The Original Ice Bock
The Germans loves their beer. Eisbocks rank among the more decadent of their strictly enforced styles. Originally created by mistake, eisbocks (“ice bocks”) are the stronger, more potent cousins of doppelbocks…
Eisbock is a traditional Kulmbach specialty beer that is made by freeze distilling a doppelbock and removing the ice to concentrate the flavor and alcohol content. Alcohol content ranges from 9% to 43% by volume. It is deep copper to dark brown in color, often with ruby highlights. Head retention is frequently impaired by the higher alcohol content. It has a rich, sweet malty flavor, balanced by a significant alcohol presence. It has a clean, lager character with no hop flavor. Examples include Schneider Aventinus Eisbock, Kulmbacher Reichelbrau Eisbock and Eggenberg Urbock Dunkel Eisbock.
Kulmbacher is said to be the original and given my affinity for German brews and decadent malty beers, I was pumped to finally be giving this one a whirl, thanks to my friend who purchased it for me a few weeks back. Here is my assessment, produced in the TPM patented “Abilities of Beer” model.
Drinkability
Like your beer smooth and easy to chug? This one is NOT for you. Malty as Hell and one of the strongest alcohol tastes I’ve encountered in any beer… not only is this not a session ale, but it was too much for me to finish even one full bottle.
Predictability
Being the first of it’s style that this snob has ever imbibed in, I have no frame of reference (“like a small child who wanders into the middle of a movie and wants to know…”). That said, I expected to enjoy this beer thoroughly and simply did not. Thus, not so predictable, I guess.
Affordability
As noted above, this beer was not purchased by me, however TPM always does his research. I found that this brew ranges from $2-5 per bottle, with an average price in the $3 range. For the punch that Kulmbacher Eisbock packs, the price is more than fair… much more than fair. Most beers in the imperial ABV range (8% and up), are most costly than this one. Then again, value means little if you don’t enjoy it.
OVerall Enjoyability
If you haven’t gathered yet, this is not the beer for me. I love most German styles, but I guess I don’t love them all. Lesson learned.
[rating:4/10]
either way, we can drive all night... 