Castle Brewery Eggenberg Samichlaus Classic Bier Dopplebock

Hello beer lovers and welcome to another edition of the NorCal Beer Blog’s brew review.

Tonight’s featured beer is Castle Brewery Eggenberg Samichlaus Classic Bier Dopplebock – bottled in 2006.

From the Brauerei Schloss Eggenberg website: “Only once a year on December 6th brewed this stout is internationally the best known beer from our brewery, with a large following among the growing number of beer-connoisseurs. The very elaborate and long-lasting manufacturing process (10 months in the storage cellar), it makes it a real rarity. Santa Claus may be many years in bottle, older vintages become more complex and receive their creamy warm aftertaste. The proof: The 2004 vintage was at the World Beer Cup 2012 Goldmedailliengewinner in the category “aged beers”.

Let’s get started!

Appearance: Pours reddish brown with a very thin tan head and nice lacing.

Aroma: Dark fruits, caramel and bready malts, toffee, chocolate and vanilla.

Taste: Sweet caramel, figs, dates, raisins, vanilla, chocolate, tof