

4/5  rDev -5.2%

04-29-2013 00:16:13 | More by TheBeerAlmanac