EisPhyre - Capital Brewery

Viggo

Ontario (Canada)

3.88/5  rDev -5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

12 oz bottle, thanks to grub for sharing.

Pours a mostly clear burnished red/amber, some bright orange highlights, does have a fire look to it, medium sized off white head forms and settles down to a thin ring around the glass and a thin layer, tons of lace spots stick around the glass.

Smell is nice, very sweet and malty, big toffee/caramel, biscuit, a bit of sweat sock, lots of dark fruit, bready, figs and raisins, a touch of booze, sherry, vanilla and wood, cognac, very intense aroma, but still quite clean.

Taste is similar, very malty, caramel, lots of biscuity malt, raisins and figs, quite fruity and boozy, mix of cognac and sherry, lightly woody, vanilla, sharp and minerally in the finish but still balanced, really lingers.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with low carbonation, a bit of heat going down. A pretty nice bock. Thanks Russ!

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2010 23:23:41 | More by Viggo

Erish

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I poured this 12 oz. bottle into a Sam Adams glass.

A: reddish amber, tan head quickly falls into a minuscule cap, which then again quickly disappears completely, no lacing.

S: rich caramel and candied fruit (plums, cherries, apples), some spice (nutmeg, tinge of allspice?).

T: raisins, sugar plums, cherry pie, figs, then there is a blush of milk sugar, a vinous note, and sweet bread, the finish is sweet, with just enough grassy hops to refresh the palate.

M: thick, almost like cough-syrup, yet the carbonation seems to float on the tongue. In my mind the mouthfeel is the star of the show here.

D: This is tasting great now, though I might stash a couple of these away to see how they develop. This beer hides it's 9.8% ABV quite well.

Note: Perhaps I am being too hard on this beer because it lacks head retention and has no lacing to speak of. My critical eye for this sort of thing is pretty new, so is this what I can expect from an Eisbock?

Serving type: bottle

07-21-2010 00:07:56 | More by Erish

levifunk

Wisconsin

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

never been a huge fan of capitol, but this is suppose to be the beer that will win me over.

a - dark red color. low carbonation as expected. small head that dies down fast.

s - smells sweet. fruit and malts. alcohol

t - sweet malts is the biggest. dark fruit. very faint bitterness that i wasn't expecting. alcohol is much lower than it was in the nose.

m - medium body. good feel.

overall - well done capitol. I may have to try some more of their beers. 9.8% seems low for an eisbock, so i don't know how true it is, but either way its tasty.

Serving type: bottle

07-11-2010 01:49:15 | More by levifunk

MithosYggdrasil

Wisconsin

4.13/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Capital never fails to disappoint. I first experienced Capital with their Maibock last Spring, then later their Autumnal Fire, Oktoberfest and Winter Skal. Time for the Captial EisPhyre..

Appearance: Very deep ruby color, not very opaque with a light, tanned head. Nice fluffy/foamy egg colored head.

Smell: Sweet malts, pears, with a bit of raisin and perhaps other dark fruits in both the aroma.

Taste: See the smell, with the addition of caramel. Nice alcohol finish.

Mouthfeel: Light bodied, crisp and very carbonated.. very well balanced!

Drinkability: Fantastic. Goes down very smooth.. another successful beer from Capital Brewery.

Serving type: on-tap

07-05-2010 20:30:01 | More by MithosYggdrasil

JohnGalt1

Idaho

3.85/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12oz provided over the weekend by my buddy Ditmier... Thanks Eric.... I've been wanting to try the new vintage for a long time.

Pours clear orange/brown with a lite yellow head... doesn't stick around too long as expected.

Nose is fairly malty (but not as much as my mind's nostrils remember).. a bit bready with some caramel and hints of vanilla.

Flavor is about where such a big boned lager should be.. rich maltiness with an adequate toasty element.. lite caramel and only bits and pieces of some cocoa.. a bit of booze shows but isn't distracting at all .. I don't have a whole lot else to say.. very clean.. maybe some plum and fig. Body seems a tad thin from the EtOH and the carbonation seems a little too high.

Very nice take on a tough style to get right.... I would love a case of these.. hint hint hint.

Thanks again Eric.. I appreciate you holding this for me.

4/3.5/4/3.5/4

Serving type: bottle

06-18-2010 08:16:32 | More by JohnGalt1

turkob

Illinois

3.35/5  rDev -18.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

A: A little half-finger head that diminshes quickly. A nice red color.

S: I get almost nothing. At first I get a hint of prunes and raisins, but the harder I sniffed the less I got.

T: Kind of bland for an eisbock. This style should have robust flavors and this just kind of leaves the palate quickly. Where are the malts?

M: A little thin for such a big beer. I get some heat from the alcohol but not coating the mouth.

D: Eh, I don't see it with this beer. Understated all around.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2010 02:50:06 | More by turkob

joerodiii

New York

4.38/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Reddish-brown with a fluffy head that disappears rather quickly. Sweet, malty aroma. No noticeable hop aroma (appropriate), and no noticeable alcohol aroma (surprising).

Taste is right on for the style. No hop flavor; strong bready maltiness with slight alcohol finish. The bitterness is a bit high for an Eisbock, but it balances things out very nicely. The brewery's aging paid off as it is very smooth for a beer of this strength.

Mouthfeel is a bit thin for an eisbock, but overall it is pleasant.

This is an enjoyable beer. If I didn't know how strong it was, I'd be in trouble after putting away a few. Shame this is probably the only one I'll ever have.

Serving type: bottle

05-15-2010 22:14:37 | More by joerodiii

robbyc1

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Clear reddish brown look, with a nice off white head.

On the nose and palate, deep Bready malt, plums, raisins, figs, and the caramel tastes, kind of like a barley-wine without any hops, very well made. Finish is well balanced, not sweet nor sour nor hoppy bitterness, must have some though.

Nice medium to heavy body, weighty in the mouth, an easy drinker with well hidden alcohol, great for the style.

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2010 20:34:58 | More by robbyc1

fropones

Illinois

4.6/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - A nice amber brown with a light khaki head.

S - Bready malt, plums, figs, biscuits, toffee.

T- More dark fruits, bread, alcohol very nicely hidden. Very delicious.

M - Nice creaminess and carbonation, somewhat slick.

D - Drinks very nicely. Will probably seek this out again.

Serving type: bottle

04-30-2010 04:10:40 | More by fropones

Strix

Wisconsin

4.35/5  rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Clear orange-red, little head.

Smells of sweet malt, toasted notes, and a spicelike hop note.

Sweet malt, toasted notes, spices, apple. Slight grain flavor and alcohol presence. Very malty and interesting.

Mouthfeel is smooth and crisp.

Surprisingly drinkable. My favorite so far from Capital.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2010 23:40:15 | More by Strix

bruachan

Rhode Island

4.1/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

no head really but the beer has a nice robust copper color

rich and clean malt aromas. plenty of that lovely munich scent!

tons of lagermalt caramelization in the flavor. nice range of granier flavors, as well. very rich and sweet, but in a totally appropriate, dessert kind of way. some simple hop flavor

body is robust but hardly chewy and there's very little heat. i like this beer

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2010 03:55:01 | More by bruachan

HopHead84

California

4.18/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

3/4/2010

Received as an extra from eyncognito, thanks! Appears transparent sorrel in the snifter.

The nose is of rich toffee, baked sweet bread, earthy hops, and toasted malt. A hint of dried dates is apparent.

In the flavor, notes of sweet sugary toffee and caramel blend nicely with freshly baked bread, dried figs and dates, toasted malt, and earthy hops. Alcohol is well hidden for near 10%. The sweet bready finish is long and complex. The mouthfeel is upper medium bodied with an upper low level of carbonation. A deliciously complex malt bomb. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2010 05:41:26 | More by HopHead84

bluemoonswoon

Illinois

3.68/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle, poured into a Goose Island pint glass.

A: Bright and dark, ambery orange. Clear as day and topped with a loose and frothy sandy white head.

S: Smells more like a dopplebock than an eisbock. Tons and tons of sweet malt, apples, pears and caramel.

T/MF: About as malty as the nose would indicate. Thick rows of caramel, apple, pear and light touches of caramel. Feel is substantially less than nearly 10% would indicate. Really a well crafted beer in that respect in that there is nearly no indication of the amount of alcohol in this beer.

D: Not a bad beer. A solid lager, well hidden alcoholic content and a good introduction back to the eisbock after my last one from about two years ago.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2010 03:12:47 | More by bluemoonswoon

CrellMoset

Virginia

3.98/5  rDev -3.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12 oz. bottle, courtesy of notCreative - thanks! Poured in to a snifter.

Appearance: A pretty average orange amber, perhaps a rusty mahogany, with a surprisingly large amount of large carbonation for an eisbock, moving a little too quickly for an eisbock. A half finger of lightly tanned, almost eggshell-hued head rises quickly after a vigorous pour, but fizzes and sizzles itself in to oblivion inside 20 or 30 seconds, leaving absolutely no trace of its existence - no ring of roam, no surface dusting, no lacing, no nothing. This is one still, lifeless looking beer, apart from the carbonation.

Aroma: Sweet, syrupy dried fruits, sweet but not too sweet, dominate a landscape otherwise characterized by bready malts and a dry, herbal underpinning. Dried pineapple, toffee, and grassy tobacco dance around amidst telltale chemical esters and alcohols, not unnatural or solvent-like but definitely noticeable.

Taste: Lighter and maltier than many, but still with those distinctive dried, concentrated fruit overtones that characterize all good eisbocks. But they are a little fainter than in many varieties of the species, replaced instead by a strong malt undertone, very bready and grainy, almost a New Glarus-esque cereal grain note. Whole grain bread - complete with crusts - and caramel/toffee overtones mingle with dried apricots, cherries, and maybe even dried pears, not soaked in rum, but maybe - maybe, perhaps - gently tossed in rum. A subtle herbal, earthy undertone compliments this interesting, light, menagerie of flavors.

Mouthfeel: Surprisingly light, dry, and well-carbonated for an eisbock, which I would imagine to be thicker, messier, hotter. It works well enough with the flavors, however. It's almost a little overly carbonated, as if this one's gotten dryer and thinner with age while the carbonation has built. And though it's relatively even, it's overcarbonated enough that there's a hint of unevenness.

Drinkability: It's good, but it's not the most eisbock-ish eisbock. I guess that's not really fair, as I haven't had too many eisbocks, but most that I have had have been on the darker side of things - the Aventinus Eisbock, for instance. This one was very light, very springy, and very malty, though the definite telltale dried fruit signature was most certainly present. I'd rate this one as worth trying, though not an eisbock to go out of your way for.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2010 03:50:36 | More by CrellMoset

jjayjaye

New York

4.2/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a fairly dark orange amber color with a big foamy white head that fades slowly leaving a nice amount of Belgian lacing behind. The smelli is aggressive and...umm sweet doughy toffee malt. Adequately carbonated, the mouth feel is medium bodied with a full textured after taste..very smooth and creamy. Full flavored sweet cookie dough cinnamon caramel. A REAL easy drinker, the 9.8% ABV is well integrated, slightly warming. Wow! Really glad to have the opportunity to consider this one..thanks, Pops!

Serving type: bottle

03-25-2010 23:24:56 | More by jjayjaye

WorldWideStout

Maryland

4.08/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Christening my Dogfish Head signature glass tonight! Bottle courtesy of czoch85 - thanks Clint!

A: Somewhat dull, but not without luster ruby body. Lovely two-finger custard-colored head that stays around for awhile, and absolutely fantastic legs.

S: Not too strong. Dark fruit - prunes and raisins.

T: Starts off with some banana, then moves into dark fruit. At the end there's a splash of strawberries. Frankly, I can barely taste any alcohol, and I had to concentrate on finding it to get anything.

M: Velvety and smooth, full without being overwhelming.

D: Quite high. Fairly smooth yet flavorful.

This is a swell brew, though not quite what I expected. I would have liked less of the dark fruit and some more toffee, a flavor I associate with malt complexity. Nonetheless, I am delighted to have tried this, and look forward to seeing how it ages.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2010 03:58:35 | More by WorldWideStout

samie85

Illinois

2.73/5  rDev -33.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Originally reviewed on 2/18/10.

A-Really clear copper with a one finger head.

S-Caramel malt, dark fruits, and toasty malt.

T-Rich dark fruits with warming slightly astringent alcohol.

M-Not as carbonated as O expected it to be with a pretty thick body for a bock.

D-The alcoholic quality present really knocks down the drinkability for me. It feels like it should be more than 10% ABV. I'd like to try one with a year of age on it though, but this is not a beer I would drink again fresh.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2010 22:02:55 | More by samie85

MasterSki

Illinois

4.18/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Another random extra I picked up - I apologize to whomever sent this, as I can't remember who it was. Served in a champagne flute.

A - Pours with a finger of light tan foam that dissipates slowly to a thin cap and ring. Glass-coating lacing lingers indefinitely.Transparent light amber color with slow moving bubbles rising to the top of the glass. Great looking beer.

S - Fresh baked bread, light caramel and toffee, some sour rye character, a touch of dark fruitiness, some fruity esters. Clean lager yeast presence.

T - Sweet bready malt, light toffee, a touch of toasted sugar, some earthiness, and a light fruity ester presence. Alcohol is very well-hidden. Very clean finish with a touch of sour bread in the aftertaste.

M - Medium-full body, light carbonation tingle. Finish is actually a little dry, and surprisingly unsticky. Alcohol rears its head after a few ounces, but it's not out of place for the style.

D - This is very easy drinking - I had no problem polishing off a bottle on my own, and that's saying something for an Eisbock. I should grab some bottles for the cellar, as I can imagine this getting better over the next couple years as the heat dissipates a bit.

Serving type: bottle

02-21-2010 19:24:59 | More by MasterSki

DefenCorps

Oregon

4.2/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Ian was kind enough to send me a couple of these. Thanks, Ian! I hear the first batch did really well with a couple of years on it, and now, I'll be able to find out for myself.

In my brandy snifter, this beer is just spectacularly gorgeous. Crystal clear copper with a dense off-white head that leaves some patchy lace, a steady, gentle carbonation is noted too.

This is supposed to be an iced version of the (very good) Autumnal Fire, and it shows. Rich caramel and dark fruit with a nice, bready character, this is quite like a marzen in some ways. The combination of raisin, toffee and bread makes this very hearty.

This full bodied beer opens with a combination of rich, bready character, some toffee and some dark fruit. Caramel is prominent. There's a mild hop bite in the back, a little earthy, but nowhere close to how high it is in the base beer. In fact, the hop character makes for a very interesting beer. Alcohol appears on the finish, along with some fruity sweetness and a lingering bitterness. The mouthfeel is quite sublime, soft and creamy, working very well with the full body. Quite a delight to drink, I'm really enjoying this. I'll hold onto my other bottle for a few years if I can, with a little oxidation, this should be quite epic.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2010 23:07:34 | More by DefenCorps

Mdog

Minnesota

3.9/5  rDev -5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Appearance: Red-amber, good head.

Smell: Very bready.

Taste: Bready, toffee, then some tart fruit flavors.

Drinkability: A nice malty beer for winter.

I wanted to try this when it came out a few years ago, but I don't think it made it close to the Twin Cities. It's a pretty good beer, nothing too outstanding, but worth a try. Not as complex as some other eisbocks I've had.

Serving type: bottle

02-07-2010 18:23:33 | More by Mdog

Gehrig

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I dropped by the terrific Sun Singer for a coldie and, despite the dud of an earlier experience with Imperial Dopplebock, decided to try Eisphyre, since it had received good reviews. As bad as Imperial Dopplebock was a call for me, Eisphyre was as good.

A finger of light tan froth atop a clear deep amber body; nice duration and lacing. Rich caramel, chocolate, and berry on the nose, and definitely in the taste. The taste in fact is rich with chocolate and berry, a wonderfully delicious eisbock. So much of Eisphyre's success--and Imperial Dopplebock's downfall--is a top-notch mouthfeel, creamy, rich, and so smooth. This was all-too easy to consume.

In so many ways, Capital Eisphyre was the antithesis of Imperial Dopplebock, just an excellent delicious bock. Capital should either revamp Imperial Dopplebock from top to bottom, or make Eisphyre much more readily available, for Eisphyre is has helped restore some of my faith in Capital.

Simply excellent.

Serving type: bottle

02-04-2010 00:27:24 | More by Gehrig

crossovert

Wisconsin

3.55/5  rDev -13.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

2009 vintage twist off 12 ounce bottle with some generic packaging.

Pours into my German dimpled mug a light brown/orange/red with bubbly quicly dissipating white head.

Smell is metallic, fruity, malty.

Mouthfeel is smooth and almost creamy. Te flavor is like a normal bock, not even a double bock, certainly not an eisbock. It is the beginner's Eisbock. There isn't much going on, the alcohol is the only flavor really with a pinch of malt.

I did a tasting with 4 eisbocks, Kuhnhenn Raspberry, Aventinus, and Kulmbacher, this one fell behind. It just doesn't do much unfortunately. I might be extra critical because this is my favorite style but I would compare this to a Salvator-light with no depth of flavor and a bit more alcohol.

Serving type: bottle

01-26-2010 20:42:10 | More by crossovert

steveh

Illinois

4.22/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I haven't had this one since its first incarnation, and I have to admit thinking it wasn't as good as the regular Autumnal Fire, but since I was looking for the new Impy Doppel from Cap, and didn't find it, let's see if this is a proper substitute.

A -- Clear, deep copper-bronze color with a dense, light tan head that thins rather quickly (high alcohol often effects that).

S -- Rich, sweet malts -- bready and mildly fruity and earthy -- even leathery, and I don't think I've ever used that in a beer description.

T -- Rich and sweet; bready, toasty, fruit, even vague caramel and cake-like sweetness in the finish. Mellow and inviting, no spicy alcohol to warn of the high ABV. Slightly bitter in the aftertaste.

M -- Smooth, syrupy body with a medium to heavy mouthfeel. Alcohol warming very present.

D -- Yes, easily drinkable. Makes you want to savor each and every mouthful, but the richness is fair warning that more than one could be dangerous.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2010 23:04:17 | More by steveh

Doodler

Colorado

4.28/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

An extra in a great trade - Thank to Brian23456 for sharing this one!

A - Deep reddish brown / almost copper with a thin tan film for head, very little lace.

S - Malty caramel with a bit of sweetness & hops in the aroma.

T - Nicely carbonated with a sweet molasses / caramel flavor. Light notes of raisins and cherries, with a mild hop overtone. Finishes just slightly dry.

M - Nice body and flavor. Not too heavy, with lingering spice and flavor.

D - A well balanced reddish Eisboch / Doppelboch. Great malts. I enjoyed the bottle from start to finish! The 9.8 ABVs are subtle but let you know they are there by the bottom of the glass.

A terrific winter beer. Thanks again Brian - Salud!

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2010 03:31:02 | More by Doodler

GbVDave

Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a Loterbol tulip. Special thanks to HeatherAnn for the assist!

Bottle dated 3019

A: Pours a rich, russet brown color with one finger of light brown head. No lace.

S: Spicy nose that consists merely of dark chocolate and caramel...delicious caramel.

T: See above with a suggestion of mild spicing.

M: Thick, smooth, and creamy with an awesome balancing dose of spicy dryness.

D: Excellent! Hard to improve upon Autumnal Fire, but they did!

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2010 21:31:04 | More by GbVDave