Samichlaus Classic

I had a side by side with an 8 year old bottle and a fresh bottle and I preferred the older bottle but my buddy preferred the fresh one because he like the carbonation.

 

Samichlaus is definitely a touch hot when released, which mellows with age, but I also think that it's flavors are boldest when it is close to bottling.

 

Dont they age it for a year before relase anyways, atleast thats what ive been told.

 

10 months.
It is brewed on 6 December each year. The 2014 vintage is therefore only a few weeks old at this point.

Beer is meant for drinking. Samichlaus is not so rare that you need to sit on it imo. Sure, it can be fun to lay this down for a while, but there is plenty of that stuff around. Enjoy this one with your brother this year. Pick up another sometime later if you want. Share with family now. You certainly wont regret it next year.
Cheers.

 

Fresh it will be more boozy, and more of a sticky syrupy mouthfeel.

I would drink it to try, and then grab a 4-pack or a case to throw in the basement. At 3+ years it's awesome.

 

Because it is so easy to find, get two bottles of the youngest batch you can find. Try it now. When you inevitably dislike it, put the second bottle away. Open it when it is 4 or 5 years old. If you dislike it, now you know. If you like it, repeat the process with a four pack or two; just ignore all of them this time until the appropriate age.

I win.

Also, do the same thing for Samichlaus Helles (the one with the red label).

The only---only---reason Samichlaus isn't rare is because too many people think it's only for drinking fresh. If people knew what it tasted like with 4+ years on it, it would be impossible to find.

Beer is indeed meant for drinking, as long as it tastes good. Samichlaus sits on shelves because it doesn't taste good when it comes out; most people don't willingly imbibe pennies, gasoline, and nail polish remover.

 

this fresh brew is undrinkable after one year but magic in a bottle after 4 years?

wow. that is amazing stuff.

 

I just had it one tap last week wasnt super impressed with it, maybe because it was after a bunch of other big beers.

 

I have a 2009 vintage I'm getting ready to drink.

 

I had my first fresh one this year and wasn't too impressed. We've still got some sitting on shelves here so you guys convinced me yet again to pick up multiples. They got for about 10 bucks here, which is reasonable in Norway. I'm guessing they're considerably less everywhere else though.

 

There's a lot of things the Nordic countries do admirably well but it still boggles my mind how expensive beer is. No wonder you all just drink vodka, malört, akvavit and snaps all the time.

 

oldest beers, 1 bottle 1987 Samichlaus pale, 2 bottles 1988 and 2 bottles 1989 Samichlaus dark. in basement closet since their creation, kinda scared……..

 

Just had a 2009 yesterday as well! Cheers!

 

Had one with 10 years on it and it was sublime. Buy a 4-pack and open one every 2-3 years.

 

Opened a 2003 last weekend. Past its prime, but still tasty. Going to have to consider fast-tracking my older bottles. Don't like to see Sami fading.

 

I had one fresh on Christmas and it blew me away. It was like a liqueur more than a beer. Based on my experience I rushed out to the store I bought it at only to find it sold out....Luckily, trip to Maryland over the weekend led to the purchase of two more. One to age one year and one to keep until like 5 minutes before the apocalypse. Next year I'll get three as soon as I see them so I can still enjoy the heat of it fresh while sitting on a few.

 

Found some on sale for $3 a bottle today. Seemed reasonable to buy two and sit on. Had one fresh years ago and it was not my thing, but it was so long before I refined my beer palate, it's hard to say. I don't like hot beers so it'll cellar regardless for a few years if I remember it...

 

We just got a second shipment of Samichlaus, so most places that had it should be getting more soon.