Tap X: Mathilda Soleil
Schneider Weisse G. Schneider & Sohn

Tap X: Mathilda SoleilTap X: Mathilda Soleil
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From:
Schneider Weisse G. Schneider & Sohn
 
Germany
Style:
Weizenbock
ABV:
7%
Score:
92
Avg:
4.13 | pDev: 7.26%
Reviews:
32
Ratings:
86
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 25, 2017
Added:
Mar 08, 2015
Wants:
  5
Gots:
  14
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Mike-Harms:
Photo of Mike-Harms
Rated by Mike-Harms from California

4.5/5  rDev +9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Jun 30, 2015
More User Ratings:
Photo of emincems
Reviewed by emincems from Turkey

4.18/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
taste is well balanced between sweet wheat malt and floral, peppery hops. fruity esters are soft and would be more strong. medium bodied. creamy on the palate. refresher and highly drinkable weizenbock.
Mar 25, 2017
Photo of mick303
Reviewed by mick303 from Canada (ON)

4.14/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Wow is this ever a tasty and flavorful beer, had it sitting in the fridge for at least a year before opening. Gorgeous appearance, smell is rich, complex and fruity/yeasty with some esters. Taste and feel and rich and satisfying, a touch of mineral and wheat notes. Lemony and very crisp, nice even carbonation.
Dec 26, 2016
 
Rated: 4.14 by DyingFlutchman from Netherlands

Oct 11, 2016
Photo of NilocRellim
Reviewed by NilocRellim from Minnesota

4.22/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25
Pours a rich orange/copper colour. Smells of fruity yeast and light, sweet malts. Very mild taste, balanced very well; light, fruity, grains, similar to a sweeter saison. Very clean and refreshing.
Apr 25, 2016
 
Rated: 3.5 by chrisroarshack from Alaska

Apr 24, 2016
 
Rated: 4.43 by DaPan from Canada (ON)

Mar 26, 2016
 
Rated: 4.27 by Derek from Canada (BC)

Mar 11, 2016
 
Rated: 4.25 by AlexAfonin from Russian Federation

Feb 24, 2016
Photo of Jugs_McGhee
Reviewed by Jugs_McGhee from Colorado

3.39/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Currently #34 in the Top 50 Germany rankings, Mathilda Soleil warranted excitement when I spotted it at Ambrosetti in Berlin.

BOTTLE: 750ml format (uncommon in German beer packaging). Brown glass. The pry-off crown cap is unbranded, but a paper ribbon runs over it and onto either side of the bottle neck spelling out the vintage (2015). There's a also a neck hangtag with info about the beer. Label is classy classy classy.

7.0% ABV. Best before: 01.02.2017.

Reviewed live as a weizenbock per the label. Expectations are high given its current rating and my previous experiences with this brewery (which, incidentally, makes the best weizenbock I've ever had). Here's hoping the brewers have one-upped themselves...

There's a huge carbonation pop upon opening, and the pry-off cap is revealed to have a plastic washer on its underside, ostensibly to better resist carbonation creep. It does gush, but only after a good 5 seconds...still, pour quickly.

HEAD: Occupies ~60% of the glass, further indicating possible overcarbonation. Off-white in colour and soft and fluffy in consistency, with ample frothiness for the style. Leaves bits of lacing as it recedes. Could be more robust, but it's nice as-is. Retention is good for its highish ABV - ~8 minutes.

BODY: Clear copper of above average vibrance. At least from the first glass full, I see no yeast within and it appears filtered.

I'm anticipating overcarbonation, but it's a nice looking weizenbock. Not unique or special, but certainly appealing.

AROMA: Yeasty as hell...biscuity saccharomyces leaps out of the glass in vitaminy glory, bringing into the fold fruity esters and spiciness, which sets off the cereal grains in this brew nicely. Wheat is evident, and seems to give this brew a malt backbone both robust and fresh. Estery as it is, there's a conspicuous absence of the usual banana. And the sweetness seems a biteen raw...not quite wort-redolent, but I have to wonder about the attenuation. Finishes yeasty, with an injection of orange peel on the back-end. Some may detect bubblegum in there too.

Hop profile is downplayed to style, but uses floral and fruity notes to complement the esters.

Aromatic intensity is above average, though no booze or off-notes are detectable.

TASTE & TEXTURE: Orange sherbet is the first thing that comes to mind, given both the creamy almost silky mouthfeel coupled with the orange. It's not citrusy in a juicy kind of way, and the orange is just one of many fruity notes - the others emerging from the yeasty esters. No banana here to my tastes, but bubblegum, sure, and some mild yeasty spiciness (though notably, no clove). Running through the intricate esters, I find apple (though the beer isn't cidery), pear (though further interrogation of this flavour might reveal it to actually be quince to more acute drinkers), a blip of papaya, and even bilberries - though the latter might be from hops; it's hard to tell.

Speaking of hops, the hop profile is near perfect...mild in intensity to style, but just fruity and floral enough to lend further complexity to an already robust weizenbock.

The malt backbone is where this takes a turn for the worse; it's a bit too sweet and the wheat just doesn't taste as fresh or vivid as you'd find in the best examples of the style (including this brewery's). Depth of flavour could be improved.

The mouthfeel is true to form, though the carbonation is too high. Aptly medium-bodied, and refreshingly smooth and wet (though the yeast spiciness does tug it towards coarse). Overall presence on the palate is pleasant, and though this texture doesn't accentuate specific notes in the flavour profile, it does complement the taste nicely and it's appropriate for the style. A softer more delicate mouthfeel would be ideal, of course, and I'd like to see the carbonation issue addressed.

Not boozy, astringent, harsh, gushed, hot, scratchy, or rough on the palate.

OVERALL: There's a lot to love here, but ultimately as enjoyable and drinkable as this is, I think Schneider's own Tap 6 Unser Aventinus has yet to be unseated as the creme de la creme of both the brewery and the weizenbock style. The intricacy of the yeast is fascinating, but unfortunately seems to come at the expense of wheat's emphasis...and wheat is the foundation of this style. Additionally, the bubblegum is odd, and its presence throws off the fragile balance of yeast and wheat (to my tastes, anyway).

There's no doubt this is quite a complex lager, and there's plenty of flavour in it. Absolutely worth a try, but it won't dazzle the discerning drinker. In any case, I think it's telling that we've come to expect dazzling beers from this brewery - if only because it so often delivers them.

B-
Feb 16, 2016
 
Rated: 4.63 by tverdo100p from Canada (ON)

Feb 11, 2016
 
Rated: 4.25 by GoHabsGo from Canada (ON)

Jan 30, 2016
Photo of Ciocanelu
Reviewed by Ciocanelu from Romania

3.75/5  rDev -9.2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Hazy light amber color with huge white head with really good retention. Aroma is malty sweet but also has some hops. Really seems like a double IPA. Taste follows, some caramel, hops and some yeast esters but still, resembles more an IPA than a weizen. Body is medium and highly effervescent. Quite nice overall but it's somehow a weird mix.
Jan 15, 2016
 
Rated: 4.46 by risenz from England

Jan 05, 2016
 
Rated: 4.25 by schopenhauerale from Arizona

Jan 01, 2016
 
Rated: 4.37 by tux_alin from Romania

Dec 31, 2015
Photo of biegaman
Reviewed by biegaman from Canada (ON)

4.45/5  rDev +7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Mathilda Soleil opened with alarming force. My impulse to that powerful 'pop' was to immediately start pouring before my desktop became flooded but, lo and behold, the carbonation behaved... at least until it hit the glass. This clear, bubbly, bright golden liquid is topped with a mountain of whipped white foam.

That pillow-y stack of bubbles may suffocate the glass but it's not enough to snuff out the incredible floral and fruity notes of the bouquet. I picture a bunch of citrus and stone fruits on steroids that have doused themselves in a rose water and peppercorn eau de toilette. It has elements of sweet but also sour.

Taste doesn't always live up to aroma - fortunately this time it does. That tropical, summer-bright air continues and evolves into ripe flavours of mango, persimmon, pear, mandarin and quince. Grassy green herbs and farm-fresh grain accompany the lime-like acidity on the end, creating a fully rounded finish.

Whatever hops were used, keep using them! They compliment the banana and clove notes of the yeast which, by the way, have not disappeared entirely. Like the Brooklyner Hopfen-Weisse this has lupulin out the wazoo but also creamy, tangy wheat, juicy citrus, fleshy mouthfeel, and energizing bubbles.

Germans are typically conservative brewers that stick to a time-honoured, regionally-restrained script. Schneider, however, have obviously experienced a spark of creativity. Their "Tap X" offerings thus far have been different in character and conception, but have retained the quality and consistency...

And Mathilda Soleil is my favourite yet. While the Porter, Nelson Sauvin and Cuvée Barrique were all good, this one is great. I have little hesitation awarding the high scores above - sometimes the best, most impressive beers simply do come from the best, most iconic producers. Go buy some!
Dec 18, 2015
Photo of pkalix
Reviewed by pkalix from California

4.59/5  rDev +11.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
opened with a strong release of energy. nice cap on top. dark straw color..... should have gotten two of these!
nose is clove and spice on top of a weisse beer aroma.
flavor is weisse with spice! clove, banana, some fruit.... pineapple!
almost a heavy feel, but perfect for the brew. this is signaturely 'german' and delicious!
Dec 12, 2015
Photo of CAMRAhardliner
Reviewed by CAMRAhardliner from Canada (ON)

4.39/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Pours glowing orange with crazy champagne like carbonation streams. The massive pillowy head lasts for the entire glass, coating it with chunks of foam. Massive fruity aroma with citrus, tropical notes mixing with the more expected Weizenbock bananas and cloves. Very complex and intriguing blend. The taste follows suit lemon and orange notes and a green melon or canteloupe flavor. A ballast of pale malt and wheat tartness is always present, as are big banana and bubblegum notes. The mouthfeel is creamy and on the high carbonation side for the style.

This is a fantastic Weizenbock. Super juicy and fruity, infinitely complex but also crushable. I highly recommend this. More fantastic stuff these innovators of the traditional style.
Dec 10, 2015
Photo of kitch
Reviewed by kitch from Hong Kong

4.23/5  rDev +2.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25
A 375ml bottle with a best before date of 1st February 2017.

Appearance: Poured a cloudy dark golden straw colour with a one finger white head with good retention and nice lacing.

Aroma: Sweet banana, clove, brown sugar and light caramel.

Taste: Starts with banana and clove followed by citrus, floral, apple, pear elements and light spice.

Mouthfeel: Dry, medium bodied, zesty, lively carbonation.

Overall: Another first for me with my first Weizenbock. The flavours were great and the zesty and lively carbonation were spot on. I wouldn’t hesitate to buy this again.
Nov 20, 2015
Tap X: Mathilda Soleil from Schneider Weisse G. Schneider & Sohn
Beer rating: 92 out of 100 with 86 ratings