Schloss Eggenberg Urbock Dunkel Eisbock

Brewed by Brauerei Schloss Eggenberg
Style: Eisbock
Vorchdorf, Austria

Very dark red-brown with a medium-sized off-white head that falls to a thin, large-bubbled ring. Rich, sweet aroma: molasses, brown sugar, toffee, dates, and a slight alcohol burn at the end. There is a certain mustiness to the aroma, something I can only compare to suede leather- I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Such rich malts in this, the flavor brings many ripened fruit flavors (plums, dates) to the party, light coffee, roasted nuts and caramel. Dry, slightly alcoholic finish. Chewy, full mouthfeel, like chomping on a big piece of taffy. It took nearly 800 different beers, but I’ve finally had an eisbock!

Bottle, no date but I’m assuming it’s pretty young as we just started getting higrav beers in GA. Deep maroon to brown color reminiscient of tea that has been steeped for too long. A bubbly head remained for a minute but was quickly devoured by the viscous liquid. The aroma presents an immediate malt explosion. Caramel, molasses, chocolate, toffee and nuts are met by floral hops, a leaf like yeast profile, and esters of alcohol, clove, prune, madeira, brown sugar and a hint of anise. Now that all sounds wonderful but it’s a bit muddled, the alcohol is a tad strong and I’m not a fan of this yeast’s aroma. Flavor is moderately to heavily sweet throughout with little balancing solice to be found in hops or acidity. Still, it’s not overwhelmingly cloying. Moderate alcohol burn is present. The flavor is not nearly as complex as the aroma led me to imagine it might be. Medium full body has a velvety texture and very low carbonation. The bottom line is: with the exception of the alcohol this is an incredibly clean beer...very low levels of acidity...a bit thinner than I was expecting given my experience with this brewer...still, a nice sipper.

First taste is unbearable liquid marmite. Halfway through the bottle, it mellows into a sweet molasses, with some lip stickiness. (Sidenote: the cap was actually an Eggenbock Urbock 23 cap). Finishes (bottle finishes, that is) with notes of honey, and leaves sugary sticky deposits on lips.

Pours a lucid mahogany with no head. Aroma is super malty and sweet, notes of caramel. Flavor is basically alcohol and caramel. Aventinus is a far superior eisbock.

Pours with no head and no lacing and has a cola Aroma: slight wiskey and raisins. Tastes of smokey raisins with alcohol aftertones. Palate: sticks to the tongue and lingers slightly in the back of your mouth.

Beautiful clear mahogany with a small beige head. Aroma of wine, peat/smoke, aged malt with some tart sourness and one other thing that I can’t put my finger on....wait, it’s Salami! No joke, smell it again if you don’t believe me. Taste has notes of caramel, dark fruit, molasses, smoke, peat, roasted malt and chocolate. Rich and malty. Very sweet, with a roasty and moderately, bitter, sour and alcohol finish. Very full, round and creamy on the palate with perfect carbonation - not too lively and not dead either. No lacing or head retention. Overall, great stuff.

Deep ruby pour with a big, creamy white head. Aroma of malt, huge corn flakes, nuts, some cabernet. Tastes malty, with corn flakes, nuts, and cognac hints. This one is part Fullers London Porter and part Schneider Avenitus. Whatever its proportions, it’s delicious.

Nice moistured bread nose also kind of syrupy. Very nice dark bronw color, with a small head on top. Long lasting alcohol taste, but not in a bad way. Long lastin cloves, caramel and malt aftertaste. Lingers down smoothly. Nice.