Azazello1313 Posted December 29, 2005 Share Posted December 29, 2005 (edited) holy smokes! didn't really know much about this beer when i saw it in 12 oz singles on the shelf at my liquor store tonight. 14% abv. poured it out just now, one of the most lovely deep reddish brown colors i've seen on a beer. very little head, given the high alcohol and the fact that they age it over a year in the bottle. the smell absolutely knocked me out. holy dopplebock!! but with lots of depth. sweet malt, figs, alcohol...and so much more. the taste is almost overpowering...very hot for a beer, with some up front sweetness. chew on it a while and wow, what a fantastic tasting beer. overpowering but incredibly complex at the same time. whiskey, raisins, figs again. wow. you might love and you might hate it, but this beer will knock your socks off. i gotta buy some more of this.. edit: reminds me a bit of the paulaner salvator. but on MAJOR steroids. Edited December 29, 2005 by Azazello1313 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiegie Posted December 29, 2005 Share Posted December 29, 2005 is this imported from Switzerland or Germany (or neither)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azazello1313 Posted December 29, 2005 Author Share Posted December 29, 2005 is this imported from Switzerland or Germany (or neither)? 1240584[/snapback] austria Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spain Posted December 29, 2005 Share Posted December 29, 2005 holy smokes! didn't really know much about this beer when i saw it in 12 oz singles on the shelf at my liquor store tonight. 14% abv. poured it out just now, one of the most lovely deep reddish brown colors i've seen on a beer. very little head, given the high alcohol and the fact that they age it over a year in the bottle. the smell absolutely knocked me out. holy dopplebock!! but with lots of depth. sweet malt, figs, alcohol...and so much more. the taste is almost overpowering...very hot for a beer, with some up front sweetness. chew on it a while and wow, what a fantastic tasting beer. overpowering but incredibly complex at the same time. whiskey, raisins, figs again. wow. you might love and you might hate it, but this beer will knock your socks off. i gotta buy some more of this.. edit: reminds me a bit of the paulaner salvator. but on MAJOR steroids. 1240583[/snapback] Yes, but does it go well with Pork rinds? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh 0ne Posted December 29, 2005 Share Posted December 29, 2005 For those that don't know, Samichlaus is German for Santa Claus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spain Posted December 29, 2005 Share Posted December 29, 2005 I thought wine snobs were ghey. And then I read a couple of beer snob posts... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chester Posted December 29, 2005 Share Posted December 29, 2005 :ignoring spain: I've been collecting beer for many years. I believe that I've got Samichlaus back to about 1994 (the old bottles are vintage dated, not sure if the newer bottles are) It was brewed by the original company until they quit a few yars ago. Just this year a new company bought the rights/recipe to it and started it up again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azazello1313 Posted December 30, 2005 Author Share Posted December 30, 2005 :ignoring spain: I've been collecting beer for many years. I believe that I've got Samichlaus back to about 1994 (the old bottles are vintage dated, not sure if the newer bottles are) It was brewed by the original company until they quit a few yars ago. Just this year a new company bought the rights/recipe to it and started it up again. 1241227[/snapback] a little research today indicates it was brewed from 1979 to 1996 in by the original switzerland brewery, and its first vintage put out by the new austrian owners was 2000, which would have been available around christmas time 2001. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chester Posted December 30, 2005 Share Posted December 30, 2005 its first vintage put out by the new austrian owners was 2000, which would have been available around christmas time 2001. 1241341[/snapback] That may be true, but it was definitely short lived, as it was unavailable for the last few years. I believe that Christmas 2004 was the first available in at least 2-3 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh B Tool Posted December 30, 2005 Share Posted December 30, 2005 :ignoring spain: I've been collecting beer for many years. I believe that I've got Samichlaus back to about 1994 (the old bottles are vintage dated, not sure if the newer bottles are) It was brewed by the original company until they quit a few yars ago. Just this year a new company bought the rights/recipe to it and started it up again. 1241227[/snapback] Though beer absolutely unlike wine does not get better with age(double negative) I'm going out to get some fresh Santa today, unless of course it is way over priced Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundaynfl Posted December 30, 2005 Share Posted December 30, 2005 Though beer absolutely unlike wine does not get better with age(double negative) I'm going out to get some fresh Santa today, unless of course it is way over priced 1241850[/snapback] I have to disagree with your assertion that beer does not get better with age. There are several beers that DO get better with age. Chimay, La Folie (New Belgium) and several Belgium biers that age very well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh B Tool Posted December 30, 2005 Share Posted December 30, 2005 I have to disagree with your assertion that beer does not get better with age. There are several beers that DO get better with age. Chimay, La Folie (New Belgium) and several Belgium biers that age very well! 1241872[/snapback] Age how long? most any brewmaster will tell you after 10-11% you start crossing into the dessert wine category. Fresher is better hands down. You want your beer to reach it's max potential both taste and alcohol content wise "peaking" and then bottle/keg or better yet consume at that point. Nothing better than a good IPA or Hefe right out of the tap lines before production. Incredible really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MojoMan Posted December 30, 2005 Share Posted December 30, 2005 For those that don't know, Samichlaus is German for Santa Claus. 1240652[/snapback] Only the morans couldn't figger dat out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puddy Posted December 31, 2005 Share Posted December 31, 2005 Only the morans couldn't figger dat out. 1242306[/snapback] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wiegie Posted December 31, 2005 Share Posted December 31, 2005 (edited) Actually, Samichlaus is not really German, but is instead Swiss-German (and, trust me, they are not the same thing ) Edit to add, Samichlaus is traditionally accompanied by a dark and sinister character called Schmutzli who legend has it, takes bad children into his sack and carries them off into the forest where they are beaten (or perhaps even eaten). (I think they should make a stout called Schmutzli.) Edited December 31, 2005 by wiegie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundaynfl Posted December 31, 2005 Share Posted December 31, 2005 (edited) Age how long? most any brewmaster will tell you after 10-11% you start crossing into the dessert wine category. Fresher is better hands down. You want your beer to reach it's max potential both taste and alcohol content wise "peaking" and then bottle/keg or better yet consume at that point. Nothing better than a good IPA or Hefe right out of the tap lines before production. Incredible really. 1242286[/snapback] Link[ "Our favorite Chimay ale is most definitely the blue-labeled Chimay Grande Reserve with an alcohol content of 9 percent. This is the "classic" Chimay ale exhibiting an unbelievable depth of fruity, peppery character. The taste continues to evolve and develop with a few years of age. The corked bottles are always best aged on their sides so the corks will stay swollen and the beer will not lose carbonation. Michael Jackson even compares Grande Reserve with some fine Port wines. " New Belgium link "La Folie was brewed two years ago, then laid down in wood barrels previously used to store burgundy wine. According to the brewery’s CEO and co-founder, Kim Jordan, the beer was inoculated with various bacterial strains to produce the sweet/sour flavors prevalent in Belgian beers." I have to agree with you on the IPA's and Hefe or lighter beers but these brewers would disagree with your aging assertation. Edited December 31, 2005 by sundaynfl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chester Posted December 31, 2005 Share Posted December 31, 2005 There are many examples of beers that get better with age. They are bottled with the yeast still in the bottle and evolve over time. Yes, most will peak at a certain point as will most wines. The trick is to decide when. But there are certain wines and beers that have never 'gone bad'. Thomas Hardy's Ale is the most famous example. They have been brewing it since 1974. Every year is slightly different and ages differently. They still open some of the 74 vintage every year and it is still getting better. I have a cellar with around 800 beers in it. (Probably 200-300 different kinds.) Most peak 2-5 years after bottling. I can tell you that some I've held onto too long already. Most are better every time I crack one open. As for the dessert wine comment, I don't get it. Beer is fermented with one type of yeast, wine with a different. And even wine over 11% isn't necessarily a 'dessert' wine. Most of the Cabs in my cellar are over 11%. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azazello1313 Posted February 26, 2006 Author Share Posted February 26, 2006 having another bottle of this right now. wow. this is beer at its finest.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sundaynfl Posted February 26, 2006 Share Posted February 26, 2006 I ran into a few bottles of it Applejack...thanks for the heads up; it is a great beer! I had it a few weeks ago and enjoyed it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh B Tool Posted February 28, 2006 Share Posted February 28, 2006 To me it's more of a mead, but it is darned good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Azazello1313 Posted February 28, 2006 Author Share Posted February 28, 2006 To me it's more of a mead, but it is darned good. 1344652[/snapback] well mead is made from honey, right? samichlaus is definitely made from barley. you could say it's similar to a barleywine, but those are usually a bit sweeter i believe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clubfoothead Posted February 28, 2006 Share Posted February 28, 2006 several Belgium biers that age very well! 1241872[/snapback] Jupiter and Satan are two Belgian beers I recall being really good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hugh B Tool Posted March 3, 2006 Share Posted March 3, 2006 (edited) Just had my first Chimay(blue) in awhile and boy it is good Got to love those monks! Going to throw down a Choffe here very shortly. Ummm a little baby swiss on some wheat thins and the blue label after and hugh should be on his way to a happy night at the minor league hockey game later tonight. This is not aa mead this is good friggin beer baybee my bad on these belgiums at least Edited March 3, 2006 by Hugh B Tool Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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