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Better Drinking

Monday, May 23, 2005 at 8:31 AM

Beer review - Uerige Sticke Alt

I should emphasize at the beginning that this beer, to the best of my knowledge, is not available in GA. This bottle was picked up on our February trip to AZ.

The "alt" style originates in Germany in the city of Dusseldorf, and simply means "old". In this case, "old" is contrasted with the "newer" lagers Germany is mostly known for, as opposed to that aging bottle of Heineken in the back of your fridge which is truly old. An alt is a top fermenting ale in the same general category as an English brown ale, though the flavors are a bit more crisp.

My Uerige Sticke came in a beautiful 11.2 oz bottle with a re-sealable ceramic cap. Very ornate, only marred by the government warning label recommending that pregnant mothers and their children should not drink while driving heavy equipment. Must be a problem in Germany.

Pours a lovely brown, somewhat hazy, but much more transparent than a brown ale. The head was white, thin but dense.

The nose is a slightly bitter malt, perhaps some caramel.

Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy, an interesting mix of a moderately thick ale, with the cleanness of a lager. Much like a Kolsch, for those in the know.

Taste is malty, slightly roasted, faint hints of coffee and chocolate. Hops add good balance, preventing the sweetness from being dominant. Finishes clean and slightly dry. Leaves a pleasant aftertaste, reminding the drinker to finish the glass.

A fine example of an alt, but nothing to make a trip to Germany, or even AZ, over. At $4.45 per bottle, this will be a good memory of a good beer, but not a session brew.

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