Kuhnhenn Raspberry Eisbock

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

2004 Vintage. In word.....AMAZING. The most decadent beer you could ever get.....its like the most lucious dessert you have tasted. Aroma of raspberries, dark chocolate and wine. Flavors of mellow raspberries, dark chocolate, caramel, and almond. The mellow raspberries (no doubt from the three years of aging) give this beer a truly unique character. They are not overpowering, but a always on the edge of the palate, complimenting every aspect of the beer. Alcohol is very warming, but not overpowering in the flavor. Overall, an absolute dream...like biting into the moistest, most succulent chcolate cake ever.

Sampled on-tap. First off, I can understand why this comes in 6.5 ounce bottles. Second off, wow. Pours a ruby tint with absolutely no head. Nose is total raspberry funk with what seems like almost a plastic type of character to it. Flavor is strong raspberry with thick malts. I never really felt that alcohol was present flavor wise. Feel is a bit thicker on liquid and low on carbonation. I also get a slight gritty kind of edge. Not so much that it ruins the experience, but enough to notice. I kind of take it like it is one step below being too much. If it was pushed any further, it wouldn’t work. But overall, it does work since it is so damn unique. I have to say that two ounces of this would probably be good enough for me unless I had a long while to really dwell on the bottle or in this case what was served to me off the tap.

Nice color with not much head at all. What I expected. Very strong aroma of fruity raspberries and alcohol and sugar. Taste like a alcoholic tootsie pop. Taste is smooth and sweet. Fruit, not all rasp. Maybe some cherry or plums along with some honey. Definitely lives up to the hype. The only one I had two samples of.

++++ Re Rate 5 May 2009 ++++
187 ml bottle from mj. 2007 Vintage. Pour is murky brown, orange and copper. Only the thinnest amount of tan head, that quickly retreats to the edges of the glass. Aroma of big rick mulling brown sugar, along with dark chocolate, caramel maltiness and faint raspberry. Also a bit of Sherry warmth, certainly far less boozy than the last time I had this. Nose is big, rich - really inviting. Taste is immediately huge raspberry fruit sweetness, more of the caramel chocolate maltiness and a big warming Sherry taste. The chocolate gets. Dusty cocoa taste to it during the long finish. The age seems to have flattened out some of the fruit tart / sweetness I remember on this. Its more of a clovey spice now. Palate is big, bold - almost entirely flat. As mentioned, the finish is long, dry and warming. Thanks for sending me this one Mike, the last time I had this it was young and under less than ideal circumstances. Nice to revisit with a whole bottle. I enjoyed it about the same, though in different ways. Overall, a nice sipper. For a beer of its heft, it is remarkably smooth. (9,4,8,4,17 - 4.2)

++++ Original Rating 28 Jan 2008 ++++
2007 bottle shared by beastiefan2k. Pour is a cloudy / hazy orange-amber with zero head whatsoever. Aroma of brown sugar, cinnamon, malt, the sour raspberry fruit and burnt sugar. Taste of raspberry candy fruit, burned brown sugar, big, big flavor. It was tart, sour, yet somehow refined and rounded. Just giant flavor all around. Really tasty and interesting, just so different. Thanks for sharing Eugene. (8,4,9,4,17 - 4.2)

2007 Bottle shared by beastiefan2k. Pours a cloudy reddish brown (almost purplish) with a thin creamy cap that leaves patchy lace on the glass. The nose is a malty, sour and pleasantly funky raspberry. Medium-bodied and slightly grainy with a tart finish. The flavor is an delicious blend of tart raspberry and dark caramel and chocolate malt. It was a real treat to get to try this one. Thanks again, Eugene!

Cloudy reddish brown, moderate to small head, some lacing and retention. Aroma is nearly divine. Raspberries, chocolate, caramel, the usual Eisbock type notes. Despite how big the aroma is, there’s a softness to it. Medium to heavy body, some alcohol and acidity in the finish. However, it’s still velvety smooth. The raspberry flavor is rich, not overly sweet. I wish it was cheaper and findable. Thanks Artusory!

Aroma of dried fruit (particularly raspberries) and chocolate, with a bit of a distracting scent which reminded me of a particular Japanese blueberry gum that I like (though not so good for a beer). Tasted like dried raspberries, honey, caramel, and good, fruity chocolate.

2004 bottle from cbkshubert. Thanks Craig! Opened at the Red Poppy release, while waiting in line. Lot’s of oxidation in a good way, but detracting from the potential of the beer. Red brown color. A hint of sour. Lots of raspberry flavor and texture, but seems subdued from what I imagine it tasted like fresher. 8,3,8,3,17:3.9 Tasted at 2008 Woodshop hosted by cquiroga. Wow. Sweet. Over the top raspberry aroma and taste. Deep, dark red. Much better than the 2004 version I had couple of months ago. I’m starting to not prefer oxidation and too much age on beers, and I think the 2004 was past it’s prime. The 2007 was great! 9,4,9,4,18:4.4