|
|
The Rarest Beer in the World - my thanks to fuche_buJun 14 '02 Write an essay on this topic.
Popular Products in Refrigerators
The Bottom Line Bravo to the Castle Brewery Eggenberg of Austria for doing such an admirable job in carrying on the tradition. The 2000 Samichlaus is a World Class, 5-Star beer.
Bravo to the Castle Brewery Eggenberg of Austria. One of my favorite strong beers is the old 1997 bottling (brewed on December 6, 1996) of Samichlaus from the Brauerei Hürlimann, Zurich, Switzerland. That brewery is now defunct, and Samichlaus (a special Christmas brew) was not produced for a couple of years until the Castle Brewery Eggenberg of Austria picked up the rights to brew what was, at one time, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, the "Strongest Beer in the World." Being that I have a few bottles of both beers being conditioned in my specially refrigerated wine cooler (set at 50°F), I thought that I'd pull a couple of bottles out (need to make room, anyway), and do a horizontal tasting of both these beers. Serving temperature: 60ºF (and both beers warm up nicely) 2000 Castle Brewery Eggenberg Samichlaus Bottle: long neck, 330ml (11.2 fl. oz.); brown colored glass Alcohol: 14% by volume Appearance: Dark amber; purple hues tempered by brown tones. Clear and bright. Very little carbonation and an extremely thin beige-colored head that dissipates rapidly. Aroma: Deep malty nose; dark nuts and caramel. Complex presentation of dry pecan, hazelnuts and treacle. Flavor: Sweet entry, like an Extra Cream Sherry. The nut tones are complimented by pleasant caramel and molasses flavors. This beer finishes with some warmth. Very powerful, thick, sweet, and heavy malt bomb with a long, long finish. Price: about $4 per 11.2 ounce bottle, if you can find it. ---------- 1997 Hürlimann Samichlaus Bottle: squat, 355ml (12 fl. oz.); greenish-colored glass Alcohol: 14.7% by volume Appearance: Pours with a dark amber-brown color; it fails to maintain a head and features light levels of carbonation. Slightly darker than the Eggenberg brew. Aroma: Similar to the Eggenberg brew, but slightly more sugary and syrupy in aroma. Very difficult to distinguish a difference. Flavor: Exactly like the Eggenberg clone, however, for the first time (this is, like, the fifth time I tried this beer) I am starting to discern an anise/black licorice like taste in the finish. Perhaps this is something that I would never have noticed without the benefit of a horizontal (side-by-side) tasting. Price: about $5 per 12 ounce bottle, if you can find it. ...only four bottles left (in my private collection). Looks like I'll need to go on a beer hunt soon. Verdict: You can beat me with a stick. I don't know which one I like better. The Swiss Samichlaus is refined, sweet and finishes warm. The Austrian Samichlaus is lighter in color and alcohol, but virtually identical in taste and does not have the same sweet intensity. I sip from the left glass (1997'er), and pronounce it excellent. I clear my palate and drink from the right glass (2000'er), and pronounce it excellent. Recommendations: Can't find Samichlaus in your local area? Then try Germany's EKU 28 from the Kulmbacher Brauerei. It should be easier to find. Brewed at between 11%-to-12% alcohol by volume, this is one of the best beers in the world in the super high-alcohol category. Price is very reasonable as well. At my local Beverages & More retailer, this one sells for about $14 per six-pack. Again: Bravo to the Castle Brewery Eggenberg of Austria for doing such an admirable job in carrying on the tradition. The 2000 Samichlaus is a World Class, 5-Star beer. I first heard about the 2000 Samichlaus from Advisor and Top Reviewer, George Schaefer, a poet and a beer lover also known as fuche_bu. He drank this one from "tap" at a bar in Phlly. Check out his excellent reviews: http://www.epinions.com/user-fuche_bu From the label of the year 2000 brew: "Brewed only once a year on December 6, Samichlaus is aged 10 months before bottling. This beer is perhaps the rarest in the world. Samichlaus may be aged for many years to come. Older vintages become more complex with a creamy warming finish. Serve with hardy robust dishes and desserts, particularly with chocolates, or as an after-dinner drink by itself. Brewed and bottled by Castle Brewery Eggenberg and Feldschlösscen Hüriimann Holding. A-4655 Vorchdorf - Austria. Imported by Wetten Importers, Inc., Lorton, VA."  |
| Read all comments (3)|Write your own comment |
|
Ads by Google
|
