Price
Meter
Average
Way back in the late 1980s, I used to travel from Rhode Island to Massachusetts in search of the magical Wurzburger Hofbrau Holiday Beer, aka Wurzburger Hofbrau Bavarian Holiday Beer. I used to lug home cases of the stuff from Meats and Wursthaus in Walpole every year when it was released. This beer was a classic example of German Weihnachtsbier. The Germans often brew hearty double bocks to be enjoyed in the cold winter months.
I quote from The German Beer Institute and their descriptions of Weihnachtsbier and Weihnachstbock:
"Weihnachten" is German for Christmas, and Weihnachtsbier is the Bavarian seasonal specialty, a strong brew for when the days get shorter and the temperature plummets. Towards the end of November, the weather in this part of Germany often takes a quick turn for the worse in Bavaria, and out comes the Weihnachtsbier, reserved for those times when the body needs more than a good quaff, when it needs real nourishment. In Bavaria, winter is Starkbierzeit (stong beer time). While "normal" blond lagers have an alcohol-by-volume level of about 4.5 to 5%, the "mildest" Weihnachtsbiers start at around 6% alcohol, while the strongest may pack as much as 8%.
Weihnachtsbockbier (Christmas bock beer) or Festbier (fest beer), or just Starkbier (strong beer). In color, all Weinachtsbiers tend to be dark amber to hazelnut brown. Weihnachtsbiers go exceptionally well with sweets, desserts, and cockies—especially the spiced gingerbreads of Christmas.
I often lament the fact that given the vast number of Christmas and winter brews made in the United States today, so few amongst the very many styles offered are doppelbocks. Thanks then are due to Virginia's Star Hill brewery for Starr Hill Snow Blind Doppelbock Lager winter seasonal. I for one was extremely happy to see this beer on tap at Taco Mac just after Christmas.
Ingredients from the brewery web site:
Malted Barley: Pilsner, Munich, Carafa & Caramunich
Kettle Hops: Perle
Yeast: Lager Yeast
Starr Hill Snow Blind was served up in an 11 ounce glass, but that’s OK because it was fairly priced at just $5. The beer has an alcohol content of 7.4% by volume and just 13 IBUs, low IBU counts being normal for this style. This was my first beer of the day, and while I normally don’t like to start with something this strong, I was dying to try it and it was only an 11-ounce glass after all.
My glass of Starr Hill Snow Blind Doppelbock arrived a very dark mahogany color with almost no head and a rich toasty malty nose. Taking a sip, the beer has a thick seductive body with decadent notes of chocolate, toasted nuts, light molasses and alcohol warmth and a slight sweetness in the finish.
What a wonderful holiday treat of malty melanoidin goodness! It’s a beer I’ll definitely be on the hunt for in the bottle. Don’t miss it friends.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft