Top 10 German Beers

best samples of new-to-me beers from Germany in 2008. all time favorites include Schneider Aventinus Wizenbock, Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse, Kotsritzer Schwarzbier, Paulaner Hefe-Weisse.

Kulmbacher Eisbock
Amazingly chocolately smooth Eisbock, apparently the original. Nose of dried fruits, roast, chocolate and slight smoke. The mouthfeel is faintly slick but thick, a slight warming but well blended for a beer of this strength. Dark chocolate, cherries, raisins, figs, molasses, cloves, banana, toffee, caramel. It is all in there. Finish is warm but rather dry.

Schnieder Edel-Weisse
This is an organic hefeweizen from Schnieder, and possibly my favorite of their offerings. A rather dry wizen with a hoppier presence than most, and much more restrained phenolic character (clove-bannana). Smells of wheat, toast and slight peppers and bubblegum. The mouthfeel is slightly acidic, dry and tastes of grains, biscuit and grass, with slight clove. Finish is slightly citrus-lemony. Delicious.

Schwelmer "Bernstien" Vienna
A very alt-like Vienna style lager. Very malty and slightly sweet in the nose, hints of toast and toffee, and slight earthy hops. Light on the palate, biscuits, caramel, chocolate, hazelnuts, with slight esters and a dry, hoppy finish featuring spicy, earthy noble hops.

Schnieder Aventinus Eisbock
Funny enough Schneider takes claim for the Eisbock Story as well as Klumbacher! Rich, warm and sweet with some melanoidian like complexity. Hints of chocolate, toffee, raisin, plums and hints of molasses and licorice. Slightly thick and slick mouthfeel, with hints of clove, peppers, dried fruits and chocolate. Powerful warmth pervades this beer, and it finishes pretty full and sweet.

Krusovice Schwartzbier
Slightly on the dunkel side of a Schwarzbier. Smooth dark lager with some roasty highlights. Notes of chocolate, caramel, toast, earth and bread. Medium mouthfeel, slightly slight, and a clean, slightly sweet finish.

Altenmunster Maibock
A very refreshing helles bock. Grains, wheat, toast in the nose, with some slight apple and pear esters and earthy hops. The taste is similar, quite sweet, and a smooth grainy quality, bread, caramel, with a lightly bitter finish featuring spicy hops. Light, refreshing.

Mahrs Wizenbock
Complex and rich ale. Clove, banana, toffee, earthy, spicy hops in the nose. Mouthfeel is medium to rich, smooth, no warmth, and the flavor brings caramel and more banana. The finish is slightly sweet and hoppy.

Allaguer Brahaus Marzen
Toasty, bisciutty and light ale. Nose of toffee and toast, hints of apples and earth. The mouthfeel is thin and a little slick, notes of caramel, earth, toast, honey, corn. The finish is a little grassy, but like old hops rather than fresh ones. Authentic offering, but could use a flavor boost.

Mahrs Weisse
Delicious, reserved hefewizen. Nose of clove, bubblegum and citrus, with traces of biscuit and wheat. The mouthfeel is very rich and thick, flavors similar to the nose but banana is very dominant. The finish is sweeter than most.

Altenmunster Winterbier
Reserved, rich, almost dunkel like doppelbock. Nose of bread, dates, chocolate, toast and even wine. Medium mouthfeel, would be fuller with more carbonation. Additional notes of licorice, dark chocolate and caramel in the taste. Overall, a balanced but slightly musty doppel.