Kuhnhenn Raspberry Eisbock - Kuhnhenn Brewing Company

tectactoe

Michigan

4.73/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

On tap a Kuhnhenn's brewery in Warren. Pours a magnificent ruby red color with some brown hints thrown about. A thick and creamy, fine-bubbled beige head sits atop the eisbock and settles to a skin on the beer for the remainder of the glass. Excited to finally try this stuff, on tap at the brewery, no less. Put down 15$ for a 6 oz pour, so this stuff better be pretty damn good. I have high hopes for Kuhnhenn, though, so I don't think they'd let me down.

The aroma is.... magnificent. Rasp - fuckin' - berries, ALL. DAMN. DAY. A perfectly light, yet-full bodied aroma that bursts with sweet, juicy raspberries, raspberry jam, and raspberry candy. The malt imparts a nice cocoa and chocolate aroma as well - chocolate covered raspberries, anyone? The aroma is so ripe, pure, and authentic, and that's one of the best things about it. It's like stuffing your nose into a raspberry patch with chocolate rain. Sweet, fruity, and simply orgasmic. No bullshit, here.

KRE is creamier on the palate than it appeared in the glass - it slides softly across my tongue as the onslaught of raspberry goodness devours my entire mouth. A smooth, delicate raspberry jam flavor explodes as waves of light cocoa nips and some mellow chocolate float in and out. Think of dipping raspberries in a chocolate fountain. There's no doubt, the raspberry flavor wins out over the chocolate, but the inclusion of cocoa is nevertheless a huge component to the full flavor profile. And though there isn't a necessarily complex or demanding group of different flavors, the raspberry element is so authentic and "real", to an almost unbelievable degree even. This batch apparently contains 15.5% ABV (rather than the original 13.5%, due to a higher efficiency during brewing), but it hardly tastes like it contains alcohol at all. Upon warming, some warmth comes out, but it is still insanely tame and drinkable. Low carbonation, which works well for this beer.

I couldn't think of a more perfect desert beer. I've got to say - this is probably the best fruit-centric beer I've ever had. The raspberries are so raw and pure that it's borderline ridiculous. Perfect addition of cocoa flavors makes this beer even better. Probably the winner of the "highest ABV to highest drinkability" award, too. It went down so smooth.

Serving type: on-tap

02-17-2013 05:13:52 | More by tectactoe

Docrock

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +7.5%

05-24-2013 18:53:45 | More by Docrock

ltltony

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

05-23-2013 15:47:18 | More by ltltony

hannydawg

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

05-23-2013 13:00:38 | More by hannydawg

iadler

Minnesota

4.1/5  rDev -7.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

From notes on Saturdays tasting. 2012 vintage.

A- Pours a translucent amber with virtually no head or lacing.

S- Raspberry liquor, bready malt, dark chocolate and burnt caramel. Very simple, but inviting

T- Raspberry flavored candy that is a bit medicinal, raspberry syrup, burnt caramel, bready malt and dark chocolate. Very little presence of alcohol.

M- Practically no carbonation with a syrupy body that finishes with just a bit of heat.

O- A very interesting beer to say the least. Lot's of raspberry, but not that fresh raspberry flavor that you find in beers such as Blushing Monk or Raspberry Tart. Quite a big beer and one that should be sipped along side friends.

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 01:52:00 | More by iadler

JoeStepOner

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

05-22-2013 22:54:36 | More by JoeStepOner

MarkIntihar

Michigan

4.75/5  rDev +7.5%

05-22-2013 13:35:06 | More by MarkIntihar

SpdKilz

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -3.8%

05-22-2013 13:15:57 | More by SpdKilz

Rohkey

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

05-21-2013 23:09:36 | More by Rohkey

CFHMagnet

Ohio

4.73/5  rDev +7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

This review is from notes taken in the wee morning hours of Sunday 5-19-13, when I was able to get into Kuhnhenn's a little after midnight for my bachelor party. I had a couple things there, but this was the one I had to rate.

It had a reddish brown body with a finger of head. This dissipated into a frothy ring and left light lacing.

I wish I could have smelled it a little better, but I was a little stuffed up from allergies. What I did get was raspberry cream, or some kind of raspberry dessert smell.

The taste was all raspberry. Raspberry cream, raspberry cough syrup, a little bit of booze helping out on that call.

Mouthfeel was medium bodied. It coated the tongue. It was perfect. Refreshing (yes, I said it) while still a tad syrupy.

Overall I wish the allergies hadn't been acting up so I can be sure what I smelled and tasted was accurate. I had to rate it as I perceived it as a rare chance for any Ohioan to do so very often. I was very happy to be there in Kuhnhenn's where so much magic goes down.

Serving type: on-tap

05-21-2013 17:43:33 | More by CFHMagnet

CosmoHopHead

Kansas

4.25/5  rDev -3.8%

05-21-2013 04:40:41 | More by CosmoHopHead

ackeeper

Illinois

5/5  rDev +13.1%

05-21-2013 01:00:16 | More by ackeeper

midlifec

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

05-20-2013 22:46:13 | More by midlifec

powz87

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +7.5%

05-20-2013 17:23:34 | More by powz87

ShawnMH

Indiana

3.75/5  rDev -15.2%

05-19-2013 15:22:07 | More by ShawnMH

Treebs

Illinois

3.76/5  rDev -14.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

Shared this bad boy at DLD. 2012 vintage served in a Deschutes snifter.

A: Pours a brownish, reddish color with a pretty still body. No real head forms on the pour.

S: Lots of sweet booze and malt with blast of smashed raspberries. Bready malts make up most of the flavor profile in the nose.

T: Tons of sweet raspberry. Much more than nose conveyed. Very jammy in nature with a little boozy heat. A mild burn is there with a heavy, bready malt profile to back it up.

M: Low carbonation with a chewy texture and mouthfeel. Sweet and hot on the finish.

O: This was good, but it definitely needs some time. The boozy notes are right up front and need some time to settle in.

Serving type: bottle

05-19-2013 13:35:29 | More by Treebs

jl28r1

Texas

4.25/5  rDev -3.8%

05-18-2013 16:39:27 | More by jl28r1

pmarlowe

California

4.3/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

2012 vintage. Thanks to scoot1969 for this long time want! Tulip glass.

A: Pours a garnet color, slight browning on the edges, with very good clarity. Only a few bubbles distinguish it from red wine. No head or lacing. A second, more vigorous pour yields a ring of tan head.

S: Loads of rich, sweet raspberry and dark chocolate. Slight booziness.

T: Mild chocolate mixed with rich, sweet raspberry, very mild tartness. The chocolate is kind of an undertone to the raspberry. A lengthy finish. At the recommended serving temperature (45-55), an alcohol taste is only slightly noticeable, though there isn't a boozy burn or sharpness or anything. No way this tastes like a 15.5% beer.

M: Medium-full body, mouthcoating, and light carbonation which provides some structure. Slight syrupy-ness.

O: Like a raspberry-filled chocolate truffle. Nice digestif. Manages to be sweet but not cloying. If I had any complaints, it would be that the beer leans towards one-dimensional. But it succeeds at what it attempts.

Serving type: bottle

05-18-2013 04:30:34 | More by pmarlowe

carlosega

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev -3.8%

05-16-2013 20:22:37 | More by carlosega

DanGeo

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

05-16-2013 11:32:08 | More by DanGeo

deekyn

California

4.25/5  rDev -3.8%

05-16-2013 04:06:24 | More by deekyn

browniewithnuts

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

05-16-2013 02:06:12 | More by browniewithnuts

illy0sis

Texas

5/5  rDev +13.1%

05-14-2013 22:05:34 | More by illy0sis

Jspriest

Maryland

5/5  rDev +13.1%

05-14-2013 17:54:47 | More by Jspriest

HarmonMW

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%

05-14-2013 01:31:18 | More by HarmonMW