Samichlaus Classic
Brauerei Schloss Eggenberg

Revisited December 13th, 2025 (BA Holiday Beer Tasting)

Deep, clear, honey-colored pour and body; dense carbonation; slight ring of foam encircling the inner glass, dense and lingering. Heavy and sweet malt aroma; rich caramel; balanced sense of Xmas cookie spices. Outstanding taste; rich, sweet, and spicy malt overall; candied cherries; red licorice and star anise; cinnamon. Heavy, sticky mouthfeel with a soothing boozy warmth.

Well, to say that I like this years release of this beer cannot be overstated. Potent and delightful. Ho ho ho.

ABV: 14%; pouring temperature: 47.3 ℉; canning info: L/100322
Source: local purchase (Coaltrain Fine Wine, Craft Beer & Spirits)

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Revisited October 22nd, 2021

Ratings, scores, and review: 3.5 3.75 4.5 4.5 4.0; BA weighted overall score: 4.16; rDev: +3.2%

Clear, dark copper body with a thin, light khaki head. Sweet, spicy aroma. Sweet, spicy flavor; raisins and dates; anise and licorice; a bit boozy in the background. Heavy, oily mouthfeel; big residual sugar presence.

Although the label states this is "Malt Liquor", I have a feeling this is actually the doppelbock with a different label. It certainly tastes like a high-strength doppelbock in many ways - the sweetness and spiciness also suggests a winter holiday beer that the Classic Bier has had in the past.

Poured ata 47 F; bottle labeled as 'Samichlaus Classic Malt Liquor)

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Original December 20th, 2014 ratings: 3.5 3.5 4.5 4.5 4.0 (aggregate score of 4.1)

Assuming my bottle -- labeled "Samichlaus Classic" is the same beer the other reviews are about. Bottled in 2012.

Very nice copper color but the thin, fizzy head nearly completely disappeared within a few minutes. There's a classic doppelbock sweetness in the aroma along with a plum and slight citrus-like fruit scent. Heavy, vinous feel; syrupy. Powerful sweetness and alcohol meld with the taste: raisins and apricots, lots of alcohol heat to balance out the immense sweetness; hard to differentiate between the alcohol burn and hop bitterness, but they're both present in the mix.

A somewhat underwhelming appearance and smell will surprise you once the taste and mouthfeel come in to play. For a 14% ABV doppelbock, though, I'd say this one is pretty decent. Plenty of doppelbock character abound in this heavy hitter. A must-try for doppelbock and big beer fans. Heck, I may spring for a four-pack and let 'em age for a year or so and see how this beer plays out with some time.

This one came from Purvis Beer in Melbourne in February 2026, and was drunk in May that year.

L: Pours a relatively clear, rich mahogany. It lies utterly still in the glass, appearing almost completely headless save for a faint, clinging rim of off-white foam around the edges. It’s not a pretty beer, and its flat, lifeless appearance in the glass earns it a markdown.

S: Incredibly expressive, even right out of the fridge. The nose is a wild, complex mix: heavy booze, old leather, rich port wine, and deep umami notes of soy and beef stock with hints of musty, insect-filled soil and a touch of cardboard. Some of these would be glaring flaws in almost any other style, but here they perfectly foretell a deep, rustic, and intimidating old-school strong ale.

T: Rich, full, and unashamedly boozy. The palate is flooded with deeply caramelised sugar, dark fruits like figs and plums, and a wave of port wine, complemented by raspberry, menthol, and cough syrup. There is absolutely no mistaking this for a standard 6% dark ale; the booze is completely in your face. The alcoholic warmth is immediate and intense, radiating through the mouth, throat, and chest, and generating a pleasant numbness. The finish turns slightly acrid, lingering on that cough-syrup note, yet despite the incredibly aggressive profile, it remains an absolute delight to drink, at least for the first half of a slowly-sipped glass. It does become somewhat too sweet after a prolonged time in the glass, and is subsequently marked down a little.

M: The body is heavy, smooth, and distinctly syrupy. Carbonation is suitably muted for a beer of this magnitude, but the sheer volume of alcohol steps in to do the heavy lifting. It cuts through the deep sweetness, providing a sharp, prickling sensation that mimics the bite of carbonation, keeping the heavy body balanced.

O: This is the ultimate cold-night, warm-fire companion. As a quintessential slow sipper, it demands respect and patience, and taking half an hour to get through just the first ten per cent is exactly how this beer is meant to be approached. It’s imposing and challenging, and at least initially rewarding, but it tends towards being too sweet after prolonged time in the glass, and that's what makes this not quite as great as I'd hoped it would be.

Cheers!
#819

 

 

 

 

At my lady Pamela's house; bottled and slightly chilled, 330mL in a pint glass. From The Roundhouse Centre LCBO on Howard Ave. in nearby Windsor. Best before August/30. My 1st beer from the Eggenberg, Austria brewery. Merry Christmas from Gracie and I!...

 

 

Drinking out of a small goblet.
Pours a clear,mahogany color with a thin white filmy head.
Some smell of toffee.
Smooth, though somewhat thin mouth feel.
Nice and sweet caramel taste. Alcohol is there, but restrained.
Nice!

Wow, very very very sweet! Syrupy, but good. The most impressive is the mouth feel! I guess at 14 percent it’s got to have a different feel. It’s like drinking a cold carbonated hot cocoa through figs stuffed in your mouth, ha! Unique and fun, but super sweet!

RB transfer

Pours a clear reddish brown color with a tiny head and no lacing.

Smells of toasted malt, port wine and sweet fruit.

Tastes of Malt, raisins, prunes and caramel with a slightly bitter very boozy warm finish.

Medium body with slight carbonation. Syrupy mouthfeel.

Bought this on a lark. So what is a tripel bock?

It's an alcohol bomb of a winter warmer sipper.

I have tried hundreds of beers and always look for the unusual and interesting.

Found one!

OK, been a while. Bought this in 2013 with a BBF date of 04/2014 Batch Number L511213. TBH I forgot I had this and discovered it after moving house.

A - Pours like a stout with no head. Not sure if this was the original intention but it could and probably is a result of age. Just letting it breathe before I take a sniff.

S - Pretty pungent smokey sweet hickory aromas. A little tobacco and molasses also.

T - Here goes. Holly shit. After taste of Christmas cake and fudge. Up front there is a sweet milk chocolate and toffee after tones. This is quite mesmerizing. There is also plenty of smoke in there. Undertones of vanilla and molasses.

M - Monster thick mouthfeel that could only be described as full bodied. Low spritzy carbonation and for once that is the way it should be. Because this is a beer liquor

O - Well I have no idea what a fresh one of these tastes like, however I can tell you that a 12 year old version is simply awesome. It is very complex indeed and a reminder that beer does last the distance if you pick the right ones. So if i had my time over again I would buy 2. One to drink immediately and one to put down. I can tell you that putting this beer to sleep for 10 years will most likely improve it out of sight

Deep amber color , thin off-white head. Aroma of malt, dark fruits, and wine. Sweet malty taste with winy notes. Full, even heavy body, low carbonation. Interesting beer, despite being too sweet.

Not my cup of tea. Found it at the LCBO for maybe $7 and had to give it a try.
Pours a ruby brown color. Very little foam. No lacing. Smell is very oaky and like brown sugar syrup.
The taste is very strong. Very oaky, almost smoked. Very sweet compared to other beers. If someone told me they put some sweet syrup in the beer I would believe them. A little too strong for my tastes, and yes i know its a 14% beer. Not my preference and sorry for the crappy review but I won't be buying for myself a 2nd time. I would assume this beer is rare and I guess it is, but I'm not super impressed. This beer literally reminds me of something like whisky or rye but a little sweet, and not as strong of course but the taste is still there.
Again, just not my cup of tea.

On the flip side I gave someone a small pour and they really liked it, so I guess it depends on your own tastes.

Aroma: malt and molasses
Look: thin head with slight carbonation
Taste: Strong raisin, caramel,malt, and sugar cane.
Finish: A bit boozy. Raisin really comes through. The 14% Hits you at the end.
Overall: I ain't mad at it. Definitely a dessert beer.

 

On draft at The Tip Tap Room -

Intense, hearty, rich, bold, viscous, full bodied, slick, smooth, big dark toasted malts, thick caramel, toffee, brown bread, some chocolate, cherry, fig, dried fruit, candied dark fruits, sweet spice, minimal hopping