[Cellar Review] Schneider Weisse Tap 6 Unser Aventinus (Brewed in 2008)

Brewed By: Weissbierbrauerei G. Schneider & Sohn in Kelheim, Germany

Purchased: 500ml/16.9oz bottle from Binny's in IL; 2013 purchase

Style/ABV: Weizen Bock, 8.2%
Reported IBUs: ?

After reviewing a fresh bottle of Aventinus, I also had the opportunity to try a 2006 vintage. It was an interesting experience to say the least. Tonight I'm popping an '08. Let's see how this one stacks up. About Weissbierbrauerei G. Schneider & Sohn:

Weissbierbrauerei G. Schneider & Sohn have been challenging people with the pronunciation of their names since 1872. Their website is in German, but has an English translation button on the bottom of the site. I'm lazy, so I'm going off the Wikipedia article. The brewery began as a Bavarian brewery that acquired the Weisses Brauhaus/Microbrewery in Munich. The owners then expanded the brewery to Kelheim and Straubing. After Munich was destroyed in the 1944 bombing (World War II, folks), all production was moved to Kelheim. This is a family run brewery with lots of tradition, and is currently owned by Georg Schneider VI (source). 

As with the 2006 vintage, this bottle comes wrapped in fancy packaging, and has a tag that reads:

"Aventinus, the world's oldest top-fermenting wheat-doppelbock, has received accolades for the perfect balance of fruity spiciness (banana, clove, vanilla) and notes of chocolate (crystal & dark malts). In addition, the beer has demonstrated wonderful aging potential with aromas and flavors of chocolate (very soft), port and sherry when aged for three years or more. 

Therefore, in 1999, the SCHNEIDER brewery decided to age 240 cases of AVENTINUS each year in their historical ice cellar in Kelheim with each batch held for a minimum of three years. 

Each Fall for many years t come B. United International is proud to release a small allotment of the latest vintage to all our customers across the USA. Please enjoy it now or hold on to it in your own cellar for further development ...if you can handle the wait."

This beer is quite lively and delightful when fresh. As it mellows out over time, it takes on some Bock/Dubbel-like characteristics, with port/sherry fruit notes, and some really nuanced banana/chocolate/wheat. I was getting big raisins and apple juice in the 2006 version. This is one of my favorite wheat beers when fresh, so let's see how a 5-year-old bottle holds up.

Aventinus (2008 Vintage)

This one pours a dark purple/golden raisin color, with a finger's worth of thin, fizzing, off-white head. The head is tinted slightly tan/raisin. This one is surprisingly carbonated, even more so than the 2006 vintage, and there's a lot of carbonation streaming upwards. I don't remember the 2006 vintage having a bunch of yeast and sediment floating around, but this one does. I was storing this horizontally in my fridge, and the bottom of the cap has a nice thick yeast cake that has formed. In bright light, this beer is a swampy reddish/brown/purple. It's reminiscent of the original beer, or a Bock, or a Belgian Dubbel. There's a bunch of shit floating around in this, which I may regret pouring out.

The aroma on this is cray cray. It smells a lot like the 2006 vintage, only with a bit more wheat and banana. This has big apple cider, oxidation...but the raisins are a bit more subdued. I'm not getting as much raisin. There are some plums, sherry/port, and some dates. And I'm definitely getting some faint wheat/banana on the aroma, along with faint dusty cocao powder.

This one has hints of booze and a bit of wheat astringency. It also has a lot of lively carbonation. The mouthfeel has nice character. This is probably medium-bodied, with okay palate depth and okay complexity. It's not bad. You get carbonation, apples, fruit, and wheat up front; this rolls into wheat astringency, some raisins, oxidation, sherry/port; the back end is lingering wheat, dusty powder/cocoa, some banana....it's not leaving any booze in the back of my throat like the 2006.

Rating: Average (3.5/5 Untappd)

I'm feeling a Strong Average on this beer. This one is pretty good, but I think I prefer the 2006 vintage with the distinct raisin/apple/sherry/port flavors, and the light booze on the finish. This one still retains some of the wheat, and as a result, the dark fruits aren't quite as distinguished. Still...it's shocking how well this WHEAT beer ages. Regardless, I think I prefer this one fresh. I'll echo my sentiments from the 2006 vintage...unless you are cellaring a bunch of these, don't pair this with food. If you have a few of these laying around, go ahead and pair this with some Korean pork soup, red meats, steak, and maybe even pasta. This is very wine-like, and it reminds me of a Bock or a Belgian Dubbel.

Random Thought: This has been a fun experiment, and given how cheap Aventinus is, you could certainly start cellaring this beer for fun.