Frankenheim Alt - Privatbrauerei Frankenheim

Douberd

Netherlands

2.9/5  rDev -22.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

500 ml bottle, at home. Bought in Germany, at a gas station if I remember well. Poured into an alt glass. ABV is 4,8%.
Colour is light amber, with a little bit of activity in the glass, and an off-white, froathy head, which starts tall and after a couple seconds becomes just a thin line.
Very subtle aromas of caramel and roasted malts.
Roasted malts on the taste too, they give this beer a nice bitter finish, with some dark chocolate notes there too.
Medium to thick body and quite carbonated.
Nothing special.

Serving type: bottle

12-10-2012 21:11:40 | More by Douberd

bark

Sweden

3.23/5  rDev -13.9%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

The colour is dark copper-red (30 EBC), the liquid is clear. The three-finger head is compact and beige. It sinks slowly while leaving lots of fine lacing on the glass.

Caramel and semi-roasted malt dominates the smell. Metallic bitter notes, some vegetables, quite a lot of dark sweet bread.

The taste is better than the smell: Sweet bread, flowery hops, distinct clean bitterness. Toffee, dry roasted hints (but not burned). The aftertaste got a clean bitterness, some salty-meaty notes, dark bread, and very vague hints of coffee and boiled vegetables. The finish is lightly roasted and a bit alcoholic.

The carbonation is quite strong, the many bubbles very small. The liquid is a bit dry and medium smooth.

An OK Altbier, no more no less than that.

Serving type: bottle

09-28-2011 18:37:43 | More by bark

dasenebler

Maine

3.93/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

.5L, best by 9/19/11.

Pours a clear, dark amber with a nice and creamy off-white head. Textbook lacing, and surprisingly good retention.

Not a whole lot to the aroma, just some toasted malts, bit of fruit.

The flavor is nicely balanced and surprised me with how much it has to offer. There's hints of chocolate, roasted nuts, and a touch of caramel, but no real sweetness. Delightfully toasty, and kind of bready. The bitterness is solid and keeps everything else in check, making for a pretty dry, refreshing brown ale, as any respectable Alt should be. The mouthfeel is light, but soft, with ample carbonation. At under five percent, this is a very drinkable, smooth and satisfying beer.

Really good Alt here. Though perhaps not as fresh, snappy or bitter as some of the other Düsseldorf Alts (many of which aren't really distributed in DE), Frankenheim Alt is still a very good example of the style, and it's readily available in German supermarkets.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2011 18:49:32 | More by dasenebler

Brabander

Netherlands

3.03/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

This is an average German dark alt beer. I bought this beer in a supermarket when i was in Germany some months ago.

Poured in my Struise glass, as always, the beer starts good. A decent broken white head. The head however disappears after a short while leaving a ring with some lacing. The fluid is brown and somewhat darkreddish.

You can smell the roasted malt. For the rest nothing much to say about this beer. Taste is a teeny bit sweet.

Overall not a bad beer but not spectacular.

Serving type: bottle

01-14-2011 10:41:59 | More by Brabander

StJamesGate

New York

3.98/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours oxblood with chunky beige head that doesn't manage to lace. Nose is cinnamon and chestnut. Cherry tobacco and walnut malts with earthy sandalwood hops. Long astringent finish - tingly but numbing, like mint or clove. Medium, some chew, lively enough.

Interesting first try of the style. Shares qualities with kellers. For so many dark flavors, stays light and drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2010 20:25:38 | More by StJamesGate

Murphious

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

This beer has body. I liked it a lot without really knowing why...? Nice brown with white foamy head. Very full flavored and malty. A hint of hops at the finish and other pleasant flavors I can't pin-point made this a delight. Somewhat syrupy, but not too much.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2009 22:32:09 | More by Murphious

DukeofAle

Iowa

4.18/5  rDev +11.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

I used to buy this from a small liquor store in Lawrence, Kansas, but haven't been able to find it for perhaps five years? My wife discovered it. She knows I like to try different types of brew and brought some home to try. Generally, I tend toward hoppier, stronger ales but I found this one to be exceptional. Being an alt there is not a lot of hops here, just a very clean, crisp ale that is very well done. It was my favorite beer to drink when I was planning to have more than one or two. Great while watching football.

Now a-days I can't find any alt except for a few micros or unless I want to spend $4.00/bottle for some fancy import from Germany - this stuff was affordable. If anyone knows where to get some in Iowa or adjacent states please let me know!

Serving type: bottle

01-10-2009 16:56:20 | More by DukeofAle

hunteraw

China

4.03/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed in the Dusseldorf airport during a layover.

Appearance: Enormous, thick head atop a brown, leather-coloured body.

Smell: Clean, almost lagery aroma. Not particularly malty, but with a hint of brown bread and Saaz hops.

Taste: Solid bitterness, caramel and bready malts, continental spicy hops, with a roasty/slightly burnt middle and a very crisp and clean finish. Very nice.

Mouthfeel: Round, medium body. Good carbonation.

Drinkability: Flavourful yet crisp and refreshing as well. Quite well-balanced, and highly drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2008 20:25:11 | More by hunteraw

wl0307

United Kingdom (England)

3.53/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Purchased from the Beers of Europe. BB 09/08, served lightly chilled in Gaffel's Kölsch Stange.

A: pours a dark amber to chestnut brown colour; the light beige head comes puffy and quite tight, on top of very lively but fine fizziness.
S: the clean, mild tartness of autumn fruits and a touch of dust come on top of a mildly sweet caramel-malty & toasted-nutty Munich malt background... Neat and well-crafted.
T: the sour-sweet fruity malts with an edge of bread dough upfront quickly leads towards a pretty dry and bitter aftertaste, where a lingering nutty aroma intertwines with chewy palate of earthy hops and bitterness. A little syrupy mouthfeel sustains in the very end of tasting.
M&D: the overall flavour is more fruity with an assertive sour-sweet edge than both Hannen and Niederrhein Alt tasted yesterday, but the sourness seems to balance with the lingering bitterness in quite a harmony. A well-hopped and -bittered Brown Ale, but still suffering a little from the thin-ish body overall.

Serving type: bottle

07-18-2008 20:18:25 | More by wl0307

botham

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +14.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

half liter bottle poured into a stange. pours a crystal clear caramel brown with a few fingers of off white loose head. no lacings.

aroma is mainly of sweet caramel malts and a lightly floral character. an earthy base rounds out the profile.

taste is similar to the aroma, with a very smooth finish of residual caramel malt and a touch of roasted malt, which is more pronounced in the taste than the aroma would suggest.

mouthfeel is medium bodied with a smooth and creamy mouthfel and a solid finish of residual slickness.

drinkability is great. the concentration and profile are solid, coming together to form a wonderful alt with rich flavors and a medium body. prost!

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2008 01:29:55 | More by botham

Absumaster

Netherlands

3.5/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A very clear, dark copper beer with a creamy head that clings to the glass and leaves a nice lacing.

Smell is pretty malty with some wonderful German yeast notes of roses and cherries. Not much hop aroma.

Taste leans heavy on the munich malts, a medium deep earthy maltiness. Bitterness is not as high as other German counterparts and this happens to be the nicest thing about an Alt for me. A pretty ininspiring Alt, not bad, but lacks in character.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2007 16:19:06 | More by Absumaster

guinnessfan

Pennsylvania

3.83/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle, purchased from Williamsburg Pottery in VA, poured into Das Festhaus pint glass.

A: Crystal clear, dark brown with thin one-finger head that fades quickly, leaving little lacing.

S: Mild caramelized malt?, kinda sweet.

T: Initally a nice sweet caramel taste, followed by a slight metallic taste, perhaps it is an old bottle. After checking the freshness date...yep it's pretty old. Still, even with age, it's a really good beer. Well balanced.

M: Thinner, carbonated, ends nice and dry.

D: Good flavor, not too heavy, easy to drink multiple bottles.

This was an old bottle, yet it still had a good flavor. I will look for a fresh bottle in the future. I don't think the pottery in Williamsburg rotates its stock on a regular basis.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2007 13:33:19 | More by guinnessfan

brentk56

North Carolina

3.38/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Pours a clear dark copper color with a modest head that declines quickly and fails to leave much lacing

Smell: Vague hint of caramel malt

Taste: Starts with a somewhat sweet caramel flavor that is quickly joined by some bitter and oxidized (this is an old bottle) elements

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied with plenty of carbonation

Drinkability: Sure would like to have tasted a fresher bottle as this is nearing the end of its life; nonetheless, the essence of the beer comes through and it was clearly well made

Serving type: bottle

10-26-2006 02:40:31 | More by brentk56

tugdriver7

Maryland

4.55/5  rDev +21.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Warsteiner doesn't import Frankenheim Alt anymore. I contacted their national distributor to check. The importer was apologetic, but could suggest nothing more than a trip to Dusseldorf. A new fan of the Altbier style, I regretted never having tried the distinctive blue & gold labeled bottles; and I settled for the other (though very good) German imports and craft brews I could find (like Long Trail Ale). So when I found a lone case on the import rack at a Hanover (PA) store over the weekend, I was ecstatic.

Absolutely beautiful brown in the glass, with a nice hefty foam top that lasted through the first few sips, then laced the glass all the way down. Subtle but definite malt in the nose, with a hint of carmel sweetness. It was undoubtedly an older batch, but age didn't seem to have affected the taste other than a hint of (metallic?) aftertaste. Extremely well balanced flavor, with just a hint of hops tartness to balance the malt. No fruitiness to speak of, with a nice (again, subtle) bitterness to keep you drinking it. If this shelf-aged sample is this good, I can't wait to take that trip to Germany to try it fresh from the brewery. In the meantime, I'll have to savor the few bottles I could find left in the US. And hope Warsteiner will consider bringing it back.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2006 02:34:50 | More by tugdriver7

SkeeterHawk

Texas

4.33/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

This beer is like an old friend, and I mean no “old” pun. This was a primary staple of my diet while we lived in Düsseldorf. Shortly after I got back to the states, I found a few six-packs of this stuff here locally…and this is my last one. The fridge I kept this in died, so it has come time to sample it for a review. Here goes…

Appearance: Pours a clear reddish chestnut color with a ¼” head of small white bubbles that only stuck around for a few seconds to end up a small ring around the top of the beer maintained by quite a few bubbles rising.

Aroma: Lots of toasty and clean Munich malts as well as a noticeable caramel sweetness in the background. It has a rich plum-like aroma that you can tell is a big player in the whole experience as you get deeper into the aroma. As the beer warms a bit, the sweetness is really becoming more noticeable as a molasses-like richness.

Taste: Super rich toasty malt profile that comes across as being so assertive that it tastes almost like it is a burnt flavor. This toastiness melds with the fruity flavors well in the beginning of the taste, but then the hops set in to show you how it is done. There is a pronounced bitterness that comes out mid-way and this stays in control well into the finish. There is enough malt to challenge the hops in the end, but the hops win the right to linger on the back of the throat. There is a refreshingly dry mouthfeel in the end that lets you know that you drank a well balanced beer, but one that isn’t too huge not to have a few of in an evening. As the beer warms, there is a lot more sweetness becoming more apparent; as well, the hops are taking a bit more of a passive role.

Opinion: I am really happy with this beer, and this is one that I would get on a regular basis if it was available here in Texas still. I haven’t seen it around in quite some time. To keep myself fresh with this style, I make homebrewed versions pretty regularly. Trying mine along side of this commercial example tells me that I still have quite a ways to go to get this style right. My version is quite a bit darker, and has more of a roasty sharpness, where as the Frankenheim gets warmer, it is getting much fuller. I’ll have to keep tweaking my version.

Serving type: bottle

02-22-2006 04:08:33 | More by SkeeterHawk

BigBry

Alberta (Canada)

4/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thin brown 33cl bottle, best before date stamp, "Original Alt Beer". Pours a bright and clear brown with some copper hilights. Thick rocky, slightly off white head, lots of lace sticking to the glass creating a nice sheeet of tiny bubbles. Rich smell of caramel and toasty malts. More caramel in the taste. Well balanced flavor, strong but not overpowering. Sweet malts perfectly balanced with a touch of hop bitterness. Sweet, full mouthfull leaves a pleasant aftertaste. Smooth, medium body and light carbonation that keeps a half inch of head right to the bottom. Very impressive.

Note to Self: Ranked #34 of top 50 Altbiers when I tried it

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2006 19:28:04 | More by BigBry

davidchollar

Washington

3.38/5  rDev -9.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

looks like dark tea, very brown, not much head.
smells ok, not much there, malty. pretty average
taste reminds me of something but i can't quite place it... wheat crackers? triscuits? whatever it is, it's not exactly tasty but not bad, definitely tastes light and dry. bitter finish. ah, i just got it. there's a smokiness here, definitely, i like it better now that i've figured out what i taste.
i think this beer would be great with meat and veggies, but i don't really like it by itself. i'm not familiar with the style, i'm sure it's a good altbier, maybe i'm not a big fan of this style. i will try it again some time

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2005 16:23:26 | More by davidchollar

pootz

Ontario (Canada)

4.05/5  rDev +8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

I love the German ales...this alt is very authentic and tastey for a high volume brewer. Poured a lovely deep chestnut color with red highlights. Nice frothy tan cap stacks out of the stein and lasted...great lacing on the glass. Aromas of sweet malts and herbal hops, slight mustiness. Starts sharp/dry then mellows on the palate as the sweet malts and alt yeast produces a sweet-nutty-bready taste... then the finish becomes drying with the herbal German hops providing a medicinal bittering in the finish...all in all a very nice commercial Alt from the home of Altbeir... Dusseldorf

Serving type: bottle

10-31-2005 17:03:59 | More by pootz

whartontallboy

New York

3.53/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Nice dark brown clear pour with a couple of fingers of nice thick creamy head than fades slowly and sticks around pretty well. Nice columns of carbonation throughout the stange.

Smell is sweet malt with a slight fruitiness and not too much in the way of hoppiness.

Flavor is pretty smooth and understated: a toasted grain maltiness that's somewhat sweet that rubs nicely against a well-rounded hop bite that's fairly pronounced. Finish isn't as dry as a lot of alts I've had, and the alcohol pulls through a little more than I'd like. Also some light fruit notes in the finish.

Overall: Fairly decent; I think I could stand to try this a little fresher than I found it. Pretty good deal, but I'm not forgetting the Uerige brews.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2005 00:57:28 | More by whartontallboy

HardTarget

Texas

3.6/5  rDev -4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Bottle Inspection: 11.2 fl oz. brown bottle, best by date of 15 Jul 03 (it’s 05 Sept 05, I’m a little late)

Aroma: Nice blend of hop and yeast with a faint undertone of dark malt. Inviting, with a slight spice note.

Appearance: Dark shoe polish brown glass with good clarity crowned by a fluffy dirty snow cap that left splotches of lace and tide marks.

Flavor: Nice clean taste, malt comes though more pronounced with a slight banana yeast flavor. Almost a doppelbock light taste going, rather enjoyable. Only hints of hops in the finish.

Mouthfeel: Light-medium body, smooth texture, touch heavy on carbonation, but not bad.

Overall Impression: This baby aged well. Malt goodness with a clean overall taste. The finish is a bit flat in taste, but dries enough to encourage the next sip. Quality work overall.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2005 21:52:44 | More by HardTarget

tgbljb

Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

My first experience with an altbier. Poured a deep copper color with white head that was fell to a lacy retention. Smell is roasty with a caramel background. The taste is a mixture of roasted grains, a toasted maltiness and a nice hop features. Left a bitter, dry taste in the mouth. I'm sorry I haven't tried this type of beer before, but I wiil need to some other examples.

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2005 00:52:25 | More by tgbljb

GClarkage

California

3.08/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

05/09/05- Purchased at Wine Exchange of Sonoma.

Presentation- 11.2oz bottle dated on the lower back label. Poured into a standard pint glass.

Appearance- Amber-brown pour with a average foamy head which disappears quickly. Medium to fair lacing.

Smell- Mostly of malt, maybe a bit burnt and smoky.

Taste- Fairly heavy dark malty taste with some burnt flavors. Maybe a touch of hops, but not much.

Mouthfeel- Medium carbonation. A bit dry.

Drinkability- Not really my style of beer. Not flavorful enough for me.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2005 21:53:05 | More by GClarkage

whynot44

Missouri

3.88/5  rDev +3.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Medium body, dark reddish amber with a nice beige head that lasts well.

Aroma is malty, slightly nutty.

Taste is also nice roasted malt, caramel, butterscotch, nuts, a hint of fruit with bit of hops bite toward the finish for balance.

Very smooth, creamy, very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2005 06:11:05 | More by whynot44

elricorico

Alberta (Canada)

3.55/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours clear brown with a creamy off white head looks pretty good, haven't seen anything that looks quite that colour.

Smell is like sweet grape juice, bread, dark fruit and maybe cherries. I have to say that I like smelling this beer.

This beer is very malty. I can find nothing for hop presence in it. The taste is full of grape and raisin on top of a tea like base. Buried deep in the finish is a hint of chocolate. It is not quite like anything I can think of having tasted, but all of the flavours are familiar. Not bad in any way, but lacking in balance really.

Mouthfeel is about average. At the end of a swallow it feels almost like a stout, but up front it feels thin. Overall it is lightly carbonated.

Drinkability is also about average. This isn't a beer I could see myself drinking all night, as I'm sure the flavours would get to me.

Decent beer, nothing amazing. Fun to smell though.

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2005 02:27:11 | More by elricorico

HappyHourHero

Indiana

4.2/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Thick foamy pale brown colored head leaves large patches of lace. Transparent hazel colored beer with a copper hue. Floral hop aroma with a bit of malt underneath. Lightly sweet malt upfront is balanced by a barely bitter hop tea flavor that kicks in midway. The malt fades away in the finish leaving a tasty mild bitterness. The body is light, but not thin; it's just right. I could put these down all night, and combined with the fairly low ABV and price ($6.99 6-pack) I had to give it a 5.0 for drinkability. Now I just need to find a local source.

Serving type: bottle

04-08-2005 01:37:32 | More by HappyHourHero