EKU 28

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

Serve in Dimpled mug, Snifter, Stein

Clear with a head that disappeared by the time I set the bottle down, with lots of champagne like bubbles. The aroma is really sweet cherry frosting. Flavor is sweet, but not too cloying, very alcoholic with a sweet tobacco like finish.

Pours a very clear amber with a quickly disintegrating head. Definite sweetness and maltiness in the nose--and both those traits flavor the beer, too. The alcohol is fairly well hidden, but there is so much of it that it still sticks out.

UPDATED: SEP 18, 2007 Particolarissima e, a modo suo, inimitabile, la EKU 28 è stata bersaglio di innumerevoli critiche dovute al suo tasso alcolico e, soprattutto, alla sua incredibile dolcezza; tuttavia è tutt’altro che una birra da fighetti alcolici. Una bevanda "difficile", che non guarda in faccia l’abituale consumatore tanto quanto non si preoccupa dei gusti dell’esperto e forse per questo attira l’attenzione di entrambi. Aspetto ambrato/rosso carico, con scarsa schiuma poco persistente, aroma dolcissimo, malto malto malto malto malto e ancora malto. Sapore follemente sbilanciato sul dolce, con complessità di miele e chiodi di garofano; una birra commerciale estremamente coraggiosa e, anche solo per questo, apprezzabile; se poi ci aggiungiamo che non è niente male, allora siamo a posto.__________________________ENGLISH TEXT HERE________Very particular and - in its own special way - inimitable, EKU 28 has been the spot of countless critics due to its high alcohol percentage and to its incredibile sweetness; anyway, it’s very far from a ’alcohol teens’ beverage. In fact it’s a very ’difficult’ brew, which doesn’t look in the eye the everyday consumer and doesn’t care for the expert’s taste and maybe that’s why it catches the attention of both worlds. Appearance is amber/dark red, with short lasting little head; aroma is very sweet: malt, malt malt, malt, malt, malt, malt and then... malt! Flavor is madly unbalanced, with complexity of honey and cloves; an extremely daring ’commercial’ beer and - even just for this fact - very enjoyable; if you add that it’s not bad at all, then you have the sum of the parts.

Pours a clear amber with a one finger head that receeds without leaving lacing. Nose has a lot of alcohol present I want to say just a touch of gingerbread maybe. Extremely sweet on the tongue - almost as if it were a dessert drink. Alcohol barely comes through at the end, but you can’t tell you are downing 11% on this one, which makes it dangerously drinkable. Mouthfeel is smooth but with a syrupy tone. You could drink a lot of these in one sitting I’d imagine. But just be sure to call a cab.

Bottle. Pours very slightly hazy ambery gold, thin off-white head. Nose is sweet and some plummy tones, stale wet wood, some glace cherries. Mouth is some plummy tones with a spirit burn as you swallow. Sweet and coating on the way down. Strength present. Alright, could be a lot better.

Date: 05/05/2005
Mode: Bottle
Source: Ale Atlanta

dark amber, light sweet malt aroma, big body, cloying sweet malt flavor but acceptable,
-------- /> Date: 03/08/2007
Mode: bottle
Score: 2.4 to 2.9
Words: Blind Tasting

clear amber, fine dirty white head, sweet candy aroma balanced with earthy hops, rich malt flavor, touch of hot alcohol, nice sweetness from start to finish

Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 11/20
Rating: 2.9/5.0
Score: *4

formaly known as "kulminator" and named "terminator". copper-coloured, nearly headless. smells of alcohol. oily start. malty and alcoholic. ends up with dry hops and - still - disturbing alcoholic aromes. not my stuff.

Sampled at the seattle International Beer Festival and enjoyed it quite a bit. Wish I could get my hands on a bottle in order to re-sample. My ratings reflect my appreciation of German beer in general. This is a deceptively strong beer, too, and when I do try it in greater quantity I am sure to note whether or not it can become cloying after more than a few sips.