Schneider Aventinus Eisbock

Schneider Aventinus Eisbock

Brewery: Schneider
Town: Kelheim (original brewery was in Munich)
Style: Weizen Eisbock
Color: unfiltered chestnut
Head: tan, ample, dense
Nose: dried dates, raisin, alcohol, yeast
Body: full
Palate: rich, supremely malty, dried dates, raisin, yeast
Finish: clean, semi-dry, bittersweet

Served: from a bottle purchased in Munich

Impression: This is a beer I first had in the US and it was disappointing as it was on the flat side with not much of a head. It wasn’t dated from memory and I wrote the beer off as interesting but not worth the money. I later had it at the Weisses Bräuhaus in Munich and it was an entirely different experience. It was probably the same price at the brewery’s tap as it was in the store in the US but to me, it was something to try and maybe have again for a special occasion. 

Despite its heritage being linked to Munich, it’s not something you see at the supermarket here in town and not even at your average drinks market. So, I was elated to see it at a very small one just up the road. I grabbed a few of them as the price was less than half what you’d pay at the brewery tap and probably a sixth of US prices. It pours with a massive lasting tan head and though full, there is an effervescence to it you’d hope for in a Weißbier but might not expect at 12%. There’s some dried date in the nose mixed in with the raisin notes of the regular Aventinus, which this is created from. The yeast element is subdued in comparison too. It’s surprisingly dry for a beer of its strength and the finish is quite clean and not cloying in the least. It’s really a marvelous beer and needless to say, I headed right back to the shop to buy some more!

Care for another Weizenbock?