Unchained #20 Sticke Alt
Summit Brewing Company
Story by:
Chris Guest
Experimental Beer
Limited Release
Minnesota
United States
Judges Ratings 95
Aroma: 23 / 24
Flavor: 39 / 40
Appearance: 6 / 6
Mouthfeel: 8 / 10
Overall Impression: 19 / 20
Description
Sticke Alt, a maltier and hoppier version of traditional Altbier, is a mysterious concoction of hops and malts that is never brewed the same way twice. For Batch 20 in the Summit Unchained Series, Brewer Mike Lundell’s Sticke Alt builds on this tradition with a light hoppy nose, slightly sweet malts and a clean, mellow finish. So spread the word to your best beer-loving friends, because this limited edition brew won’t be around for long.
Sticke means “secret” in German. Sticke Alt (pronounced “schtick-uh ahlt”) is so called because in Germany it is typically offered in secret each year and passed around by word of mouth to the brewer’s most loyal patrons.
Beverage Profile
ABV: 6.30%
IBUs: 55
Served at: ()
Hops: Hallertau Mittelfruh
Malts: Pilsner, Vienna, Light Munich, Dark Munich, Caramel, Black
Judges Review
By Jason Johnson
Judges Ratings 95
Aroma: 23 / 24 / 24
Flavor: 39 / 40 / 40
Appearance: 6 / 6 / 6
Mouthfeel: 8 / 10 / 10
Overall Impression: 19 / 20 / 20
Altbiers are generally fermented with ale yeast at cooler temperatures, giving you a cleaner fermentation than most ales require. The stronger version of the altbier style pours a clear, deep, nearly brown amber. The cream-colored, long-lasting head is well formed, with tight compact bubbles. The aroma is mostly deep, complex, toasty melanoidin malt with some reserved chocolate and a little toffee in the background. The hop presence is a decidedly spicy noble hop varietal. The aroma is clean, with just the faintest hint of alcohol.
The flavor matches closely with the aroma, with some nice, slightly sweet and rich malt flavors. A little nutty, a bit of toast, and some chocolate is apparent. While it starts out sweet, the finish is a bit dry, with help from the moderate hop bitterness. The moderately spicy hop flavor comes through nicely, and the balance is perfect for the style: It’s well-balanced with a minor bias towards the malt. The body is medium, with a higher than normal carbonation character. The alcohol presence is not hot or boozy in the least, but there is a slight alcohol warming sensation, especially as the beer itself warms up.
All in all, this was a great example of a higher-strength Altbier; if you’re looking for a great altbier in the states, this is the beer you’ll want to find.
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