Samichlaus Helles
Brauerei Schloss Eggenberg

Samichlaus HellesSamichlaus Helles
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From:
Brauerei Schloss Eggenberg
 
Austria
Style:
Doppelbock
Ranked #96
ABV:
14%
Score:
86
Ranked #19,589
Avg:
3.81 | pDev: 15.49%
Reviews:
263
Ratings:
464
Status:
Active
Rated:
Nov 27, 2022
Added:
Nov 25, 2007
Wants:
  34
Gots:
  67
Brewed only once a year on December 6th, Samichlaus is aged for 10 months before bottling. Serve with hardy robust dishes and desserts, in particular with chocolate, or as an after drink by itself. Ingredients: water, barley malt, hops, hops extract.
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Ratings by erz316:
Photo of erz316
Reviewed by erz316 from Indiana

3.95/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3.5
got the last bottle at sahara mart, 11.2 floz into brooklyn pokal. bottled int 2007, the first year since 1986.

A - not much head even with a nearly vertical pour. head is a bit off white, undoubtedly from the bright colour of the body, and about one fingers high. simmers down to a thin layer in under a minute. the colour is this majestic setting sun orange; a rich amber. the colour is very beautiful. I wonder why they decided to do a clear bock? well they did very well, at most the beer could be classified as a medium-dark orange, which is nothing compared to the rich dark brown of the regular samichlaus. head eventually becomes a whispy layer on top.

S - despite the reduction in colour, the beer's nose hold up for its own. a very rich malty, fruity and booze nose. the top notes are boozy sweet fruits, booze is quite pungent and noticeable; it cuts right through the sweetness at times, and others it blends seamlessly with it to make a super booze soaked fruitcake kind of aroma. the middle notes are of the muted malt body, still very sweet, but not as malty in essence as other x2 bocks. nothing discernible holding up the beer. a fairly straightforward nose, simple but still quite delicious. smell develops quite nicely as it warms up a bit: malts become a lot more noticeable.

T - initial taste is a very strong, piercing fruity-booze, with some minor hop bitters, and a big malt presence. the malts really make themselves noticeable here; if it werent for them, then this would be so much more boozy. the alcohol is quite manageable when first tasting it, but it develops into this dragon in the later stages. the subtleness of the hops is, well, quite elusive; only when one has cornered out the malts and the booze does that characteristic bitterness become evident. the finish is almost cloying in both sweetness and alcohol burn. the alcohol sheds its fruity skin and tears down the throat with a ethanol like character; the booze is completely raw. right after the sting from the alcohol is this huge sweet malt body, this is the taste that was keeping the alcohol in check during the initial tasting. wow, is it sweet. really almost like rock candy or something else that is basically pure sugar. it is quite interesting to get to see these two flavours by themselves in one stage of drinking. the aftertaste is a bit of that warming alcohol at first, then it subsides into the really sweet malt character. the taste evens out pretty quickly, leaving a more balanced flavour. overall I think the finish is a bit too strong and sweet; I can deal with the alcohol, if anything it is a good burning warming feeling, but the sweetness is too much for my palate.

MF&D - as mentioned above, i think the drinkability will suffer because it is too sweet, maybe it should be a dessert beer. the feel is pretty good, right amount of carbonation and the body is just enough syrupy to be a x2 bock. I'm guessing that because it is the helles bock, the feel is a bit thinner. understandable, but not desirable.
Aug 14, 2009
More User Ratings:
Photo of mschrei
Reviewed by mschrei from Illinois

4.23/5  rDev +11%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2019 vintage, so looking at four years old. Bronze, opaque, minimal carb. Malty, syrupy and sweet, definitely boozy, but a bit thin for the style. Not as good as its bigger brother.
Nov 27, 2022
 
Rated: 4.13 by Shiredave from New York

Sep 09, 2022
Photo of flagmantho
Reviewed by flagmantho from Washington

3.99/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from 330ml bottle into my BeerAdvocate teku.

Appearance: rich amber hue with a light-to-moderate haze and a thin cap of ivory foam. Not much in the way of head, but the color is excellent.

Smell: sweet for sure, but it's also got that slightly oxidized raspberry-cherry-tobacco-date aroma that I love in a strong malty beer. Do I also get ... a hint of soy sauce? Perhaps that takes it down a notch, but still an enticing treat.

Taste: that's a strong boi! Again, sweet, but there's enough heavy malt and booziness going on here to sort of balance that out. Hoo boy, this reminds me of a heavy duty scotch ale. The boozy burn substitutes for bitterness here, leading to a finish that's as balanced as it is dangerous. There's some nuance to the flavor, but man. What a wallop.

Mouthfeel: massive body with a light carbonation yielding a texture that, while perhaps not creamy, as such, is quite smooth indeed.

Overall: this beer is good enough that if I survive this one, I may seek it out again. But survival is not guaranteed.
Aug 12, 2022
 
Rated: 3.79 by DarrellK from Florida

Jul 01, 2022
Photo of jmdrpi
Reviewed by jmdrpi from Pennsylvania

4.16/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
2015 vintage bottle in 2022. I thought I had reviewed this previously but I guess not?

Pours a clear dark copper in color (although I left behind the dregs in the bottle to drink separately). Just a few bubbles, not really any head. Aroma is sweet grainy malt, a little burnt sugar, a touch of sweet corn and stone fruit. For anyone that's been to Chile, it's a bit reminiscent of Mote con huesillo. Taste is similar, fairly sweet. Feel is sticky, fairly low carbonation. Age as mellowed any booziness, doesn't drink like 14% abv. Overall a nice sipper to finish of a Saturday night with.
Feb 27, 2022
 
Rated: 3.75 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

Feb 21, 2022
Photo of MNJR
Reviewed by MNJR from Illinois

4.01/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Honey colored, thick, occasional big bubbles of carbonation. Alcohol "fingers" in the glass. Smells clean and zesty, with notable alcohol vapors. Flavors are big and bold: orange zest, licorice, rock candy, herbal, mineral, slightly stringent. Sweet and spicy, with an interesting earthy, dry aftertaste with alcohol tingling in a big way. Very enjoyable in a "special treat" kind of way. Definitely pushes the beer limits of ABV and flavor. Something to have for sure if you can get it, a worthy experience if maybe a bit too strong for a beer, which I suppose is the idea.
Feb 19, 2022
 
Rated: 3.57 by 4DAloveofSTOUT from Illinois

Dec 30, 2021
Photo of cheeseheadinMinneapolis
Reviewed by cheeseheadinMinneapolis from Wisconsin

3.95/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
2019 vintage, best by 10-2024, 11.2 oz/330ml bottle
Bought a 4 pack, The first bottle was off. This review is from the second bottle.
Body is semi transparent gold with a orange or amber tint. Not much of a head that disappears quickly leaving no lacing (normal head action for beers in this class).
Taste is white/golden raisin, pear, a little toffee, booze. Maybe a hint of cherry (or vanilla) on the finish or in the after taste. sweet malt. It's plenty sweet.
feel: you can taste and feel the alcohol but it never seem to burn or over power the flavors. Syrupy.

It's ok. maybe it needs to age some more?
If you like this beer try: Donator Heller Doppelbock from Brauerei Zoller-Hof
Nov 02, 2021
Photo of MikeWard
Reviewed by MikeWard from Pennsylvania

4.17/5  rDev +9.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
12oz bottle into a goblet. 2015 vintage.

Very interesting look to this one. Starts out a glassy ice tea amber color, but as it warms, it's transformed to a clear reddish amber. No head or lacing due to abv.

On opening the bottle, there was a clear fresh bread aroma. This didnt last into the goblet, and we have a sweet, boozy, dried dark fruit smell.

On tasting, exactly as the nose suggests. Sweetness isn't cloying, booze doesn't rip your throat out, and the raisin cherry notes are pleasing.

Mouth above medium, finish sweet and boozy.

Overall, guess 6 years in the bottle have mellowed out this one nicely. Slow sipper, but really smooth and goes down easy. Happy to have another 3 in reserve.
Aug 24, 2021
Photo of MonDak_Joe1953
Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota

4.24/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
330ml bottle. Best by date on label is 10:2024 (covered by importer label).
Mostly clear, deep gold colored body. Never a big head, but offers an active surface show from rising bubbles. No lacing.
Aroma is boozy, with raisin, caramel, and vanilla.
Taste is sweet and boozy. Raisin, pear, caramel, and vanilla. Lots of malt sweetness.
Medium mouth feel, with a little syrup. Carbonation is not very involved but adequate.
High test bock to be sure, but no burn. Knowing the high ABV%, really smooth and sweet. Sip slow and enjoy. This is a unique liquid beverage.
Jul 14, 2021
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

4.34/5  rDev +13.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
2019 vintage; drank 7/8/21 @ the Yarchives.

See through orange rust appearance.

A rough pour yielded a small, noisy off-white head which quickly dissipated; no lace.

Strawberry, caramel & booze heat notes in the nose.

Thick, sticky mouthfeel.

Strawberry & caramel flavors up front; refined booze heat notes on the finish.

Unlike any lager I've ever had; this was fruity and full of heft. I'd love to find an older vintage...
Jul 09, 2021
 
Rated: 4.4 by rab53 from Washington

Mar 24, 2021
Photo of Qwiktruk
Reviewed by Qwiktruk from Iowa

5/5  rDev +31.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
In my opinion, this is the best beer in the world. It has exclusivity, being brewed only one day a year; and it has the taste of a fine authentic German/Austrian beer. I only have it on special occasions (when I can find it).
Mar 23, 2021
Photo of lmaduells
Reviewed by lmaduells from Spain

4/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Unbalanced mass in alcohol. It's a beer too special, but with too much graduation. It must be taken into account. A beer out of qualifiers that does not support labels. A beer to drink in traditional times, to taste it in Christmas moments
Jan 06, 2021
 
Rated: 4.98 by LoganFarinhas from Pennsylvania

Dec 06, 2020
Photo of crazyspicychef
Rated by crazyspicychef from Pennsylvania

4.86/5  rDev +27.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5
Amazing complex beer.
Dangerous drinkability.
If I could afford it I would have some in the fridge at all times.
Nov 14, 2020
 
Rated: 4.53 by Bogdawg from Massachusetts

Jun 13, 2020
 
Rated: 4.5 by Tcsox from Massachusetts

Jun 13, 2020
Samichlaus Helles from Brauerei Schloss Eggenberg
Beer rating: 86 out of 100 with 464 ratings