Kuhnhenn Dark Heathen Triple Bock

Another Kuhnhenn beer from the hoppymeal, poured into a snifter. Pours dark, dark copper that shows through as a reddish amber when held up to light. There is a small thick creamy tan head that hangs around on top as a swirl and a collar. Not much lacing, but plenty of boozy legs after each sip. The aroma is huge with caramelized sugar, dark roasted malts and dark fruits. There is a little booze, rum especially, in the nose as well. The taste has a slight sour yeast flavor up front, but it doesn’t take anything away from the taste honestly (unlike some of my recent Kuhnhenn experiences). The dominating flavors are caramelized brown sugar, toffee, dates, chocolate and port. The finish is sugary sweet and the booze is actually not that noticeable. The mouthfeel is thick and almost syrupy and drinkability is as low as one would expect for a triple bock. Enough carbonation to be noticed. This is a solid dessert sipper and probably better than I was expecting given the reputation of "triple bocks." Sure, it’s thick and not extremely drinkable but it’s got a ton of flavor.

Bottle. Deep burgundy red. Huge malt-driven nose of scotch, vanilla, oxidized toffee and wood. Rich and sticky. Super sweet from the residual sugars, but also ridiculously chewy, full and hefty; resinous. Sharp malt, striking alcohol, but tempered by a rich and flavorful toffee/nut/cake. Love it.

Bottle shared by hopscotch. Pours dark copper with very little tan head. Lightly roasted malt and carmel aromas. Very sweet caramel flavor with some toasted malts, toffee and a little heat from the alcohol. Thick, syrupy mouthfeel with almost no carbonation.

Courtesy hopscotch. Pours a deep reddish brown color with a small, foamy tan colored head that leaves rings of lacing on the glass. The aroma is really nice and rich with a big chocolate and cocoa malt base to go with toasted caramel and roast. The flavor follows with nice roasted flavors of chocolate, toffee, and nougat. Some dark fruits show through adding depth and earthy hops lending bitterness on the backend. Medium full bodied and really smooth and easy to drink with a nice roasty finish. Really nice doppelbock.

Courtesy hopscotch. Pours a hazy looking, rusty reddish brown color. A really nice, foamy, creamy head of tan foam shows nice retention. Thin rings of lacing break apart into thick, leggy drips that coat the glass nicely. The aroma shows a beautifully dark and fudgy cocoa malt base, with heaps of nougat and darkly toasted toffee there for support. Roast comes through in the form of chicory, with earthen hops lending bitterness. Dark raisin adds a touch of fruity sweetness. Flavors follow suit, deliciously roasty with big cacao nib, fudge, toffee and nougat all again showing through. Earthy dark fruits lend complexity. The palate is medium-full and smooth as silk, with a warming finish that really matches the roast nicely. Kuhnhenn is hit or miss, but this is one of their winners. Very good.

Bottle (12oz) shared with HogTownHarry & garthicus -- courtesy of HogTownHarry. Pours a murky dark amber with tons of tiny floaties and a small somewhat-lasting off-white head. Aroma of light sour apples first followed by toffee, caramel malt, some alcohol, fruity wine and brown sugar -- I quite like it. Flavour of caramel malt, toffee and alcohol along with some mild sourness and dark fruit. Alcohol’s there but well hidden for 13.5%. Medium to full bodied. Not amazing but I like it.

Bottle (12oz). Shared with blankboy and garthicus, via trade with glouglouburp. Unknown vintage. Hazy-cloudy deep amber, smallish creamy-frothy off-white head. English Old Ale-ish aroma - alcohol, wood resin, slightly sour, a bit nutty ... very malty and strong. The taste is sweet raisiny malt in the background, with a strong overlay of booze and sour wood resin - Paul says "sour apple" and I can see that, almost a sour apple jack character. Sugary mouthfell, slick, astringent, a little acidic, weak carbonation and a long boozy finish. Puts me in mind of many of those 250ml corked Gales strong ales from England. Interesting - maybe it could have aged a few more years?

With thanks to HogTownHarry, shared with Blankboy & I. Appearance: Golden brown with no real head, tiny flecks. Aroma: Quite boozy, some wood, sugar, slight sourness, malt and fruit. Flavour: Wow, took me by surprise, bitter, lemon and alcohol, some gin notes, lots of pine, caramel, sticky mouth feel, serious alcoholic lemon finish.