Schwelmer Bernstein
Privatbrauerei Schwelm

Schwelmer BernsteinSchwelmer Bernstein
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From:
Privatbrauerei Schwelm
 
Germany
Style:
Vienna Lager
ABV:
4.8%
Score:
81
Avg:
3.55 | pDev: 16.62%
Reviews:
80
Ratings:
82
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Aug 19, 2015
Added:
Nov 21, 2003
Wants:
  4
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
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Ratings by ybnorml:
Photo of ybnorml
Reviewed by ybnorml from Rhode Island

3.45/5  rDev -2.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A nice clean dark golden beer with a big off white fizzy head. The aroma has that malt sweetness that I find a lot of Marzen style beers. There is a light fruitiness in there also with a background hint of spice. The sweetness is not as assertive as (again) most of this style that I have had. but the hop bitterness creates an nice dry finish. The taste does not overwhelm your palate. Which would make it a good beer to drink many of.
Oct 18, 2004
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.57 by BcCraft710 from Canada (BC)

Aug 19, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by Hopheadjeffery from Illinois

Aug 04, 2013
Photo of kjc51478
Reviewed by kjc51478 from Germany

3.71/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Pours a amber color with medium, thin head. Aroma is weak but of caramel and some floral hops. Taste is a nice roasted malt followed up with a decent amount of sweetness. A bit of orange and grassy hops is also evident. It is light on the palate with a long-lasting, sweet aftertaste. A nice example of a Vienna lager.
Feb 04, 2011
Photo of drabmuh
Reviewed by drabmuh from Maryland

3.93/5  rDev +10.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5
Served in a nice flip top bottle, poured into a pilsner glass. Beer is dark yellow, and has very low carbonation and no head to speak of.

Aroma is fruity and sweet, not really what I expected. Some malt character, no hops at all.

Beer itself is quite smooth. Sweet upfront, no bitterness at all. Really high mouthfeel, pretty thick a little too thick. Finishes nicely and no aftertaste. Drinkability is high (really high). I would definitely order this again.
Nov 13, 2009
Photo of wiseguy142
Reviewed by wiseguy142 from New York

3.08/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Wanted something German to go along with the Oktoberfests I bought for the season so gave this a try. No "Best before end" date on the back, although there is a place on the label for it.

Pours a rich gold like an Oktoberfest. Small amount of white frothy head on top that clings to the glass but dies away quickly with no lacing. Minimal visible carbonation. Lacing is slightly brown around the edges.

Aroma is very malty and slightly overwhelming. Sort of like Negro Modello or one of those Mexican ambers where the malt sort of knocks you off your socks.

Taste is more of a Marzen than a Vienna lager.. not really hopped enough for a Vienna lager. Very sweet and malty otherwise. I would say this is bready to the extreme. Slightly soggy and damp flavor. The carbonation doesn't do anything to emphasize the malt, making it feel slippery and sweet. Clean and clear, but obviously slightly old and a bit too creamy and rich. Needs balance, but has a lot of flavor otherwise.

I bet this would be better fresh and with a little more carbonation.
Aug 30, 2009
Photo of WalrusJockey
Reviewed by WalrusJockey from New Jersey

3.27/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Buying a bunch of these for home brew bottles. Hope the beer is drinkable...

A- translucent, brownish amber with a decent white head, which fll quickly.

S- very bready, pizza-dough aroma, framed in with lots of sweet malt.

T- light body resolves into moderately malty, and sweet, without any real hoppyness, but also without becoming overpowering. Aftertaste is very bready. Flavors are a bit light, a bit bland, but not terrible.

M- light body, light carbonation, especially for a bottle conditioned beer. Maybe I poured it too vigorously?

D- Ok, I guess. I pretty sessionable, but also pretty bland. Maybe a few of these while I play TF2 would be cool, though...

EDIT: if you are thinking about buying this beer for the bottles, don't let the C+ discourage you: the beer is Ok, and I will drink them, it just realy isn't anything at all to write home about.
Jul 24, 2009
Photo of matt20102
Reviewed by matt20102 from Michigan

3.23/5  rDev -9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Serving Type: Grolsch bottle

Appearance: Dark golden orange. Very little head.

Smell: Very faint aroma of honey, malt sugar.

Taste: Sweet, malty taste gives way quickly to a honey-like aftertaste. A very faint after taste of hops lingers- this is a floral, honey-like taste rather than a bitter taste. Subsequent sips reveal an orange-rind character that is somewhat unexpected for a beer with this little bitterness.

Mouthfeel: First taste seems heavy but this original mouthfeel dissipates quickly. Carbonation is suitable to the style with very small bubbles.

Overall: This beer has a complexity that makes it definitely worth trying. Every sip seems to bring about a slightly different dimension although there is nothing that is particularly surprising about it. I would purchase it again.
Jul 19, 2009
Photo of yourefragile
Reviewed by yourefragile from District of Columbia

3.22/5  rDev -9.3%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
33 cL swing top bottle

Color is relatively clear, slightly hazed copper color. Very weak, off white head that retains what little body it has and leaves very few spots of lacing. Fairly sweet nose, caramel and toasted malt, maybe some slight diacetyl. Creamy, smooth body with light carbonation and finish of slight hop bitterness. Flavor again has a slight diacetyl presence which is distracting. Regardless, flavor has strong toasted malt backbone, light grain flavors but overall just feels flat and lifeless. Not bad, but a little more carbonation would help. Drinkability is hurt by diacetyl presence.
May 27, 2009
Photo of Reidrover
Reviewed by Reidrover from Oregon

3.68/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
500ml swing top bottle. Red/amber coloured beer with a nice frothy off white head. Good toasty malty aroma..loved it slight Ovaltine scent in this too..which again i loved. Nice malt driven beer, biscuity,doughy, strong, touch of hops in the end. I found this fairly inviting on the palate. Good drinkable vienna. Liked it a lot simple but good.
May 08, 2009
Photo of Psilo707
Reviewed by Psilo707 from Korea (South)

3.72/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Pours a deep amber color. Reminds me of thick apple juice almost. Frothy head and good lacing down the sides. Smells very sweet and aromatic.

Tastes similar to it's appearance. A bit of fruityness in there, apple/caramel/citrus. Piney aftertaste.

The mouthfeel is pretty good though a bit on the light side. Drinkability remains high as well, I always like these Vienna Lager's for their ability to be downed in repeated fashion without problems.

Overall a decent one but not the best from the brewery.
Apr 15, 2009
Photo of markskar
Reviewed by markskar from New Hampshire

3.29/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 2 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Found this at a store in Queens, NY near my hotel at La Guardia. I wandered off and found myself surrounded by housing projects in the Ghetto (yes, with a capital G). I am about as pasty white as you can get, and I seemed to be the first white person any of these people have seen in a long time. Not all gang bangers around, but plenty of them doing business with cars pulling over, "mean-mugging" me as I walked by looking down at the ground, etc.

At any rate, very limited selection at the store but was surprised to see this brew that I've never seen before. Flip top, brown bottle--I always like to see German beer in brown bottles--no skunkiness. All in all, not a bad beer, but not something I'd buy again.

A: Light amber, fairly clear. Very little carbonation. This bottle had a ton of sediment in suspension--not sure what that means, but if I didn't already know what it was I might've thought it was dirt or something.

S: Fairly pleasant, typical Amber maltiness dominates.

T: A little bland, but not too bad for an amber. Mostly light malty character, but adequately balanced with a mild hoppiness.

M: Despite apparent lack of carbonation, has decent body with a nice crisp feel to it after initial smoothness.

D: I'd call it thirst-quenching. Not bad for one or two on a hot a Saturday afternoon in the summer, but I'd generally choose something else were the selection better.
Mar 21, 2009
Photo of beerthulhu
Reviewed by beerthulhu from New Jersey

3.92/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A: Poured a beautiful light ruby red color with an initial 1 finger spongey head that quickly receded to a thin film layering.

S: a nice sweet maltiness to it, worty, with a light flowery hopping.

T: The flavor was sweet toasted malt, bready, with a touch of dry flowery hopping. Some light dried fruitiness with a light citrus touch is detected. sweet with a light bitterness that is well balanced and managed makes this a nice drinking amber that drinks like a rich sweet octoberfest.

M: creamy and chewy and very smooth.

D: An easy drinking beer, sweet, smooth and no problem going down. Would definitely buy and try this again.
Jan 18, 2009
Photo of LilBeerDoctor
Reviewed by LilBeerDoctor from New York

2.04/5  rDev -42.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Reviewed on 9/5/08. Bottle. Pours a light brown with a very small foamy white head. Aroma of cardboard and stale wheat. Flavor is the same. Tastes just like the Pilsener, somehow. I guess I just don't like the house character of these Schwelmer beers.
4/4/3/3/10 (2.4/5)
Dec 26, 2008
Photo of andrewt960
Reviewed by andrewt960 from New Jersey

2.86/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
Flip top bottle purchased as a single at Whole Foods... Middletown, NJ
A - Nice gold, white head, but faded quickly, may have been a bad poor.
S - Touch of malt and maybe caramel, maybe... maybe, a touch of skunkiness??
T - kinda plain for a german beer, but i don't think i have had enough germans to be truely educated enough.light malt and a touch of wheat. not much in the sense of hops.
M - A bit watery and thin.
D - I suppose this would be OK on a hot day out of a cooler... or if you want a semi-cool bottle.
Oct 17, 2008
Photo of LumpyGuitar
Reviewed by LumpyGuitar from New York

4.2/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5
A friend gave me a 6 pack box of these, and apparently our local grocery store now carries them.

Poured a deep gold with fluffy white head. Good head retention but almost no lacing.

Smell is a light sweet malt, biscuity, with a light hop.

Taste is very creamy. Buttery biscuits with a light malt and fresh water. Toasted flavor in the nose with a bit of cornbread. Hop is very light but is detectable in the mild bitter of the finish.

Mouthfeel is very light bodied, carbonation is good, smooth not crisp.

Drinkability is great. I can't say that I'd drink this all day but it's very easy to drink. The sweetness isn't overbearing to me, like a tripel, but very light. Very easy to drink a few of, and pairs very well with everything I've had it with. A great lunchtime/sandwich beer.
Oct 05, 2008
Photo of RobH
Reviewed by RobH from Maryland

3.61/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
11.2oz. flip top bottle.

A: Poured a dark golden, slightly hazy color with minimal head into a Pilsner glass.

S: The aroma seemed weak to me and I could not pick out any truly discernable smells.

T&M: A unique taste that leans toward malty with a butterscotch/caramel type of character. The mouthfeel is smooth and inviting. Carbonation was low in my sample.

D: This is a nice, drinkable beer but I think after two one would be looking for something new that's a little more "alive" on the palate. I enjoyed this one and will drink it again.
Sep 14, 2008
Photo of jdmorgan
Reviewed by jdmorgan from Virginia

3.95/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Enjoyed the swingtop bottle :-) Poured an amber hue in a beer mug. The smell had a slight sweet aroma with a medium hop aroma as well.

The taste was smooth and had a medium malt body with some sweetness. The hop profile was medium with some decent hop taste and a medium bitterness. There were some caramel flavors as well. The carbonation was medium and the consistency was medium as well.

Overall, I enjoyed the quality and especially the choice of hops. Good drinkability overall and worth a try if you like a good lager.
Aug 28, 2008
Photo of Haybeerman
Reviewed by Haybeerman from Colorado

3.77/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
A: Dark gold and slightly brown. Gives it the look of full-bodied beer. Thick 1.5 inch head that laced all the way down, but did fade in the second half.

S: Toasted malt and really good hop balance.

T: Love it when a beer tastes like it smells; toasted malt with a slight hops bitterness. Dry finish that leaves subtle spice tones in mouth. I really liked the way this beer tasted.

M: Not as full-bodied as I thought it would be, so a little let down. Medium carbonation.

D: Well worth the 4-pk .5L swing top I purchased. I'm getting more and some of there other offerings.
Jul 19, 2008
Photo of pinotboy007
Reviewed by pinotboy007 from Virginia

2.51/5  rDev -29.3%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Flip top bottle purchased as a single at Total Wine, Chantilly, VA.

A - Nice gold w/very modest head and scant lacing.

S - Touch of malt and maybe caramel.

T - German Michelob. Scant carbonation, texture or mouthfeel. Pretty one-dimensional but on the same token nothing objectionable.

M - A bit watery and thin.

D - I suppose this would be OK on a hot day out of a cooler if you wanted to impress Bud-swilling friends, but that's about it.
Jun 24, 2008
Schwelmer Bernstein from Privatbrauerei Schwelm
Beer rating: 81 out of 100 with 82 ratings