Kulmbacher Eisbock

Sampled at Broudys Holiday Beerfest,Jacksonville FL 12/2/2006. The shining star of the new beers sampled at this fest. Wonderfully rich in flavor and texture. Smooth as silk, and delicious. Good alcohol hit as well. I loved the flavor of this one, and will soon pick up a few more to enjoy and rate properly. .. .. rerate 8/24/2007 .. .. .. Finally, almost two years later I find another bottle to try. Its even worth the wait.. a delicious and kickass brew. Fruity malty aroma. Flavor is sweet but not cloying, then develops a subtle malt liquor character, and then dark fruit flavors explode on the tongue, and fade to a spicy, hoppy bitterness. Alcohol warmth is noticeable in the back of the throat. A delicious treat.. I loved it.

One of my absolute favorites and one of the very few things that makes me look forward to the colder months (I enjoy Franziskaner Hefeweiss during warmer times) ! My first taste of Eisbock was via an accomplished Pennsylvanian homebrewer. I’d never tasted anything like it before and it was years before I found a retailer that didn’t look at me like I had three heads when I inquired about this style. If you enjoy this I also recommend Kasteel Bruin (Donkel?) and Samichlaus. Other similar style recommendations welcome!

The 11.2 ounce bottle poured a clear beautiful deep garnet colored beverage with a thin fizzy off-white head that was completely diminishing and left no lacing on the glass. Typically high alcohol equals no head and this one is a whopping 9.2% by volume. The aroma was a complex sweet fruity mixture of caramel malts and dried dark fruits such as plums and raisins and dates. There was also a background note of aged leather and oak. The body was quite full with a soft carbonation and a thick, smooth texture. The flavor started out quite sweet and stayed that was. The flavor profiles followed the aromas closely. The finish was long and there was decided warmth that developed. This is a great winter warmer.

12oz bottle courtesy of kramer17801. Thanks, Jason! Pours a dark brown, slightly translucent with an orangish tinge; off-white head with decent retention at the edges. Nice aroma: fruit leather, toffee; hints of cocoa and caramel; alcohol well-hidden. Medium, chewy mouthfeel: similar to an amped-up doppelbock; caramel, roasted malts, bready notes, dried fruits and the slightest hint of citrus. Ends in chocolate and toffee on a medium-dry finish.

Malty aromas with some soy sauce and light alcohol. Almost black with ruby red highlights. Medium to full palate. The taste is massive malt with a yeast presence as well.

clear ruby brown color with no head. juicy with notes of toffee, raisin, cherry, berries, and brown sugar. estery. warm and alcoholic. medium bodied.

Very high marks for taste. I just love a strong lager. This one has a slightly fruity (apple) and toffee flavor. Almost no head, very little carbonation. Gorgeous dark red/brown. Full bodied yet not cloying. Great after dinner beer.

Pours a very clear, but dark, amber with a tan head that dissipates quickly. The smell contains lots of malts, some roasted notes (toasted bread), some fruit (prunes), and some alcohol. The flavor is very malty and delightfully bittersweet from the hops. It starts off with a well balanced interplay of thick and doughy malts with floral and peppery hops. The carbonation provides some zip on the middle of the tongue along with a touch of alcohol bite. The finish is malty sweet with a nice dose of bitter hops and is surprisingly dry with a dry, complex after-taste. The mouthfeel is not as thick as its strength might suggest (the magic of "eis"bock). It is full-bodied, but not nearly so as other strong bocks. The finish is full-bodied, too - it isn’t a very dry beer, but than one might expect from a strong lager. Quite nice.