Kuhnhenn Raspberry Eisbock

Brewed by Kuhnhenn Brewing
Style: Fruit Beer
Warren, Michigan USA

187 ml bottle purchased at Siciliano’s Market in Grand Rapids, MI for $10.69. Eleven bucks for 6.3oz of beer. My love of beer has reached a new level of obsession. 2007 vintage. Served at cellar temperature. Selfishly shared with me, myself, and I. Pretty thick pour; hazy ruby reddish-brown color. Head was one finger high, light tan, and fizzled to a ring in a minute or so. Aroma was of milk chocolate and raspberry liqueur; reminiscent of a raspberry Tootsie Pop. Medium to full bodied and sweet with lots of alcohol warmth that sank slowly into my mucous membranes. I suspect the alcohol lightened the body up somewhat. Smooth, velvety mouth feel with ample carbonation. Distinct raspberry liqueur, toffee, and subdued chocolate flavors came out. Nice sipping beer. I bet some bitter dark chocolate would go very nicely with this.

Simply one of the best beers ever produced. It’s nice to have some fruit in a beer that doesn’t taste syrupy or artificial, and that doesn’t have the champagne-like estery flavor of a lambic. Gorgeous ruby-brown color and fresh candied raspberries on the nose. the flavor is where it really gets interesing. Very port-like and sweet toffee, caramel and chocolate flavors, but in no way cloying. Wonderfully fresh finish. A masterful brew.

Pours a hazy red brown without any head. Aroma is sweet fruits and chocolate. Flavor is raspberry, strawberry, toffee, chocolate, booze, port, and quite a few other things I can’t quite put my finger on. Finishes sweet, slightly alcoholic. A bit thinner than expected and I’m left wanting a bit more tartness to really round it out. This beer is different every sip, very complex. I’d like to have a few more sessions on it to really figure it all out.

Thanks to Derek for this one. Deep brown color, almost muddy, perhaps with a tint of red. No head is formed on my gentle pour although small bubbles are visibly rising to the top of the glass. The aroma is chocolaty, creamy, doughy, and has a sweet while somewhat tart raspberry. The flavor is delicate and thick at the same time with a strong bittersweet chocolate and raspberry flavor. Nearly identical to chocolate raspberry delice. The body is smooth and cream like and persists well after the swallow. This is a masterpiece.

Boy oh boy. I’ve been saving this for my 700th rating. Many thanks to polomagnifico for hooking me up with the 2007 and many thanks to turdferguson for sharing his 2004 for a comparison. The 2004 poured a darker red brew with less head. The aroma showed less raspberry, had a more mature round aroma, mellow fruit, less chocolate and caramel, sweet, no alcohol present in the aroma. The flavor had a lite tartness, matured raspberry, a smokey/meaty tobacco flavor, a little oxidized and some earthiness. The palate was smooth with no alcohol. The 2007 poured a dark reddish brown with a thin tan brown head. The aroma epitomized raspberries covered in chocolate and caramel, very distinct for all three, goddamn that is a beautiful nose. The flavor was smooth and full, sweet chocolate covered raspberries, caramel, light alcohol, a hint of medicinal fruit at the rear sides of the tongue. The palate was warming with hidden alcohol and lite carbonation. This one is a little green still. I’d like to see it with a year or two on it. I still preferred the 2007 but man they were both amazing.

This is from the 2004 batch. Dark brown. Aroma of dark chocolate cherries with very wet cardboard (not in taste). Beautiful balance and flavor of liquid chocolate raspberries...has held up beautifully. I find this first batch to much more chocolately than the more recent. Re-tastedthe 2004 at 3/1/08 at big tasting...no cardboard in aroma and more raspberry. Also had the 2007 which is less sweet, chocolaty, and to me tasty.

EBF sample, man was this stuff great. 1st id love to get my hands on some. Pours red, tasted sweet but not over powering. Fresh rasberry taste not syrup.

Thanks to Immy for this one. 2004 vintage. Pours red in color with very thin white head. Aroma is of sweet raspberry. Taste is like a mouthful of raspberry with dry finish.