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BOLTENs Winter Spezial

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BOLTENs Winter Spezial is the brewery's annual cold-season edition, released each year around the time of St Nicholas and formerly sold as Nikolaus Spezial. Brewed from barley and wheat malt with the house BOLTEN yeast strain, it is a dark, unfiltered Altbier at 5.8 per cent, a little stronger than the everyday Alt. The nose leads with roasted malt, caramel and toffee, followed by coffee, dark chocolate and a nutty note reminiscent of peanuts, while the body stays smooth and easy to drink.

ABV
5.8%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
amber14
PaceA Few
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
roastednuttycoffee
roasted
nutty
coffee
caramel
chocolate
wheat
Aroma
The nose leads with pronounced roasted malt and caramel sweetness, joined by toffee notes that suggest patient kettle work.
also:malty,clean
not found:hoppy,bready,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for BOLTENs Winter Spezial

◎ Appearance

Deep amber to dark brown in color, with the characteristic haze of an unfiltered Altbier. The head is persistent and cream-colored, clinging to the glass in fine lacing as it recedes. Carbonation is moderate, lending a soft visual liveliness to the body.

deep amber-brownunfiltered, hazypersistent head

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with pronounced roasted malt and caramel sweetness, joined by toffee notes that suggest patient kettle work. As the beer warms, coffee and dark chocolate emerge, underpinned by a subtle nutty character—almost peanut-like—that adds complexity without overshadowing the malt foundation.

roasted maltcaramel, toffeecoffee, dark chocolatenutty undertone

◐ Taste

The palate opens with smooth, malt-driven sweetness that echoes the aromatic profile: caramel and chocolate notes develop across the mid-palate. The 32 IBUs provide restrained, clean bitterness that balances the richness without dominating; the finish remains easy-drinking, with the malt character holding through to the close.

malt-forwardbalanced bitternesssmooth, drinkable

◑ Finish

The finish is crisp and drying, with roasted grain lingering gently. A session-friendly beer despite its strength, the aftertaste is clean and slightly warming.

clean finishwarming
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
78
Appearance
76
Finish
76
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of BOLTENs Winter Spezial

Serve at 8–11°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with BOLTENs Winter Spezial

About Altbier

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Altbier?

Altbier is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Altbier

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same roasted, nutty, smooth-drinking character as BOLTENs Winter Spezial will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Altbiers in hopIQ

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