1698 Bottle Conditioned Ale vs Steinbach Bräu Fastenbock: Which Should You Drink?

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1698 Bottle Conditioned Ale

Shepherd Neame

United Kingdom · English Strong Ale

52%

Overall similarity

side by side, across 56 flavour tags

Steinbach Bräu Fastenbock

Steinbach Bräu

Germany · Heller Bock

HOPIQ TAKE

1698 Bottle Conditioned Ale if you want a beer that tastes like it was brewed in 1698 and has aged gracefully, Steinbach Bräu Fastenbock if you want clean malt sweetness with that lager crispness. The ABV is nearly identical (6.5% vs 7%), but they're playing completely different games—one's an English ale with bottle conditioning complexity, the other's a German lager built for precision. The IBUs are basically twins at 32 and 30, but the bitterness lands totally differently depending on the beer's character.

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WHEN TO CHOOSE WHICH

Pick 1698 Bottle Conditioned Ale when…

→You want something with texture and layers that reveal themselves as it warms
→You're in the mood to sit with one beer for a while, not knock back three
→You appreciate the romance of tradition and bottle conditioning funk

Pick Steinbach Bräu Fastenbock when…

→You want a beer that's immediately satisfying without surprises
→You want something sessionable that doesn't tip into too-heavy territory
→You prefer clean, malt-forward beers that let the craft speak without complexity

SIDE BY SIDE

	1698 Bottle Conditioned Ale	Steinbach Bräu Fastenbock
ABV	6.5%	7%
Bitterness	Noticeably bitter	Noticeably bitter
Colour	Deep amber	Amber
Style	English Strong Ale	Heller Bock
Origin	United Kingdom

WHAT IT TASTES OF

7 shared · 8 distinct

Both beers

full-bodiedcaramelsweetbittersmoothboozydry

Only 1698 Bottle Conditioned Ale

spicy

STRUCTURE — HOW IT'S BUILT

1698 Bottle Conditioned AleSteinbach Bräu Fastenbock

Bitterness

Body

TASTING NOTES

1698 Bottle Conditioned Ale

Full-bodiedCaramelSweet

1698 hits you with this honeyed, slightly oxidative character that feels intentional—not a flaw, but part of its identity. There's a wine-like quality, maybe some dried stone fruit or sherry notes if you let it warm slightly. The carbonation from bottle conditioning is delicate, almost creamy on the palate. It's the kind of beer that makes you think about terroir and age, even if it's been sitting in your fridge for two years.

Steinbach Bräu Fastenbock

Full-bodiedMaltySweet

Fastenbock is straightforward in the best way—golden, malty, with this clean bread-crust sweetness that lager yeast just nails. You get a hint of biscuit and subtle honey, but nothing is shouting. The finish is dry enough that it doesn't feel heavy even at 7%, and the carbonation is snappy without being aggressive. This is a beer that tastes like someone knew exactly what they were doing.

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