Schell's Frost Hop Sampler Pack

About thirty years ago -- while many American homebrewers were cutting their teeth on various brands of hoppy, amber ale and domestic India Pale Ale -- I was cutting my own teeth on various stylistic interpretations of lager beer styles. This was true for both Bavarian and "German" imports (including Austrian and Dutch brands, along with Franconian and northern German brands), as well as the small number of American regional breweries which made an effort to specialize in Pils, Dunkles, Bock, Helles . . .

To that end I found a solid Dunkel to be no less a thing of beauty (or any less compelling) than a good Pils. And while I always preferred the latter, that's situational and subjective.

At any rate, August Schell Brewing Company seems to have their head screwed-on tight when it comes to brewing lagers, and with this Dunkel they have knocked it out of the park -- at least to my mind. Bready, sweet, nice bitterness, round, and with a bit of roast . . . an easy drinker and a breath of fresh air on a cold winter's day.

I'm not a verified expert on all styles, but this is among the best Dunkels I've had in years:

It may be a different recipe than last time around -- even then it was worth a try.

 

Yes, yes, yes to the Dunkel!

 

Where is mine? lol

 

Don't worry. It's not a "fruity" beer, if that's what you are worried about. I wouldn't have even known there was tangerine in it if the label hadn't said so. Basically, I think they just used some tangerine peel in the same way that some wits use orange peel.

 

I really appreciate this about Schell's. While most breweries go chasing after the latest hop-bomb, Schell's truly seems to respect the history and craft of classic beer styles. To this date, I don't think they've brewed an IPA, and kudos to them for that.

 

It was a solid offering.

 

They will be again, this one a year-round version of their Pale Lager they brewed not that long ago: https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/417/283809/

 

I recall enjoying the Citra Blanc enough to buy it again on the regular.

And though it's not my cup of tea, I'm pleased as punch to see 'em roll out Grain Belt Blu cans this spring (that was a big crowd-pleaser at the Minnesota State Fair).

 

It's great to see Schell's produce more beer in cans. I really hope Schell's will bring their Hefe into cans too.

 

If they'd roll out the Sangria Red in cans, I'm pretty sure there'd be at least a dozen of them in my fridge at any given day in the summer.

 

Yes. 100 times yes. I need that beer in my belly while camping.

 

Totally agree with your entire post.

Summit does roughly the same thing and some people on here shit on them for it .....

 

I’m saying this as a summit fan, so it’s not meant as criticism. But, I think Schell’s has found a wonderful balance of respect for classic styles as well as innovation. I think summit can be perceived as a bit stuck in their ways and lacking innovation. I buy a lot of their beer, but I could see where folks get that opinion (if I am inferring and summarizing correctly).

 

This is really well said and sales people within the beer industry would agree with your statement.

 

The Golden Lager was the standout for me this year. The Dunkel and Porter were good too. Not sure about the Pale Tangerine Lager. I wish they would have thrown in a Pils or something more unusual like a Dunkelweizen.

 

That dunkel looks great! Too few can be found in the states.

I like their beers and wish I could have them locally- maybe I would even like the tangerine lager

 

If you people like the Munich Dunkel from the Peacock 12 pack give Doppel the Hutt from Giesenbrau a try.
I think both of these beers are great.

 

I just had my first Citra Blanc and came here to find this thread to exclaim how much I enjoyed that pint. Wonderful beer. Nice assertive bitterness, great hop flavor, perfectly crisp lager finish.