Schell's Imperial Alt
August Schell Brewing Company

Pours a dark, clear "burgundy"-brown in color, topped with a medium tan head. Nice lacing as the head drops. Looks as it should. : )

Nose is all about the rich, sweet malts, and quite neutral apart from that. Fruit notes (a bit of a strawberry-apple blend) along with lighter roast malt character, but nothing too out of the ordinary, and for what it is it as a very GOOD nose. Definitely reminiscent of Schmaltz's Alt.

SMOOOTH and sweet and rich on the first sip. Lightly tangy/sharp (and even with a very mild bitterness, there's a nice piquant quality that I would ascribe to the hops.) The lighter, roasted-malt notes are more expressive toward the end of the drink, while the fruity/fruit-like character is more up front. As the drink warms (and I poured it a bit warmer than 'fridge temp, in a slightly-chilled chalice / bulb) there's a bit of an anise note (which some folks like, others not so much, but it is not in the least overwhelming) along with a cola nut-like character. Almost like the darker malt profile of a good British "Nut Brown" ale. Not quite oily, and there's nothing even remotely approaching the level of diacetyl that those British ales can showcase quite well, but it's there all the same.

Again, this is a very GOOD tasting beer, right here.

Mouthfeel is excellent, and whether it is due to a lighter amount of carbonation or the fact that this beer is now getting a bit long in the tooth (I believe it was bottled in November or 2016), it is the softest, smoothest Altbier-style rendition I've had in years, and simply an incredibly-drinkable beer. Maybe the smoothest I've ever had in the style! It has sort of the Nitrogen=push softness and mouthfeel. Co-mingled? Nah... but it really does lightly coat the entire palate, and the flavors mentioned above carry through in the aromatic aspects as well.

Overall though it's a very good -to- exceptional beer, and I'm sure my "numbers" won't add up (and I'm a tough grader to begin with) but I'm happy that Schell offered up not just one but TWO Altbiers this past winter. We were spoiled!

Appearance: Clear reddish-brown, good head.

Smell: Slight roasted malts, earthy, slight caramel.

Taste: Interesting flavor, starts with a slight sweetness with toffee and dark fruit. Then finishes with a mildly sour fruitiness.

Overall: An interesting beer, it and Schell's Baltic Porter hit some of the same notes with me. The alt's most interesting feature was the sort of sour finish to it. Didn't really taste fruity, but a kind of sour fruitiness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A-Clean cherrywood colored beer.

S-Toasted caramel, along with lighter notes of dark fruit...plums, black cherries

T-Malt takes on more of a toffee like flavor....still some of the dark fruits...a hint of spicy hops on the finish.

F-Carbonation on the high side. Body is more medium to medium full. Dry on the finish.

O-Solid offering. Enjoyable and a type of beer you don't see too often.

12oz brown bottle, sample from brewery.

Reddish hued brown brew, amazing showing of lace on top. Smells of a loaf of bread and then that loaf is shoved in my mouth. Not as big as expected but it is bigger for what this brewery offers, perhaps a bit more body and hint of alcohol would make it work. Still very tasty, a good sip.

it's a brown ale. a german one, but it's a brown ale. very comforting on a cold, minnesota winter night.

it pours, well, brown. thin head. touch of wet lacing. caramel with a touch of spiciness. mouth is a touch thin for something imperial - at the same time it goes down fast.

Brown color with a finger of head that settles to a thin cap. Heavy lacing is left down the glass. Aroma of caramel, chocolate, toast, and earth. Flavor consists of caramel, dark fruit, chocolate, and spicy noble hops. Medium body that seems a bit over carbonated however. This is a really good beer and compared to the Baltic porter in the same sampler pack, I would take this everyday and twice on Sunday.

Light khaki head. Copper brown color.

Nutty, caramel, cocoa, and light biscuit notes. Toasted malts and some earthy hops. Has a sazz like hop profile, but I could be off.

Medium bodied. Very smooth feel. Ends with a light roasted malt feel.

This beer is a crusher with tons of flavor. An incredible alt brew with so much flavor. Very impressed with this one.

 

 

By far, one of my favorites in this seasonal sampler series. An impressive bubble show produces a froth one inch high, covering the dark amber/copper colored liquid; webs of lacing coat the side of the glass. Nice malt body of caramel, biscuit and more caramel with other dark fruits. Fairly strong counterbalance from the hops, with spicy, herbal and earthy notes. This is by far, one of my top ALT craft beers that I have tried. Toasty and roasted malt character in the nose and aromatic portion of the palate, mingling with the biscuit before fully overtaking it. Just delicious... Danger in a bottle with its easy drinking character and high ABV. Well done effort here and will recommend. Hopefully they will keep this on the seasonal release and not just one-time brewed.

I suppose this is bigger than the Schmaltz Alt, but this isn't huge. Seems highly carbonated and a kinda' thin. More malt forward with a lighter hopping but there is a herbal earthy quality to the hop flavor. Toasted malt flavor with subdued sweetness but a little caramel in time. Only a touch of warmth in the gut to signal any increased alcohol. Hopping flavor seems to grow some as it warms but the malt never loses is presence. Amber with darker gold and brown. Pretty darn clear. Tan head settles out but doesn't disappear. Not quite a bit or full as I expected, but I suppose bigger than most.
Upon further sample I have found the aroma to be quite good with a rich toasty chocolate quality that reminds me of a cookie. So I increased the aroma score. No change to the rest.