Kuhnhenn Raspberry Eisbock - Kuhnhenn Brewing Company

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

jamescain

Texas

4.85/5  rDev +9.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Lucky enough to be in Detroit for work and they still had this on tap. Poured into a small wine glass.

It pours a clear deep red with brown hues and a thin tan head that quickly fades. The smell is amazing. Cocoa nibs and and fresh raspberries. I couldn't stop smelling it. The taste is even more impressive then the nose. It taste like fresh chocolate covered raspberries. I'm not sure how the keep the raspberries from tasting like a syrup and being overly sweet. The body is medium thick with medium carbonation and a sweet but not cloying finish. This is with out a doubt one of the most incredible beers I have ever tried. I'm really happy I was able to try some and really glad I made the choice to spend the money to try it. Easily one of the most unique beers I have ever tasted.

Serving type: on-tap

05-13-2013 19:16:30 | More by jamescain

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

4.51/5  rDev +2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap @ Kuhnhenn

A - Deep ruby with an amber glow around edges and a thin layer of cream coloured head.

S - Raspberry jam, bready malts and a noticeable alcohol presence.

T - Rasp puree dominates with just enough bready malt character to add complexity and prevent this from being completely one dimensional. Warming alcohol throughout but is very well hidden considering the ABV.

M - Medium to full body. Light carbonation.

Serving type: on-tap

04-01-2013 11:56:18 | More by TheSevenDuffs

SportsandJorts

Michigan

4.26/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Type: on tap ~5 oz
Glass: flute
From: kuhnhenn's
Price: 15

Appearance: dark dark red almost black but pretty clear

Smell: extra sweet raspberry. Strong alcohol

Taste: along the same lines of the nose. The raspberry sweetness and alcohol play very well together for a well balanced but not complex beer

Mouthfeel: heavy, warm, thick, smooth, but I wish it was a more chewy

Overall: greet beer. Wonderfully strong and warming but at the price I could find much better. Probably will not have again due to the price

Serving type: on-tap

03-05-2013 02:54:20 | More by SportsandJorts

PattyMelt

Michigan

4.59/5  rDev +3.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

Had on tap at Kuhnhenn's, as well as at WBF.

A- Pretty much the way I want all beers to look- deep red/pinkish, with minimal head.

S- Raspberry (obviously), pretty tart smell. I personally couldn't pick up on any of the chocolate or malt tones in the smell.

T- Amazing. As I was trying to explain it to friends, I described it as a raspberry soaked in liquor. (Please mind that I was slightly inebriated when stating this, but you get the idea). Strong raspberry flavor, that tastes like real fresh raspberry, not syrup or candy or anything of that sort. Hints of cocoa and maltiness. But, the alcohol does pack a punch. You can definitely taste it, and from what I hear you either love it or hate it. I clearly love it, but I can definitely see how some may feel it is too abrasive.

O- A very good beer. Pretty much perfect for me, but I curved my grades a bit seeing as this is not a beer that appeals to everyone. I have a bottle that I plan on aging for awhile to see how that pans out.

Serving type: on-tap

02-26-2013 09:16:57 | More by PattyMelt

smalenberg

Michigan

4.65/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

At tap at the brewery the day after release. 6 oz wine glass pour. Beautiful claret when held to the light, slightly mahogany look in lower light. Minimal head as you'd expect with this much alcohol, but the light tan ring persists through the glass and clings after each sip.

Nose fills with raspberry followed by chocolate and carmel notes slightly reminiscent of chewing a tootsie roll. Fruit forward without completely obscuring a complex maltiness.

Raspberry to begin with in the sip - fruity sweet followed my a slight hint of sourness (like eating a handful of berries when there are one or two tart ones mixed in). How to describe the malt? Imagine the character from barrel aging without any tannin wood iness to detract from the fruit. That character remains long after you swallow. A pleasant afterglow that stays with you for a long time. Extremely well balanced.

This needs to be approached slowly. There is some alcohol heat in the full bodied mouthfeel that borders on syrupy without becoming cloying, but much less than you'd expect at 15% ABV. The alcohol reveals itself in the warming feeling in the belly after you swallow. Definitely a sipper. Great flavor and complexity to be savored gradually. Glad I have a bottle to cellar because as good as it is now, I expect it to improve with age. If you have the means, get one before it is gone.

Serving type: on-tap

02-17-2013 18:51:23 | More by smalenberg

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

SkiBum22

New York

4.5/5  rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a dark raspberry brown with a thin ring of off-white foam. Minimal lacing.

S - It's a fantastic tart raspberry smell with sweet chocolate in the background.

T - Wow, the sweetness of the raspberry that I smelled tastes tart on my tongue. The raspberry is strong but I pick up hints of dark fruit, sweet toffee and a little tobacco on the back end.

M - Creamy medium body with very low, but present, carbonation.

O - An amazing beer that hides the high abv. well. I could drink a lot of these very easily.

Serving type: on-tap

09-08-2011 18:26:34 | More by SkiBum22

Andreji

Colombia

3.6/5  rDev -18.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Mmmm. so this BA classic was one of the tried out beers at the RnH this afternoon.

Served in a tiny chalice sort-of cup, the tap pour was essentially headless and served to the very limit. Opaque and rather purplish black.

Smell may be the most generous bit of it. very frutti di bosco throughout, and it doesnt take a full nose dive to point it out. sweet to slightly astringent and if anything, strong.

Taste wise, however, this was disappointing. the overall feel is juicy- as in, the sweezed produce of the fruit. however, it is abundant, if not artificial. rather feels like a concentrate. plus the feel is fairly thin, and seemingly refreshing if not for how alcoholey and sugary it is.

Overall this is certainly not my top of the class. The beer may well not be bad but it does give off an artificial feel to it. Not my pint of beer.

Serving type: on-tap

05-01-2011 03:11:44 | More by Andreji

axeman9182

New Jersey

4.3/5  rDev -2.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

My final beer at the Rattle n Hum's Kuhnhenn event. This one was poured in an 8oz champagne flute style glass.

Raspberry Eisbock pours a deep fusion of amber and plum, with surprising clarity. A thin bone colored head briefly sits atop the beer, but quickly vanishes to nothing. The nose is entirely one note, but incredibly alluring.The beer smells like fresh raspberries soaked in a very small amount of brandy. The flavor doesn't add much, but nonetheless, the result works so well that I can't help but dig it. Those same brandy soaked raspberries come through from the start, and dominate most of the beer. Right when I think the flavor is going to be as one dimensional as the aroma though, a fantastic swirl of rich milk chocolate comes in to close things out. Imagine a liquified raspberry truffle, and you'll get a very good idea of what this beer tastes like. Had the chocolate showed up a little bit earlier in the flavor profile, this beer would be just about perfect, but it comes in just a tad late to really nail it. The body is surprisingly middling for such a high ABV beer, but it works (in conjunction with the mildly subdued carbonation) to prevent the beer from presenting as cloying in any way. Raspberry Eisbock wasn't quite as impressive as Kuhnhenn's other hyped beer (Bourbon Barrel 4th Dementia), but still showed why it's deserving of a spot on BA's Top 100 beers.

Serving type: on-tap

05-01-2011 01:28:16 | More by axeman9182

ommegangpbr

New York

4.47/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I, too, tried this one on for size at Rattle N Hum.
I don't have much to add on to what has recently been said by those that had this on tap at that bar.
Chocolate covered raspberries, strong on the booze while still being pretty easy to drink. A sit'n'sip with dense flavor that keeps reeling one in. I wish it hadn't been served so cold to start with because it was difficult to find the patience required to let it warm to a temperature where the fullness of flavor would peak. Even when very cold, lots of depth, interest and happy flavor.
I was excited and happy to try this and I would be excited and happy to have it again.

Serving type: on-tap

04-29-2011 07:12:33 | More by ommegangpbr

afksports

New York

4.43/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Kristina Yamaguchi is wearing a red velvet dress and ice skating on my tongue. She's got a rocket pack in her back that's shooting out rasberry purée and hot lava. I'm not quite sure what else to say. This beer is exceptional.

Built like an eisbock to carry you through the winter, but with raspberries to cut through a garden fence, it's likedrinking a smoothie with rum. I'm in love and I'm not. It's huge. Huge huge. Thick mouthfeel, viscous and sugary. This 2007 vintage is brilliant out the tap all the way to the bottom. Deep red velvet, hardly any head, bodacious smell, taste that's tart and sweet and finishes with alcohol and malt. Heat for winter, fruit for summer, perfect for spring.

Serving type: on-tap

04-27-2011 22:20:40 | More by afksports

onix1agr

Pennsylvania

4.7/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On Tap at Rattle $ Hum for their K. event. 2007 vintage in a glass.

Kuhnhenn Raspberry Eisbock fills the glass with a dark shade of blood stain red with some burgundy colors abound. Not alot of foam on top, just some smallish bubbles, no stick.

Smell takes on two forms. This begins with a fresh raspberry scent that is both rich and potent. It's the main scent for 10 minutes or so. I go to the bathroom and come back, now all I can smell is deep chocolate and Raspberry in the back. A boatload of malts are all around.

Taste starts out with raspberry jam/paste/smuckers/puree whatever you want to call it. The description said raspberry juice was added in, either way I like it. This is indeed an Eisbock, a trifecta of malts make for other darker fruits to play, along with a sweet candy/caramel taste to jump in. Chocolate plays a big roll, more than I thought it would.

Feel is a big medium, approaching full. The liquid is semi coating for a few seconds but does not linger to long. Carb is mild and pleasant and holding this big beast down. Sweet but not cloying and not medicinal in any way.

Overall I enjoyed this one quite a bit and having it on tap is something I thought would never happened. It took about 30 minutes or so to down my 12oz's or so, so you cant drink a shit ton of it, but over a few hours damage can be done.

I mixed in some Bourbon Barrel 4th demensia Old ale to my last 5oz's or so and it worked like a charm.

Serving type: on-tap

04-27-2011 14:41:17 | More by onix1agr

oglmcdgl

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at rattle and hum nyc. A big glass of the 07 vintage. Nice!

A- comes to me with a small fizz on top that instantly disappears leaving a mirror finish. Dark murky brown red in color.

S- chocolate covered raspberries with a deep malty sweetness that brings a lot of dark bread with it. Smell like a chocolate raspberry tart.

T- opens up with masserated raspberry and roasty chocolate malts. Bready sweetness with a touch of spice that creeps in. Tart at times and its works nicely to cut the bigger malt profile. Hints of raspberry liquor in the back. Surprisingly clean roasty and tart finish.

M- on the fuller side of body but not thick. Medium carb that works just right with this big beer. Very little heat in the back of the mouth after a bit but for a brew as big as this what does one expect. The time down has done some amazing things to this I bet.

O- I've been hunting this for years and it took a trip to nyc to get it done but it was well worth the wait and journey. Great stuff and so drinkable I can't believe it.

Serving type: on-tap

04-26-2011 17:15:11 | More by oglmcdgl

beerhan

Ohio

4.55/5  rDev +2.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

2007 Raspberry Eisbock poured on draft into a 6oz snifter. Dark amber color with a white lacing and small head that leaves very quickly. Smells like raspberries with a bit of cocoa. Very unique smell that is unlike anything I've had but I do find a lot of Kuhnhenn beers to give that impression. Tastes like creamy milk chocolate bathed in raspberries and frothed up. Very delicious but a little too chocolaty and not fruity enough. The fact is that this beer is 13.5 % and I could not even taste the alcohol. I sipped on it because I knew the alcohol was there but it is hidden so well you do not want to stop drinking it.

Update: 2012 release.

The fresh batch is definitely a bit boozier. Granted I have never had this fresh before I do think this one needs some time to settle down. The raspberry is up there but I do believe that the chocolate notes develop more over time once the fruit is less forward. A real one of a kind beer and with the increase in abv, this one is just ridiculously good still.

Serving type: on-tap

12-21-2010 23:40:56 | More by beerhan

plaid75

New York

4.6/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On draft at The Blind Tiger, NYC.

Poured a medium amber hue with a one finger frothy white head. There was good retention and decent lacing.

The smell mimmiced perfectly a raspberry linzer tart.

The taste featured a sweet fruity raspberry, some doughy malts and a light medicinal element toward the finish.

The mouthfeel was full and relatively smooth considering the ABV.

Overall a superior and unique drinking experience. Highly recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

09-02-2009 18:47:57 | More by plaid75

sholland119

Pennsylvania

4.47/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap (!) at the brewpub.

A-Pours a murky brown with purple notes and a thin tan head.

S-Dark fruit with brown sugar, vanilla and a bit of milk chocolate.

T-Some tart raspberry in the front, followed by rich chocolate and some well hidden alcohol in the finish. A great raspberry chocolate combo.

M-Remarkably light on the tongue but still a bit rich. Very nice.

D-Yes, thank you, I would love another any time.

HV

Serving type: on-tap

05-03-2009 22:39:39 | More by sholland119

webmanspidey

Michigan

4.47/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

On tap at the brewpub, served in a small snifter. Dark brownish/red color with no head. A thick syrupy look to it. Smell is of sweet raspberries and cheesecake. A similar taste overloaded with raspberries, cheesecake, chocolate, toffee, and sugar. Very slight alcoholic bite but overall not too powerful. A slow sipping beer that pretty much represents the definition of a "dessert beer". This lives up to its reputation if you are expecting the right thing.

Serving type: on-tap

03-21-2009 03:42:01 | More by webmanspidey

Damian

Massachusetts

4.63/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Drank on-tap at the Hop Devil Grill & the Belgian Room, New York, NY

I was lucky enough to try a sample of this at the Hop Devil Grill's 2nd Annual Strong Ale Festival.

Poured a dark, translucent mahogany with a tight, one-finger, saddle brown head. The head quickly faded to a lasting ring of lace.

The aroma was amazingly complex and aromatic. Fruity, raspberry jam-like notes stood out against a perplexing backdrop of toffee, brown sugar, bourbon and maple syrup. Sweet to the nose but definitely not overly-so.

The taste was similar to the aroma but deeper, darker and drier. Spicy, woody, toasted malts melded with sweet-ish notes of brown sugar, bourbon and vanilla. The bright, fruity, raspberry flavor was both sweet and tart, and noticeable yet not overwhelming. As the beer warmed, the alcohol finally made its presence known, lending a pleasant warming in the back of the mouth. The finish was slightly hoppy and quite dry, providing the perfect balance to this modestly sweet dessert beer.

Mouthfeel was smooth, creamy and medium bodied with a fine, mild carbonation.

Drinkability was rather impressive. Even as a high alcohol dessert beer, I could definitely sip this stuff all night long.

Serving type: on-tap

01-23-2008 00:55:42 | More by Damian

CoSMoSYS

Michigan

4.68/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Had this at the Winter Solstice party.

Pours a deep brown with a reddish hue as it settles. When it came to me it had a small head that didn't stick around for too long. No lacing detected.

Very sweet malt and raspberries. Raspberries all day long.

Just like the smell, it was definitely raspberries but there wasn't any tartness. Very delicious. I picked up on the malt but not so much on the bitterness though I did get a hint of the hops during the aftertaste.

Somewhat carbonated. I was expecting more of a smoother drink from the reviews here but I'm sure that has to do with age. Nice and thick...heavy almost.

This was a damn fine drink from Kuhnhenn's and I can see why it won an award. The beer is excellent fresh and has unlimited potential when aged.

Serving type: on-tap

01-07-2008 14:01:04 | More by CoSMoSYS

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

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.

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2007 17:39:47 | More by RblWthACoz

zdk9

Texas

4.13/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had on tap at Ashley's in Ann Arbor (always good to know your bartender).

A- My 5oz comes in a snifter, a brown color with ruby-red highlights. No head, barely even any bubbles, and no lacing on this one.

S- A great buzz of raspberries, with some sweeter malt. Strong, but maybe that's just the snifter.

T- A great incorporation of raspberry flavor. There isn't the raspberry sweetness, but some tang, and the flavor seems like it come straight from the oil seed. There is also some slight earthy bitterness in the back of the mouth that gives this beer a great balance.

M- I didn't know how potent this beer was until I checked it out here, but I could barely taste any alcohol. I would've rated it as a well hidden 8%, but 13.5%, holy shit! How is there no alcohol in the nose? How is there no burn in my mouth or throat? I suppose I'm taking quite small sips (conserve the 5oz!) but even so, smooth as a baby's bottom.

D- Delicious, and dangerously drinkable.

Serving type: on-tap

12-05-2007 05:23:08 | More by zdk9

ggaughan

Pennsylvania

4.72/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Sampled at the Hop Devil in NYC for their Kuhnhenn night. What a treat this was. Served in an 8 oz wine glass. The beer poured a deep amber color with pretty much no head. there was a nice hint of a frost on the glass due to the serving temp which I come to find out from the brewer who was at the event that it was the best temp to serve it at. A bit cooler. There was a deep malty nose with some slight sweetness to boot. The taste was vinous and had a great raspberry and chocolate taste that compliment each other very well. Even with some of the high abv coming through, this is a smooth beer that goes down without alot of burn but provides for a nice warming sensation and full mouth and body.

Serving type: on-tap

02-24-2007 04:42:52 | More by ggaughan

Billolick

New York

4.88/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On tap baby at the Daze of the Devil fest at the HDG in NYC...I enjoyed 2 four ounce tasters of the sweet, intense, flavorful, viscous nectar, and this review is from my copious notes, this arrives cloudy dark plum, minor head and lacing. The nose is intensely and thrillingly of raspberries and powdered sugar. Sweet, intense, dense, complex, thick, rich and full on raspberries and malty goodness all the way through, Yumm. World class dessert beer. A treat on tap.

Serving type: on-tap

01-14-2007 16:13:30 | More by Billolick

Gaisgeil

Michigan

5/5  rDev +13.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On tap for one night only 5/7/2005 @ the Kuhnhenn pub, aren't I the lucky one?

This is by far and away, one of the most masterfully crafted beers I've ever consumed. Quite an artistic masterpiece if you were to ask me, and you're reading this, so in a way, you kind of are, aren't you? :) Just a quick note before I begin, I had very hard time giving this brew all 5's, it really should be a true rarity, and maybe along subjective lines I thought the mouthfeel was a little too sticky or what not, but on the other hand, Eisbocks are supposed to be that way, so this beer truly deserves these scores, no two ways about it, so my ratings are tempered both subjectively and objectively.

Served in a small snifter the brew appears a cloudy brown in color with dark ruby tones swirling about. There was a small and creamy crown of a head around the edges with thin streams of it circling toward the middle of the glass. The nose is impressive, I could defiantly detect the raspberries right away, accompanied by a mixture of dark fruits and just the slightest tinge of alcohol, just enough to give the brew a very strong character, but not enough to throw off the balance. A deep note of dark baker's chocolate was also present. All of these combined for one interesting glass to keep smelling, and that I did! I couldn't keep from wanting to smell it over and over, beautiful!

Now to the taste, this brew was simply stunning, this is one incredibly sexy and vivacious beverage. I would take this beer over all comers when it comes to something you save for special occasions. In fact, while I'm not even seeing anyone seriously, I bought a large bottle to open the day I get married. Sentimental? Sure. But believe me, this one is like the girl (or guy, whatever you're into) of your dreams, like falling in love for just a second. Maybe I'm over-romanticizing here, but to hell with it, a brew like this deserves to be waxed poetically about.

The taste is a bit tart a first, even a little sour, in a good way. This is followed by an undercurrent of figs, raisins and other dark fruits, also a certain intoxicating flavor underpins all of it, that almost dry and bittersweet chocolate, then the raspberries really make an appearance. The chocolate and the raspberry flavors continue nearly indefinitely, there doesn't even seem to be any real finish. The sticky nature of the brew I'm sure helps with that, but each sip lasted an eternity, and believe me, that is certainly a good thing. There are so many layers going on here that you forget about the base almost completely, but if you concentrate you notice a very well orchestrated dance between malt sweetness and hop bitterness and it really serves as the foundation of this beer. While the ABV is fairly high, you would NEVER guess it, there is nothing denoting it in the flavor profile, how those Kuhnhenn boys do this is beyond me, pure magic.

Mouthfeel was of course thick and sticky, very full and robust which lends itself well to the qualities in the flavor. Just about perfect.

I'm fairly certain this beer is an aphrodisiac, I'm not kidding when I say this brew is sexy, it really and truly just IS. I've never had a beer get me starting to think about big beds, fireplaces, poetry, hot tubs and that certain look in another person's eyes. Truly a great beer experience that I'll be hard pressed to top. Go ahead and find it if you can and share it with someone special, this beer is an event. Luckily I bought a few bottles for those future special occasions. I'd recommend everyone do the same.

Slàinte mhath! To you and yours!

Serving type: on-tap

05-08-2005 14:03:27 | More by Gaisgeil