Austrian kraftbiers are getting more numerous and quite good I think. I'm quite enjoying this Austrian Trappist style bier - and really feeling it at over 9%... https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/30035/86464/
I have had the pleasure of drinking Stift Engelszell Gregorius beer on draft. I think it is a very good BSDA/Quad beer. I have yet to see a bottle of this beer but when I do I will buy it and age it a bit. Cheers!
I agree with your assessment here. A number of years ago I homebrewed a Quad. I drank a few of those beers young and they were tasty but they most definitely lacked a number of qualities. At about the 6 month mark the beer had notably matured. At one year it was even better. From year 1 to 2 the beer improved a bit but incrementally. At year 3 it was still quite good but it was on the 'down-slope' at that point. Cheers!
Not 'kraft' per se but this one is damn tasty. I am really enjoying these Austrian biers out of my Advent Calendar. This Bock bier is very good! Links: 1. http://www.hofstetten.at/granitbock 2. https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/7282/47234/
Sad, but Stiegl is a very interesting place to tour when you are in Salzburg. They have a number of tasty brews to enjoy. We visited there last Christmas.
Another Austrian bier from my Advent Calendar: Last Christmas (a spiced oatmeal stout) by Craft Country Brewery in Tyrol Austria. http://www.craftcountry.beer Hints of cloves in this beer - a dry, bitterish, soapy aftertaste tho. *Edit - this beer was better after it sat on my radiator for 5 min as i was drinking it. It is better warm.
+1. Lived in Salzburg for 1 year, a good 15 years ago before I was actively "into" beer. But it has laid a solid quality foundation. Austrian brewers are not tied to the German RHG and Stiegl has also forayed into crafty territories being only 5kms across the border. They even did a framboise of sorts (be it based on a Berliner Weisse). More recently, the quality of (Austrian, not Californian-brewed) Trumer Pils and especially their 2,7% dryhopped Trumer Hopfenspiel has surprised me as well. Hofstettner's Bocks are great.
