Schell Schmaltzs Alt

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 4 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 5 | Overall: 8

Ever since I heard the intriguing name schmaltz alt, I‘ve been wanting to try this. I’ve been very happy, for the most part, with most Schell products. My interest grew more as I became more familiar with alts, one of my favored styles. I’ve also tasted Southampton and Erie alt. This 12 oz bottle has a cool label, though different than the other Schell styles. I am curious if that is Auggie on the front. Once poured into the steeler stein, the color is dark ferruginous brown and a froth of a thin tan head. Ubiquitous beer aroma laced with uncooked bread and roasted background hints. Not overly strong smell. Has a gustatory delight of roasted medium light bitterness. Feels like its trying to be a stout but never gets there with the choler overtones. Interesting and fun to drink. Frabjous medium low fizz and carbonation, not watered down. Overall a fine example of a good respectable beer. Finish has a short low to medium malt bitterness.

Aroma: 9 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 8 | Overall: 8

Very good beer, I've never had an alt before to judge if its a good one. But having been to the brewery, those guys probably got it right. Seems heavy on the crystal malt.

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

Aroma is walnuts and some sweet bread. Fairly dark almost black color. A large light tan colored head. Bread and roasty flovors. Also notes of nuts and some maple. A very refreshing beer. It has a a lot of flavor for the relatively thin body.

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

My real overall score for this one would by just under eight. I always wanted to try an alt, and when I ordered this on tap from one of my favorite watering holes, it was advertised as a Schell's Schmaltz Ale, I didn't learn it was an alt until later - although I've been told that this style is akin to English ales - which is the way the Germans brewed before they became so strict back in the 1500s. Came to the table with a dark amber to light brown color, medium white to slightly tan head, and something of a malty nose. Body was medium to heavy, and flavor was very much like one of the maltier English ales. This was not outstanding, but it was really quite good, and intriguing to me.

Aroma: 8 | Appearance: 8 | Mouthfeel: 8 | Flavor: 9 | Overall: 8

Very good dark beer. Nice smooth drinking. Would buy this again and again.

Aroma: 5 | Appearance: 7 | Mouthfeel: 6 | Flavor: 7 | Overall: 7

Not a bad beer! ALthough the label is misleading. I was expecting something a little more in keeping with the Alt style brews, instead I got something more like a schwarzbier. Nice head. Overall however, I would continue to drink this beer.