Niagara Falls Eisbock

Formerly brewed at Niagara Falls Brewing (Moosehead)
Style: Eisbock
Brampton, Canada

This was a major, major disappointment for me. I had it on draft at Caffe Volo in Toronto, and while the bottled version has been a consistent enjoyment for me, this was clearly not up to their usual standard. Its smell was flowery and perfumy, and tasted essentially the same. It was not BAD, per se, just kind of disappointing, especially considering the usual high standard and enjoyment of the Eisbock.

2003 edition, 15 years of tradition, so boasts the label... Bright crimson color, decent off-whitish head, perfunctory appearance. Aroma, nice, very malty, big in the fruit department, and seeping out the alcohol, too. This one’s not "too" strong, at a mere 8%, but gives it away way too easily. Huge in fruit, when sniffed further, but, again, alkyhol dominates. Taste: rich, fully fruity, very tasty, but nothing to write home about. Tasty, yes, and many lagers are, but for a bock or even for an eisbock, this doesn’t go any farther beyond the boundaries. Tasty, sweet, big with malty flavor...yep, it’s got that in spades! Wow, this really is a huge deployment of full, fruity, malty flavors...yet still fails to impress...that aside, i give it cohones for being what it is!

Deep amber color, with a head that quickly disappears. Aroma is hops, spices, toffee, and something I can’t quite place. Body is medium, with hops, with some sweetness and nuttiness. An interesting beer to try....

Bottle of 2004 vintage- Amber coloured body accompanied by a thick off white head. Aromas are difficult to distinguish, very complex. Very hoppy, with notes of cinnamon, nutmeg, and vegetation, including pete moss. Taste is sour maltiness, with some sweetness afterwadrs, with a nutty finish. Smooth and creamy, alcohol not noticable at all. Nice bitter lingering aftertaste. Great beer!

Bottle: Poura an amber coloured body with a thick foamy off white head. The aroma is complex, with hops, cinnimon and possible nutmeg. Smells somewhat earthy, has a wetness to it. Starts with a slight sweetness then tatses of malt, and has a nutty aftertaste. Very smooth, creamy at the front of mouth, but leaves bitterness in back of throat. Enjoyable to try!

Clear amber/copper coloured body with a thinnish tan head. Aroma of peaches, fresh hops, caramel, raisins and figs. Medium to Full-bodied; Super sweet maltiness with a nice toffee flavour and subtle hops in the background. Aftertaste shows alcohol lingering with malt, sweetness and a fair amount of hops-still! Overall, a nice sweet eisbock, great to try-very pleased to pick this rare one up a while ago! I sampled this 75 cL bottle purchased at the LCBO on Queen’s Quay in Toronto, Ontario on 27-September-2004.

Brown/burnt cranberry body with a light white foam. Smells of malt , fruit, caramel, roasted hops, pit fruit and raisins. Taste is fun and filled wi th fruit, hops, alcohol, prodigious malt. Very taste beer, a lot more than I expected.

bottle. 2003 edition. strong alcohol aroma with lots berry sweetness. pours a mahogany colour. nice balance. alcohol shows itself in the flavour but it is by no means overwhelming. a touch of smokiness in the finish. a rich complex beer. I thoroughly enjoyed it.