Tasting Notes: Boltens: Ur-Alt

Boltens: Ur-Alt (Germany: Altbier: 4.9% ABV)

Visual: Darkened brown, laced with ruby and amber shimmers. Massive bubbled murky coloured head. Quite carbonated and cloudy.

Nose: Musty malt, yeasty and black cherry.

Body: Raisins. Pepper. Wheaty and bitter. Very dry flavours. Malty with some syrup, Glacier cherries and dried fruit. Hint of black liquorice.

Finish: Peppery. Gritty and bitter. Flour feel. Dry hops and hop oils mix.

Conclusion: I’m always a tad wary going back to beers from my past. I have fond memories of this one, and I guess its time to see how memories hold up to reality.

It’s simpler than I remember, a very primitive rough and ready beer, all dry hops and rough edges.  Despite that it is quite easy to drink, just doesn’t seem as special anymore. It’s got its decent run though, good bitter kick, and nice fruitiness, even if it is predominately raisins.  Since I tried it first on tap I wonder if it was so much better that way, or if again it is the tricks of memory, or as the saying goes, if nostalgia isn’t what it used to be.

This all is a bit too harsh, I’m criticising it basically for not living up to my mental image of it rather than looking at the beer it actually is. It is rough and ready but the flavours hardly lacking.  So, for old time’s sake, and for what it actually is, I cannot complain about a glass of it, and it happens to come with some happy memories as well.

Background: First drunk on tap in Germany many years ago, during my early beer enthusiast days, to warm reception.  After a bit I decided on the Aventinus glass for hosting it, maybe not the best choice, but close enough that I don’t care, the glass is a too fun one to keep locked away without being used.  The photo is a tad worse than usual, had to drop back to my camera phone to take it after the batteries ran unexpectedly dry on the main camera. This caused me to miss taking a photo of the huge initial head it had.  Oh and Ur is an excellent prefix that does not get used often enough in my opinion.