I had been trying to get hold of this beer for the past two or three years, but never seemed to time our orders right. A winter seasonal brew, the name always piqued my interest. What’s not to like about doppelbocks and apple strudel?
To be fair, I didn’t really know what to expect when I finally opened this beer. Uiltje’s notes describe it as ‘a liquid fairytale that will give you a magical kick in the face!’
It is darker than I was thinking, and there is A LOT in the aroma. Deep roasted malts, sweet caramel malts, dark stone fruits and lots of spices.
The first taste was almost a little confronting, with so much going on. It took several more sips to try and take things in. It is initially quite sweet, both malt and fruit but quite quickly you get the spices joining in.
Cinnamon and vanilla lead the way, and of course there is apple. Raisins and dark bread in the roasty malt and a building bitterness that rises. It is sweet but not too sweet, and strong without being overwhelming. You’ll get a lot more out of this beer as it warms. A clever dessert beer that is the definition of a sipper.