EKU 28

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

Serve in Dimpled mug, Snifter, Stein

Poured into an oversized balloon-style wine glass, it is a perfectly clear copper/orange color. Very little foam, just flecks of bubbles here and there. I have never noticed a beer catch the light like this one, it seems to throw back an equal amount of soft orange light. I picked up the glass to look at it, and my hand was bathed in soft orange light. Smells terrific - hot alcohol and honey. Bold malt, considerably sweet and a bit fruity. More hot alcohol. It isn’t cloying, so there must be hops in there too, but really, the flavor is all malt and alcohol. It almost seems that the alcohol flavor itself is a bit bitter and contrasts nicely with the sweetness. More alcohol and honey in the aftertaste. Very still beer, only slight carbonation is evident.

Pours a very nice bright copper colour, with a correct head that fades quickly, leaving some lace that fades too in a couple of minutes. Smell is of dark fruits and brandy or port, with hints of vanilla, almonds and cherries, and caramel too. Taste is sweet, very strong, caramel. Vanilla and cherries are noticed too, with a slightly bitter touch in the end. This is really a very fine beer, but if you have tried Samichlaus before... it pales in comparison. Then again, any other beer do.

Pours a clear, bright copper color, with a quarter inch head that quickly fades to a spotty cap, leaving behind only traces of lacing. Smell; this has a strong grainy profile up front. After I let this settle for a couple of minutes there are some nice hints of cherries, vanilla and caramel malts. The alcohol is very present in the aroma as well. Taste; this very sweet, and that graininess comes through in the taste, but not quite as strongly as in the smell. Vanilla, cherries and caramel malts all come through as well, and there’s also an almost oak barrel flavor going on. Mouthfeel is nice and full, but it’s a bit on the syrupy side for me, and with the alcohol so strong it’s definitely a sipper.

A really unique beer. Lovely dark amber color. Malty aroma and even more malty taste with a chocolate flavor. Fills up the palate from beginning to end. Noticeably alcoholic. Anemic head.

UPDATED: JAN 3, 2007 Aroma is rich and full of honey buttered sweetness with a touch of molasses. In the glass, she is amber with golden highlights and a light, off-white head. The flavor is smooth, sweet and luscious, but does harbor a medicinal quality. I taste candy corn, vanilla and an oaken quality. The palate is initially smooth and silky, but turns a bit acrid on the finish. Not a champ, not a chump; rather a distiguished beverage that is easy and satisfying to anyone that doesn’t pay too much attention to detail. That being said, the details exposed, this beer falls just a little on the safe side of forgiveness; may we all be so lucky.

[Sampled at Carsten Bertelsens Ølrejsen.] Very goodlooking and sweetfatty aroma with notes of caramel, syrup and some alcohol. The strong alcohol dominates the sweetflavor in a way that does not heat the fire in me, (although it is 11 %). But it is better each time I taste it, so maybe next time it’s more than 3.0

Can from trade with piscator34. Beautiful clear copper with a small white head. Sweet caramel aroma with lingering alcohol warmth and some hints of smoke and tobacco. Flavour is quite sweet to start, with notes of caramel, icing sugar, almond & orange, leading into a very warm, moderately bitter finish. A bit harsh around the edges, but still enjoyable, especially if you take the time to drink it slowly.

0.33l bottle purchased at some Spar in Graz. Poured a beautiful red colour with a tiny beige head that vanished immediately. The nose is jam, alcohol and caramel. The taste is quite similar to that of Samichlaus, as complex but maybe less enjoyable. Alcohol, malt, jam, orange, vitamins, caramel, some hopiness and alcohol burn in the aftertaste. Felt as strong or even stronger than Samichlaus. Compared to the other eisbock I’ve had recently, Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock, this isn’t all that good. That was extremely tasty and enjoyable and this barely palatable compared to this. I can respect it, but now I understand why this is rated so low.