Schloss Eggenberg Urbock 23

So far I have really only stuck to profiling Canadian produced beers and pubs which has been great. There are some great beers being brewed in Canada and with my home in Ontario, I tend to focus on what I can readily obtain. But I think the odd time won't hurt to include various imports that will be made available to purchase in Canada.

I had the opportunity to meet with Vlado and Liliana, the proprieties of Roland and Russell Import Agency, at the Pepperwood Bistro recently to share some beer stories and to forge a working relationship with TAPS: Canada’s Beer Magazine.

Gracious people that they are, they supplied me with a bunch of beers that they currently have in their possession from some of the breweries they represent. I noticed that one of the beers they gave me, Schloss Eggenberg Urbock 23, is set to be part of the LCBO’s spring release that will becomes available in March. A rainy Sunday night seemed like the perfect time to crack one open and take some notes.

The Forstinger – Stohr family has owned the brewery for over 200 years and is best known for their long list of bock style beers. One of their best known beers is Samichlaus, which they started brewing after acquiring the rights from the Hurliman brewery in 1997. But that’s for another time, another story.

The Urbock 23 pours a golden straw-like colour with a tiny white head giving why to a barely visible white lacing around the glass. The aroma is full of malty characteristics with a pinch of the warming alcohol. A fruity yeast profile provides a macintosh apple smell with some toffee tones. I find myself swirling and sniffing more than actually drinking the beer, the aroma is wonderful.

There is a delicious punch to this beer. Malty overtones with toffee like smoothness give off a sweet taste yet there is a mild bitterness in the follow through. When the 9.6% alcohol touched my gums it numbed them for a moment but the high alcohol content wasn’t overwhelming. It leaves a nice aftertaste that lingers around until the next sip, which excites me as much as the first one.

This was a great beer to sip on right before dinner while it continued to rain outside. It was a nice full bodied bock that will definitely look good on the shelves at the LCBO. The bottle itself is very attractive with the black and gold labels, which should catch the eye of curious drinkers. Enjoy!

Thanks R&R.