Tasting Notes: Samichlaus Bier 2008
Brewery: Schloss Eggenberg
Location: Vorchdorf, Austria
ABV: 14.0%
Version: Bottled
Source: Joshua Brooks, Manchester
After a top-notch curry with a few friends (at Manchester's EastZEast) on Saturday night, we opted for a quick schlepp across the road to the Joshua Brooks rather than the longer trek up the road and around the corner to The Bull's Head. We nearly paid the price with our hearing: the place was playing music at ear-bleed levels. But there was a drop of consolation to be had behind the bar in the form of bottles of Samichlaus ("Santa Claus") Bier.
This Austrian brew declares itself to be "one of the rarest beer specialities in the world" and at 14% abv, one of the strongest of its kind. It's only brewed once per year, on December 6th, and is matured for 10 months before bottling. Apparently you can store and mature this stuff for ages, but the one I sampled was the 2008 bottling, which means it was brewed on Dec 6th 2007, so mine was a relatively young version.
I have to admit that the initial blast of alcohol and sugar was almost overpowering (a couple of the other guys in our party took a sip and could take no more) but once you let your palate adjust and the beer breathe a little, it calms down to something that's much easier to get along with. There's still a huge hit of strident caramel and toffee, certainly, but what struck me after the third or fourth swallow was a distinct apple-tartness and a faint acidity that balanced out some of the sweetness.
All in all I'm definitely glad I experienced it and whilst it isn't something I'd necessarily want to drink more than one measure of at a time, I might be tempted to get a bottle in for next Xmas. And I'd definitely like to try one that's been maturing for a while. Maybe the 2003 vintage (pictured) might be a good bet. Six years' worth of flavour development ought to make things interesting.
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It's a heavy bugger all right, but tasty. The last time I had it was after drinking a Chimay Blue, a Red and a Westmalle Triple. Not recommended! :D
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Blimey, you're a braver man than I am, mate :)
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Stupid perhaps :D
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I had a bottle of this a few years back and thought it was quite pleasant, in a weird way. Reminded me of sherry.
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Sherry would definitely be a good comparison.
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Saw this a couple of months back on one of my visits to that bastion of beer in Belfast, The Vineyard, so just had to get a bottle. This was the 2009 edition so there may well be a difference, although it's still 14%. A lovely aroma of sweetened stewed prunes, apple pie and plums. Does indeed taste very rich and sweet, but not as over-poweringly as I was expecting. maybe they've held that aspect back a bit this time. It still needs to be taken slowly, not that it can be drunk quickly anyway (and nor does it deserve to be so treated). I didn't detect any acidity either, and the apple tartness was particularly evident, more like a sweet apple pie. I really like this, and regret only getting the one bottle as there were none left the next time I called in. But if I see it again I shall not make that mistake a second time.
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You know, I think I saw the 2009 vintage when I was in Beer Ritz back before Xmas, but by then I'd already loaded up a couple of baskets' worth so I had to reluctantly leave it behind in favour of experiences new. Damn fool that I am...
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