New Glarus Unplugged Eisbock

Brewed by New Glarus Brewing Company
Style: Eisbock
New Glarus, Wisconsin USA

Approximately 5 years old. Pours out soft and thick and forms a surprising tan head with hues leaning toward gray. The head is instantly diminishing but never fully so. A very dark, translucent tarnished bronze body lies under deep amber, with mahogany hues. The aroma lets off minor oxidation notes(sherry, prune). Rusty metallic scents aren’t discouraging but seem like a rustic countryside nuance that enhances the nose. Orange pith scents are minor, caramel malt is moderate and lightly burned, certainly due to an exceedingly long boil. Raisins, aged hops, breadiness and a god amount of black pepper round out the aromatic entourage. This has held up very well. Alcohol is a non-factor. The flavor has plenty of cereal and toasted grain. Caramel is full and nicely mellowed and seemlessly integrated. Bitterness is mild to medium, sweetness is high but never cloying or bothersome. The alcohol presence is so low its only real feat is in the warmth emanating from each gleeful swallow. Plenty of dark fruits with a nice tang, slightly puckering and certainly mouthwatering, such as blackberry and plum, flow over the tastebuds and add great complexity. Light yeast and ample spice are both surprising at this stage in this beer’s development. The mouthfeel is vibrantly carbonated, very silky, medium to full bodied. The finish is rustic, lightly metallic and loaded with sweet caramel. Wonderful and well-crafted.

Courtesy boboski. Pours a cloudy, slightly bubbly, dark caramel brown, with a small light brown head. Glad to see its got some carbonation left after 5 years. The smell was big and bold, huge malts and dark fruits combine with some caramel and syrup to clog my nostrils with different aromas. The flavor was just as bountiful. Huge malt and dark fruits, berries, raisins, molasses, brown sugar, and the kitchen sink all were detectable and potent on my palate. Has seemingly smoothed out some from age, but the carbonation was still lively and the mouthfeel was full. Sweet, fruity aftertaste with some cinnamon flavors too. Has aged quite nicely. A good experience.

12oz bottle, thanks to jcapriotti for this one. Pours a deep brown with reddish highlights and a 1/2 finger fizzy head that diminishes to a thin spotty film rather quickly. The aroma is fairly syrupy sweet with brown sugar, scorched caramel, and light molasses, but is cut with a bit of smoke and a tinge of alcohol. I’m also picking up on some raisins. Flavor is much the same with some sweet pipe tobacco towards the semidry finish. Alcohol has mellowed very nicely with this. Medium to full creamy body with some light carbonation. Glad I got to try it. Rating 900

Bottle. Cloudy reddish brown colour with a nearly no head at all. Very malty aroma with notes of caramel and little alcohol. Very malty flavour with hints of caramel and ends up with a warm feeling from the noteable alcohol.

(Bottle 35,5 cl) Courtesy of JCapriotti. Hazy, orangey brown with a tiny, beige head. Sweet, fat aroma of lightly burned caramel. Quite full in body with sweetish, roasted accents, some caramel and overripe fruit. Subdued bitterness. Smooth and delicious. 090407

12 oz bottle sampled with big thanks to drewbeerme. Pours an deep brown red with a thin head. The nose at first seems a little bit past its prime but that seems to break down to rich dark fruits, cherries, carmel, and a hint of chocolate. More red fruits, carmel, toffee, toasted and chocolate in the flavor. A little sweet but still balanced out for an eisbock. A tasty beer.

12oz bottle, aged 4 years. pours mahogony with small white head around the rim. nose has some mild oxidation creating a sherry and tobacco, caramel, toffee, and raspberries. flavor lots of tobacco, dulled caramel, and subtle red fruits. alcohol very well hidden. body is a little thin. carbination is very low. this beer has lost it’s edge as an eisbock and although still tasty, it seems to be passed it’s prime.

TITW-II. Clear dark amber body with no head. The aroma is cherry, alcohol, toffee and blackberry. The flavor is toffee, berries and apples. Medium body with prickly carbonation and a warm finish.