| I just love seasonal microbrews and craft beers! It | | | | Now that it'd had a chance the breath, the first sip |
| doesn't matter the season or the reason. I love | | | | of this microbrew was impressive. I think just the |
| sampling what different microbreweries come up with | | | | drastic improved difference in the saturation of |
| and their interpretations of different styles of | | | | pleasing flavor, compared to the other Pennsylvania |
| microbrews rotating throughout the year. | | | | Brewing Company beers, really hit me with a better |
| Christmas-time is just another of my most | | | | than average standing than normally would be rated. I |
| anticipated times of the year (both for the presents, | | | | enjoyed the flavor that seemed to match what was |
| and for the craft beer...of which would make a great | | | | hinted in the aroma to a "T". There was a strong |
| gift for the holidays if my wife is reading this "hint, | | | | roasted maltiness, there was chocolate bouncing |
| hint") | | | | around, a little bit of caramel and twinges of |
| Okay, enough rattling on. What I've tested out today | | | | something reminiscent of dates. Unlike some other |
| is a perfect offering from a local brewery just down | | | | "Christmas Beers" I've tried, this style being a bock |
| the road in East Pittsburgh, PA. I'm talking about the | | | | didn't bring in the spices that alot of holiday craft |
| Pennsylvania Brewing Company and their St. Nikolaus | | | | beers or "winter warmers" seem to implement fairly |
| Bock Bier in particular. | | | | consistently. There was a bit, just a bit of alcohol |
| Now being honest and up front with you, I've tried | | | | tinge to the beverage as it warmed toward the end |
| several of Penn Brewing's other "craft beers" with | | | | of the glass, but not enough to be a turn off. The |
| not always the best impressions being left on my | | | | beer itself is listed at about 7.5 abv so it is around |
| palate. Nothing against the brewery, just not my cup | | | | that range you'd expect to taste it a little. |
| of tea I guess. But St. Nickolaus Bock Bier is a far cry | | | | In all, a well-crafted microbrew from Pennsylvania |
| from any other microbrew I've laid my lips to from | | | | Brewing Company. I wouldn't classify it as the alltime |
| this brewery. | | | | perfect Christmas beer, but it really impressed me |
| First off, the bottle is a completely glorious example | | | | well beyond what I had maybe initially expected |
| of what a Christmas beer label should look like with | | | | (judging from past experiences and not being a huge |
| Jolly Old St. Nick right there smiling on the bottle, and | | | | Dunkel Bock style fan). Packaging, labeling, |
| I'm not talking about some chintzy, commercial | | | | appearance, aroma, taste and level of drinkability |
| rendition, but what seems like a Victorian era | | | | were all well above average marks and truly put me |
| depiction of the "real Santa Claus". It really put me in | | | | in the mood for the holidays (and another St. Nikolaus |
| the mood that I was about to embark on a true | | | | Bock!) I may just have to purchase a case of this for |
| Christmas treat. | | | | the upcoming festivities, if I can still even find it |
| The beer was poured into my trusty unchilled pint | | | | around anywhere here. I give it a thumbs up and |
| glass with a dark, dark ruby appearance but only | | | | recommend it for the holiday/winter season. |
| when held up to very bright light. The head only | | | | I'll vouch for a 7.50 rating out of 10.00 for St. Nikolaus |
| displayed only about 1/2 finger of a very light tan | | | | Bock Bier. Ho, ho, ho!! P.S. if you enjoyed this review, |
| colored froth that didn't spend a whole lot of time | | | | and microbrews in particular, please take a few |
| lingering. It was completely gone in about 5 minutes. | | | | minutes to visit my site at |
| Gone! Aroma gave me a combined impression of | | | | microbrewreview.blogspot.comfor additional and |
| sweetness, malt, chocolate and even just a hint of | | | | ongoing microbrew reviews. |
| caramel (great description, I know!). | | | | |
