SNAB IJsbok

The Ijsbok won the title of best Dutch bockbeer at the Bokbierfestival of 2007 and 2008. They are sure to be one of the favorites this year as well (2009). The smell of the beer aint particularly impressive, but it looks beautiful with it’s dark amber molasses colour. It has sufficient carbonation to tickle your palate, and the taste is well-rounded and smooth with customary bockbier sweetness. It’s sweetness gets balanced by spicy hop bitterness though. The alcohol taste is so hidden that one is almost disinclined to believe that it really has 9%. It tends to manifest after you have swallowed a mouthful, but not like sharp tingles creeping up your nose. The aftertatse is more like the one you get from eating a chocolate praline with liqueur filling. A very well crafted brew.

tap at Arendsnest in Amsterdam - Pours deep amber with a medium sized lingering head. It smells of dark fruity malt. The flavor is sweet toasted caramel malt, dark fruit, and spice with more hops than is typical for the style. It works well though. This brew has a nice full body and some good hops bitterness in the finish. Very tasty.

Bottela thanks to Edo(Bierkoning). Mediuml firm head. Fruity aromas pear,plum, raisins and roasted malt. Sweetish tast of roasted malt, sugar, caramel and ripe red fruits. Very well balanced and drinkable despite the high abv. I enjoyed it a lot !

Bottle at home. A pretty solid, and high-alochol content, bock. Vary flavourful with sweet, charamel and fruits tastes. Fades well and turns spicy.

<i>Courtesy of Philippe (Bov)</i>
Very dark chestnut color, almost black; big head. Nice aroma of malt and caramel, also some chocolate and maybe liquorice and spices. Medium bodied, less thick and sweet than other examples; mostly chocolate flavor. In the end the alcohol is warming. Because of the chocolate, it reminds me more a Strong Belgian than an Eisbock.

Bottle. Hazy, ruby-amber coloured, mid-sized, stable tanned head. Molasses, caramel and dried berries in the aroma, accompanied by a tinge of yeast. solid sweet-bitter flavour, medium to full bodied. Becomes even more bitter and drier in the malty and fruity finish. Very O.K. ........

Bottle at Plan B. - Tasting. Clear dark brown - offwhite head. Dark fruits, berries, chocolate, licorice, roasted, ryebread, yeasty, high malty, sweetness, dryness. OK.

Botella. Hazy dark brown colour with a medium light brown head. Roasty malty and chocolate dark fruity soft flavour.