Duckstein Rotblondes Original
Duckstein GmbH

 

May 2006: 500 ml bottle, as "Duckstein Rotblondes Oberbräu", bought at KaDeWe, Berlin. Seems to be brewed at Holsten Brauerei, Hamburg (my bottle), as well as Feldschlösschen Braunschweig (both Carlsberg owned). Amber colour, large and lasting off-white head, some lacing. Caramel aroma with some flowery aromatic hops, notes of brown bread too. Moderate carbonation, soft malty flavour wth some brown bread notes, decent hops in the finish. Pleasant and easy drinking "altbier" (well, it’s top fermented, and it’s German).

Served on tap in Berlin.

Dense, foaming head which leaves random spots and short streaks. Muddy brown color. Light passes but this is a cloudy beer.

Interesting smell of fermenting apples (slightly tart).

Brown bread initial taste with a decent body and a higher carbonation. Hop bitterness provides bitterness. The finish and aftertaste are shorter than expected with the bread flavor lingering longest.

 

 

Pours a clear, pale mahogany coloration with an amber sheen and a large, fluffy head. Smells of bready, grainy, toasted malt and earthy, herbal hops, with some nutty, woody accents coming through as well. Taste is a good balance of bready, grainy, toasted, slightly caramelly malt and herbal, earthy, slightly spicy hops, with hints of toffee, red berries and dark fruit: cranberry and raisin, as well as some nutty, woody accents. Finishes with a light/medium bitterness and some toasted malt, herbal hops and nutty accents lingering in the aftertaste. Smooth mouthfeel with a medium body and carbonation.

Just like with Hövels, this is another relatively widely available Altbier that refuses to call itself that for some reason. It's aged on beech wood and kinda styles itself as a premium beer, which is reflected in the price, although the wood-aging is very subdued in the taste and more of a marketing gimmick than anything else in my opinion. Just like with Hövels, this makes for an enjoyable example of the style despite not quite being up to par with the Düsseldorf Altbiers, although I'd probably rather have a Hövels from a value-for-money standpoint.

 

Duckstein GmbH “ Duckstein Rotblond Original”
,5L brown glass bottle coded “Mindestens haltbar bis: 22.06.22. 20:51 LDE02B/1/8”. Sampled 02.10.21
€2,09 @ REWE CITY, Hohe Str. 30a, Köln, DE

Look: Clear deep amber/copper, almost chestnut brown in color beneath a standard-sized head of white foam. Average head retention and lacing with limited amounts of spots and splashes.
Smell: Malty sweet with grainy, nutty, and lightly caramelish notes backed by a delicate fruitiness.
Taste: As the aroma suggests, it’s sweetish and malty but there’s also some apple-like fruitiness going on, and then leafy, peppery/spicy, and mildly herbal hops round it out. The bitterness is moderate and yet it remains perfectly balanced, and dry in the finish with the bitterness that’s there lingering. Sweetish upfront; caramelish, fruity, and a little leathery/earthy across the middle; and dry in the finish with lingering earthy, peppery, and herbal hops.
Feel: Medium-light in body but seemingly fuller, and smooth across the palate with a very fine-bubbled, seemingly natural, moderate carbonation.
Overall: I feel this beer is under-rated. Perhaps that’s because it’s being reviewed as an altbier against the fuller and richer altbiers from Düsseldorf. There are plenty of these beers in Germany that are meant as flavorful but easy-drinking, and this one certainly fits the bill.
Review #7,494

 

 

Pours a dark reddish brown with fine, soapy head.

Smell is very malty with notes of brewer's yeast, rye, caramel and brown bread.

Taste is again, very malty with notes of brown bread, rye, yeast and hints of leather and raisins. Soft bitterness with a bit of florality to it. Great balance and very drinkable.

Mouthfeel is medium, well carbonated.

Overall, a very nice Alt, malty but with a bit of nuance.

Amber color with beige head. Bready malt on the aroma with some woody/earthy hops. Taste follows with bread crust, toasted malts and some hop bitterness for balance.

 

 

 

 

 

Probably one of my favorite beers in Germany, and I lived there for 4 years. Every time I am there on business in the north of Germany, I look for it. It is beech wood aged, which is not typical of German altbier, which gets it color from roasted malt. It is expensive as German beers go. If anyone knows if a source in the US, let me know. So far I haven't found it

This pours a beautiful dark reddish color with a medium, white, foamy head and a slightly high, but not overwhelming amount of carbonation. The smell is almost non-existent, but there is maybe a hint of barley. There are notes of barley, caramel, some toasted bready malts, and a little pepper spiciness. The flavors are simple, but well done and the finish is crisp and refreshing. The body is medium. It’s actually a little more than I expected from the color. In classic German style, there is nothing fancy here, but it is well done. This beer is lighter than some of my favorite German styles, but heavier than the pilsners and hefes. It is maybe on par with some of the heavier schwarzbiers. It’s not the best thing that I’ve had out of Germany, but it’s pretty good drinking and at least average in my opinion.

Reviewed in Roger Protz' "300 Beers To Try Before You Die!"