Allgauer Weihnachtsbier

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 7 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 6

Labeled as Winterfestbier
Quite a bit paler than one expects in a typical Winter seasonal, the beer is a brilliantly clear, full gold color when held up to the light, but does take on some amber overtones as it sits on the table. The head starts out about two-fingers thick and is a frothy mix of pale, off-white colored foam. The aroma smells lightly of hops and mostly of malt. Aromatic components of hay, green grass, honey, fresh crushed pale malt, soda crackers, touches of lemon zest and a hint of herbal notes. Really the aroma smells like a more malty, slightly less hoppy version of a German Pils.

The taste is perhaps a bit fuller, and a touch sweeter than a typical, dry, German Pils, but it is not as malty as a Bohemian version would be. Perhaps I would characterize this as a slightly bigger version of a Helles. Malt flavors of honey, grass, biscuits, soda crackers and an almost, lightly caramelized malt sweetness are balanced by a noticeable hop contribution of mint, hints of lemon zest, a slightly astringent herbal note (especially in the finish), hay, and a light yet persistent bitterness.

This is actually a decent beer, I am a bit disappointed that this was not something darker & maltier, but this is a tasty beer. It has a really nice clean character to it; allowing the simple malt & hop components to come through quite well.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 5 | Mouthfeel: 5 | Flavor: 6 | Overall: 5

Orange gold color. Small to no head. Aroma is grainy and grassy, with a touch of spice. A light to medium bodied Dort/Helles. Malts are fruit and sweet. Slightly spicy hops. Touches of nutmeg and allspice (which I guess it is why they call it a Christmas Beer). Mostly it a totally neutral tasting fluid. Mouthfeel is full and round. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly sweet.

Aroma: 6 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 7

Bought in the euro-style pint bottle, nice shiny/sparkly label. Quite an Unusual appearance, its almost murky like a hefe weissen, slightly darker gold though with a pure white head. Smell is mostly quite malty for a German beer, with some linger spicy tones. Very malty taste again and balanced by peppery spiciness, some hops evident at the end. Exceptionally smooth on the palate. Nice easy drinking winter beer