Private Weissbierbrauerei G. Schneider & Sohn GmbH
Weizen-Eisbock
12% ABV
OG?
IBUs?
11.2 oz bottle (2008/08641) poured into a snifter on November 11, 2010. The bottle mentions that it is a recreation of an accidental freezing of Aventinus during transport in 1930's. Also, according to the label, this is an ale.
Appearance 5/5
Clear dark brown with a muddy off white creamy head didn't stay in its full glory for too long and subsided into a thin film on the beer, and left no lacing on its way.
Aroma 4.5/5
Aroma is a lot of good things: Toffee, caramel, toast, dried plums, raisins, perfume, and understandably, sweet, soft alcohol, approximately in increasing order. Reminiscent of Belgian Quadrupels and English Barleywines. A very rich and superb malt character that is complex, yet clean. Either the aroma is not long lasting, or the alcohol has numbed my sense of smell, but it's getting hard to pinpoint the different elements, especially because it's so well rounded and smooth.
Taste 4/5
Taste is like a flavorful concoction of dried fruits and alcohol, and the impression of this ale(?) is very close to a better wine. Starts rich and fruity and finishes quite bitter, and dry, with no particular aftertaste. In many respects it's like a fine Belgian ale but still very different. For instance, it achieves an amazingly dry finish, but with low carbonation, and no astringency at all. Very well done! However, I am left desiring more strength.
Mouthfeel 3/5
Mouthfeel of this beer is probably responsible for the lower taste score too, and it is very disappointing. Thin and watery! Especially for an aroma so enticing and a taste so magnificent, the mouthfeel is a complete let down!
Drinkability 4/5
Alcohol is felt, and felt again. Had it not been for the thin feel, the drinkability would have been spot on.
Other
Had it again, two days later, side by side with J.W.Lee's Harvest Ale (2002) and Trappistes Rochefort 10 (fresh). This bottle was fresher (2010/012840) and the looks of the beer were significantly better with a big creamy, rocky head and excellent retention and lacing that caused me to bump the score from 4.5 to 5/5.
Massive clove and green apple notes, that were either absent or passed undetected last time, were present, both in taste and aroma while the malt character seemed smaller against the other beers. It was interesting to see that how a beer that seemed very malt forward by itself had other elements (fruit, spice) that came out beautifully when contrasted against others. It was easy to detect the base German beer character too, that seemed lost in the previous bottle.
This beer is best drank slightly cold (55°F) compared to the beers it was had with (J.W.Lee's, Rochefort 10 ~ 65-70°F)
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