Just A Dash Of Liquid Courage: #13

Figured I'd go for another imported beer, from the same brand that makes my favorite. Not quite what I expected, considering Aventinus, but interesting nonetheless.



Schneider Weisse Original Weissbier
500mL bottle at 5.4% ABV
Appearance: 5/10 (D)
A very cloudy beer with an unusually dark color, especially for a wheat beer. A nice, fine head with even lacing, though it doesn't last.
Aroma/Nose: 7/10 (C+)
A lovely roasted smell, with just a hint of hops and a subtle yeastiness to it. It has overtones of allspice and a vague smokiness to it.
Mouthfeel: 7.5/10 (B-)
A incredibly smooth beer, though perhaps a little on the fizzy side. A very refreshing drink on a hot summer day.
Flavor: 6/10 (C-)
Soft and subtle, this beer is definitely a true weissbier, though with a subtle take on the malt flavor. A developed hoppy flavor with an aftertaste of bitter citrus.
Overview: 6.5/10 (C)
Roundabout a typical beer, this one is lighter and probably a good substitute if you can't get your hands on a summer beer. Otherwise, it doesn't stand out that much.

Just A Dash Of Liquid Courage: #9

Well, I figured it's about time I posted up a review on my drink of choice, so here it is! Produced in Bavaria by G. Schneider & Sohn, otherwise known as Schneider Weisse, and bottle fermented until perfect. This particular brew has a different flavor depending upon how long it's been sitting in the bottle - For optimum taste, I prefer to let it sit around for about three to four months from the bottling date before I drink it. The younger beer has a sharper palette, while the aged beer is more mellow and smooth. Letting it sit for more than six months past the bottling date is not ideal, though. If not kept under optimal conditions, it tends to develop odd flavors by that time. Anyway, here's the review, which was done with a four-month-old beer.



Schneider Weisse Aventinus Wheat Doppelbock
500mL bottle at 8.2% ABV
Appearance: 7.5/10 (B-)
A nice, cloudy ale with a dark toffee color and a surprisingly white head, this beer stands out as a traditional style German brew, forming that delightfully lopsided foam that all great ales have.
Aroma/Nose: 9/10 (A-)
A strong, yeasty aroma not unlike fresh cooked bread, with a definite hint of malt and fruity tones of banana. May be a little on the sour side for some people, though.
Mouthfeel: 8.5/10 (B+)
A brilliantly thick beer, very deserving of the name liquid bread, with a soft prickle to it and a gentle numbness that follows it down the throat.
Flavor: 8.5/10 (B+)
With a good balance, this beer is sweet and sharp at the same time, with a wholeness to it that's rather unique. A particularly malty brew, with a aftertaste of cloves.
Overview: 8.5/10 (B+)
Hands down one of the best ales I've had, this traditional twist on the doppelbock is and always will be a favorite of mine. A real treat for those that like their brews wholesome and heavy.

Just A Dash Of Liquid Courage: #5

Austrian beer... Yep. That's good stuff. In fact, there's this alpine variety of beer that I once tried, with some spices and herbs added to it during the brewing process. I've got to say, it's quite an interesting concept. Almost like a gruit beer. Except with hops.



Edelweiss Snowfresh Weissbier
330mL bottle at 5.0% ABV
Appearance: 6/10 (C-)
As a light beer, a pale color is expected, and it delivers. However, it's a tad cloudy, perhaps for style or to show the herbs used in flavoring. Of course, the main downfall is the weakness of the golden color.
Aroma/Nose: 6.5/10 (C)
Lightly pungent with the smell of a few herbs I barely recognize, this beer could smell a little more pleasant. It's not too bad, though, with soft undertones of malt.
Mouthfeel: 8/10 (B)
A very rich feeling, smooth and somehow prickly and sharp at the same time. Despite the fizziness, however, this beer doesn't hurt the tongue like some do.
Flavor: 7.5/10 (B-)
With an intense sweetness not usually associated with beers, and a faint flavor of hops and a flowery tail, this beer delivers unexpectedly. The herbs are a good addition.
Overview: 7/10 (C+)
Though it delivers in flavor and texture, this beer is lacking in other aesthetics. A good casual beer, but not something I'd drink to be fancy.

For those of those who don't know what gruit is... Well, it's essentially what humanity used to preserve their beer before the discovery of hops. Generally a mixture of herbs and spices to give flavor or ward off unwanted bacterial and fungal growth. And bugs.