Charlottesville Area Masters of Real Ale

I've had Samichlaus before, and I like it on the right occassion.  I know it's sweet, and BIG... 14% ABV. But IMO, it's a good winter time dessert beer where the dark malt and sweetness blend.  So when I was at Wine Warehouse and saw a bottle of Samichlaus Helles I couldn't pass it up.  As you'll read though, perhaps I should've passed.  I got the large $16.99 bottle with the swing-top figuring I could use the bottle later for homebrew.  It poured out a nice golden color, nice malty sweet nose, not much head.  The taste:  now I know why this hasn't been brewed in 22 years.  The statement on the back of the bottle "huge intensely sweet malt flavor" doesn't prepare you for this.  I imagine if I took a can of malt extract and added an equal part water, and forgot to ferment it, then I'd get something close to this beer.  I'm guessing the FG is in the neighborhood of 1.040 at lowest.  The taste is of unfermented wort with alcohol on top.  No hops and thickly sugary cloying sweet.  Well, I guess I paid $16.99 for a swing-top bottle.  Oh well, you win some, you lose some.

Thank you for taking one for the team.

I tried the regular Samichlaus once and could not finish the bottle.  I think I have another one somewhere and maybe I'll find it 10 years from now and, like Goldilocks, it'll be *just* right.

Doubtful, though.

I definately would not have liked it.  In general, I really prefer my beers to finish dry.  With a couple exceptions, as Spidey noted, that it can be good for winter dessert beers.  Additionally, some big beers, like barleywines, are going to finish sweeter because of the alcohol.  But, I definately like my beer to clear the palate pretty quickly, to prepare for the next sip.