EKU 28

Brewed by Kulmbacher Brauerei (Schörghuber)
Style: Eisbock
Kulmbach, Germany

The initial aroma and flavour of this excessively strong brew is completely dominated by a revolting sweetness, later you find pleasant notes like oak and dried fruit - however much of the sweetness prevails even to the aftertaste, making it almost impossible to finish a bottle. This was my first eisbock, I feel no urge to sample the style again (unless it’s for free). I don’t need a beer to ’stand in for fine sherry or port’ - given the choice, I’d rather have just that: A fine sherry or port! Call me a conservative dumb-ass if you like, but I still think a beer primarily should taste like beer.

2002: Pour is clear amber with a nice tan head...smell is smell is musty, some apples as well...just smells sort of old...raisins too...taste is rich and thickly sweet...caramel, molasses...seems quite simple...

Bottle; the world needs more eisbocks. Poured a clear amber color; not much head, but really nice looking. Aroma of dark fruit, caramel, grapes, alcohol and sweet malt. I could see the love/hate on this one, although to me it wasn’t extremely flavorful. However, it was a solid, malty beer. Caramel gives way to a burst of alcohol and dark fruit. A lingering toffee like presence in the finish. Not too much alcohol warming, which was a tad surprising, although the alcohol was always evident.

Exquisit one, I was very dizzy at the end of it but I liked it very much. It is dark and very alcoholic, with good head.

Vintage 2005 (I think... Actually, it could be older. The date code on the label is 02105.)

11/12/2007: EKU 28 pours a beautiful transparent orange color into my EKU 28 snifter. There is a thin off-white head that surfaces quickly and then fades away just as fast. It has some big bubbles that rise quickly to the surface and seem to soften as the beer breathes a bit. The aroma is amazing. It is super sweet and rich. It reminds me of a extremely well-craft mead that was made with high-quality honey. Other aromas include walnut oil (maybe a hint of sunflower oil as well) and dried fruits (dates, raisins, and apricots) soaked in top-shelf alcohol. The flavor is nearly as good - if not better at times - than the aroma. It is very complex and like an exquisite distillation of malts, fruit, and nuts. The finish and lingering flavors are also incredible and like a mouthfull of fresh, dried apricots soaked in cognac or something - sweet, fruity, and with a nice alcohol presence. The alcohol is really smooth and blended into the flavor, but also substantially warming and has a very slight burn. The body of this beer is medium and extremely smooth with a touch of creaminess to it. There is also some residual stickiness on the lips that is perfect. Overall this beer really is world-class and completely underrated. This beer (or at least this particular bottle) is absolutely fantastic!

11.2 fl. oz. bottle (11% Alc. by Volume) from West Side Liquor Store in West Harrison, Indiana. Rating #509 for this beer...

Very malty. Extremely alcoholic and violent. Like a fine port wine. This beer makes you blush.

I've been hanging on to this bottle a long time, last from a 6-pack bought over 13 months ago...time to send this one home... Clear, bold amber hue, fiercely buzzing foam on top that evaporates instantly into nothingness...aroma bespeaks of alcohol before you even try to smell it, but let's give it a close sniff anyway...cherries, booze, brandy, cognac, cough syrup, Jagemeister, brilliantly burnished, all sweetness and liquory, and still appealing. Taste: huge impact on the palate, a jolt of cherry schnapps, some buzzing hops, thick, sweet malt, and hot alcohol feel. Fills the palate fully, sending this sharp, bright sensation around all the corners of the senses. Defies most common notions of "what is beer", that's for sure. Body is full, finish is long and strong, character is memorable all the way. Not a beer I'd turn to often, and not quite halfway into it, the booze is now in full control, starting to worm into the brain and begin the process of drunkening...nighty-night, and goodbye, yaddy-dee, dee, dee, dee-dah...lovely nightcap, or a cudgel, ...

Kulminator, 23 May 2006. Raisins on the nose at first. Light reddy amber body with minimal head. Dried fruit in the aroma followed by alcohol. Medium to full body, syrupy sort of mandarin, caramel, sweet, syrupy but drinkable.