Gundel Weihnachtsbier
Brewery: Gundel
Town: Barthelmesaurach
Style: Dunkles Festbier 5.4%
Color: unfiltered chestnut
Head: off-white, sudsy
Nose: roasted malt, light spice, Spalter hops
Body: medium to full
Palate: richly malty, roasty, light spice, underlying Spalter hops, hint of chocolate as it warms
Finish: lingering, semi-dry, semi-bitter
Served: from a bottle at the brewery
Impression: I’ve quite enjoyed every bottle I’ve been able to get my hands on by this often overlooked brewery. I’d heard great things about their Fastenbock last year so went looking for some winter seasonal beers and was happy to get these. It was quite an escapade by public transportation but this darker than expected Festbier was worth the effort. Richly malty with roast, light spice and Spalter hops in the nose, the balanced palate maintains all components along with a touch of chocolate before the lingering semi-dry semi-bitter finish. This is one Festbier you can sink your teeth into.
