Wine and Beer Enthusiasts

[it wasnt me]

Wasn't aware that the Germans did barley wines

"The Germans" don't, "some of our craft beer guys" do.

a good (barrel-aged) bock beer would very much meet with my approval.

I know that "good" is always a rather personal point, but Störtebeker (German, of course) had a lovely smoky Mezcal/Gin cask Bock last year. Other than that, I still recommend Kuehn Kunz Rosen - in recent years, they had a Merlot/Dornfelder finished and a St. Kilian finished Doppelbock, of which there are still bottles available in some shops. (Because they're expensive, of course.)

If you like barrel-aged beers per se, the Rare Beer Cellar (or, if you happen to be in London every now and then, the Cask Pub & Kitchen's vintage beer menu) might be worth a look. You'd better ignore the price tags though.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

"The Germans" don't, "some of our craft beer guys" do.

I stand corrected.

I know that "good" is always a rather personal point, but Störtebeker (German, of course) had a lovely smoky Mezcal/Gin cask Bock last year. Other than that, I still recommend Kuehn Kunz Rosen - in recent years, they had a Merlot/Dornfelder finished and a St. Kilian finished Doppelbock, of which there are still bottles available in some shops. (Because they're expensive, of course.)

To my mind, Korbinian (from the legendary Weihenstephaner brewery in Bavaria) is an outstanding doppelbock beer.

If you like barrel-aged beers per se, the Rare Beer Cellar (or, if you happen to be in London every now and then, the Cask Pub & Kitchen's vintage beer menu) might be worth a look. You'd better ignore the price tags though.

Fascinating.

Thank you.

 

[it wasnt me]

Korbinian (from the legendary Weihenstephaner brewery in Bavaria) is an outstanding doppelbock beer.

It might come as a surprise that I still ... haven't had that.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

It might come as a surprise that I still ... haven't had that.

I recommend that you seek it out, and try it: Personally, I think that it is a superb beer.

 

[it wasnt me]

I've been looking for it since you recommended it. No luck yet!

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I've been looking for it since you recommended it. No luck yet!

I cannot recommend it highly enough; now, obviously, it is not cheap (as is also the case with some of the beers that you have suggested), but, to my mind, it is well worth the price, as it is an excellent beer.

 

[it wasnt me]

it is not cheap (as is also the case with some of the beers that you have suggested)

You have no idea!
My current maximum was 35€ for a 20 ml bottle of the Schorschbock 55 (an Eisbock with 55 vol.% ABV (yes, really)), followed by several bottles of barrel-aged stouts and/or porters. A life of pleasures is really expensive.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

For some reason, I decided to forego the pleasures of the grape and the grain for much of the past fortnight.

Not tonight, however.

A rather pleasant ale is currently keeping me company.

 

[it wasnt me]

Oh, which ale is it?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Oh, which ale is it?

A local one, and rather pleasant, too.

However, I have since graduated to sipping the Belgian classic, a Westmalle Dubbel, which is served in a Westmalle glass, no less.

 

[it wasnt me]

Westmalle is, indeed, rather lovely sometimes.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Sipping (it has just been opened) a German classic, the wonderful Hefe Weissbier from the legendary Weihenstephaner brewery of Bavaria.

 

[it wasnt me]

Ironically, I had one South Korean beer (Terra) and one U.S. beer (Demihydra by Mortalis) in Germany today, the latter having been brewed with peanut butter, strawberries and grapes. Acceptable pastry sour, somewhat expensive though (I paid € 12 for the can).

 

[Scepticalscribe]

And, for my second, and final, beer of the evening, I am sipping - from a Trappistes Rochefort glass - a legendary beer from Belgium, the Trappistes Rochefort 8.

 

[it wasnt me]

That one, I had last year. I vaguely remember caramel and stout flavours. Not entirely "typically Belgian", but decent.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

That one, I had last year. I vaguely remember caramel and stout flavours. Not entirely "typically Belgian", but decent.

Actually, it is a very typically Belgian for what is referred to as a 'dubbel', or 'quadrupel' style beer, a beer style that is not unlike a German doppelbock.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Sipping an Original Helles, a wonderful beer - a classic lager - from Weihenstephaner.

 

[it wasnt me]

Having some Belgian, as we spoke… lovely dark and intense.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Having some Belgian, as we spoke… lovely dark and intense.

Gorgeous, glorious, a glass of pure nectar.

Do enjoy.

 

[it wasnt me]

I do imagine that the 2025 expression is more complex than previous ones.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Sipping a glass of Viognier from the Pays d'Oc.

 

[it wasnt me]

Rejoice! My "go-to" supermarket just happened to have a new brand of beer delivered today when I was buying groceries for the next few days.

So far I'm rather underwhelmed after your high praises. Admittedly: It's the "normal" Weihenstephaner variety; but it's a little too unexciting for my taste. But it is undoubtedly still quite tasty, thanks for bringing it to my attention.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Rejoice! My "go-to" supermarket just happened to have a new brand of beer delivered today when I was buying groceries for the next few days.

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So far I'm rather underwhelmed after your high praises. Admittedly: It's the "normal" Weihenstephaner variety; but it's a little too unexciting for my taste. But it is undoubtedly still quite tasty, thanks for bringing it to my attention.

Wonderful.

Do enjoy.

That is one of my favourite beers; their entire range is excellent.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Sipping a glass of Chablis, an elegant white wine from Burgundy.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

View attachment 2528906

So far I'm rather underwhelmed after your high praises. Admittedly: It's the "normal" Weihenstephaner variety; but it's a little too unexciting for my taste. But it is undoubtedly still quite tasty, thanks for bringing it to my attention.The thing is, much

Well, this is a classic "Hefe Weissbier", a beer that is flawlessly made and utterly reliable and predictable.

Personally, my own view is that much of the current beer market is flooded, nay, saturated by legions of over-hopped IPA style beers; the thing is, once they were new, but now - to be honest, while I will cheerfully imbibe one or two (especially in summer), I find that I far prefer a reliable weissbier, or helles, or kristal style beer as a regular beverage.