EisPhyre - Capital Brewery

granger10

Wisconsin

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

Semi translucent dark copper color. Bright on the sides, more of an amber in the middle. Really nice looking deep tan head. Good signs of carbonation. Smell is toasty sweet with a touch of spice burn. Some woody vinous qualities come in as well. Flavor leans toward the sweet side. Liquer like but not as cherry or fruity as other eisbocks I have tried. A bit more hop too, which is nice. Hop is restrained and never really comes out but adds more flavor and depth. Thicker body but smooth. Alcohol finish makes this sort of a sipper but I drank it fairly fast. Lots of burnt caramel flavor and brown sugar sweetness at the top. Some toffee flavors really come out as this warms. Quite enjoyable!

Serving type: bottle

08-27-2006 22:56:12 | More by granger10

jera1350

Minnesota

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

Copper colored with a coppery head that reduces to a long lasting ring around the snifter. Some fine spotty lacing.

Brown sugar, lightly spicy with toffee and caramel notes and a hint of apple.

Brown sugar and honey sweetness along with some spice and fruit. Getting a caramel spiced apple pie flavor that kind of sums up the taste. Very much like Autumnal Fire, but with a little boost. Very well hidden alcohol here.

Medium to full body that is lightly syrupy and smooth. Dry finish.

Like mentioned earlier, the alcohol is extremely well hidden and allows for a nice level of drinkability. A bigger version of Fire and very, very good. This is a highly recommended brew.

Serving type: bottle

01-08-2011 01:45:10 | More by jera1350

brewcrew76

Wisconsin

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

A - Pours a copper/amber red with a 2 finger off white head that quickly dissipates to tight bubbles clinging to the side of the glass.

S - Sweet caramel, dark fruit (dates or raisins), hint of bready yeast.

T - Starts off with sweet caramel and dark fruits up front, hint of alcohol in the middle and then a hint of bitterness on the very dry finish. Not really any hop flavor but it does finish very dry. Not as sweet as a lot of Eisbocks. Very nicely balance. The dark fruits become more apparent as it warms.

M - Medium bodied but thick and chewy feeling. The slight hint of alcohol in the taste is felt by a numbing of the tongue and a warming of the body. I have only felt this tongue numbing from strong bourbons.

D - Very deceptive. This one drinks like a much lower ABV beer and will sneak up on you in a hurry if you are not careful.

Serving type: bottle

06-22-2006 02:35:32 | More by brewcrew76

Jeffo

Netherlands

3.7/5  rDev -10%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Got this one many moons ago from a trader I can no longer remember. If it was you, cheers for the brews!

From a bottle into a snifter

APPEARANCE: Pours a small, fizzy, off-white head with lousy retention. Head fades quickly to a ring only. A slightly hazy maroon red in color with no carbonation evident. A very slight ring remains, but it looks relatively flat by the end.

SMELL: Caramel, toffee, and lots of sugary aromas, especially brown sugar. A hint of red fruits as well. A light alcohol scent as well.

TASTE: Caramel, toffee and some nice red fruits up front. Lots of berries and malty, sugary sweetness. Bold and lingering finish of sweet candy, red fruits, some light, bitter hop notes and a touch of alcohol. Flavorful stuff, and quite sweet.

PALATE: Medium-full body and medium carbonation. Creamy smooth on the palate, goes down fine and finishes slightly mouth-coating. A bit of heat lingers on the palate.

OVERALL: This was a solid brew. More of a doppelbock than an Eisbock, as it really wasn't as boozy as most eisbocks might be, but that is beside the point. Flavorful, interesting and enjoyable, I'd recommend this to anyone. Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2012 19:56:07 | More by Jeffo

kbutler1

Minnesota

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

Bottle. Poured into a tulip glass a dark, clear copper red color with a 2 finger tight off white head. The aroma to me is rather subdued with slight notes of sweet fruits, slight vegetable like tomato, and grain. Medium mouthfeel. Hmmm, interesting, sweet fruit/vegetable flavor gives way to booze and a slight bitterness. I find myself not the biggest fan of this one not because it is boozy but because the flavors just aren't really that appealing to me. The bitterness lingers on for a while. Tastes like boozy sweet tomato to me. Looks really nice though and leaves some lace.

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2011 23:05:10 | More by kbutler1

jwinship83

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

12oz twist off bottle from the 2009 release. drank from an over sized snifter.

A- this one pours a beautiful looking clear ruby red colored body with a full finger of cream colored head. the head lasts a while and leaves behind a solid wall of lacing. i cant ask for anything more.

S- a strong odor of sweet caramel and bready malts is the first thing i notice, reminding me that this is a dopplebock on steroids. a little bit of cherry follows that. the last thing i smell is alcohol. were off to a great start here.

T- like the smell, this one is very heavy on the bready malts. theres also a strong dose of caramel. the alcohol is hidden amazingly well. i can sitll pick up just a hint of fruit or cherries.

M- full bodied and thick. almost chewy. moderate warming from the alcohol. a nice subdued level of carbonation that really adds to the experience.

D- very easy to finish, leaving me wanting more and quite pleasantly surprised. at first i was a little skeptical about concentrating an already relatively high ABV beer, however nothing about this is excessive. check it out if you get the chance. too bad this was made on such a limited run.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2010 06:03:19 | More by jwinship83

brdc

Wisconsin

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

Thanks SkyDoc for this one, kept in his cellar; presumably an eisbock made from their autumnal fire.

Dark amber, nice whitish head, it exudes a malty, caramelized aroma, with a lot of fruits, particularly dark ones; raisins make a particularly noticeable aspect of the aroma.
Taste is similar; full bodied, and malty sweet all the way, kept in balance by some alcoholic heat that at times (rarely) gets a bit too much. Overall, a nice one.

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2008 03:22:05 | More by brdc

DaPeculierDane

Wisconsin

4.7/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On tap at the release party. Followed up by several bottles.

Appearance: EisPhyre looks like it’s name. It’s an orange-red flame color with copper hues. Pours a two inch head that settles into a creamy and chunky ¼ inch beige film. Mild carbonation streams die after a few minutes. Little to no lace on the glass.

Nose: Sweet caramel, sweet apples, light alcohol notes. Potent.

Taste: BIG-HUGE sweet caramels followed by a lingering bitter/minute carbonation bite. Awesome! Almost no alcohol taste. Very impressive. Booze soaked dark fruits, mostly dates, a few chestnuts, and some bread.

Mouthfeel: Numbing. Huge, chewy, warming…no, strike warming… blazing. This puppy is a heater. Medium bodied.

Bellyfeel: I’m on fire.

Drinkability: On tap is slightly average but considering the style and strength very good. Bottled is insane. This is very drinkable. If you let it get to room temp, you’ll get a hell of a lot of malt flavor but also a whole ton of booze so be careful.

Notes: 11.00% and drinkable as if it were a simple bock. Wow this is a cool beer. I hope it ages well because assuming they never make it again, (which is what the brewer told me), I’ll be hoarding cases for the next ten years. Wha, ha, ha…

Serving type: on-tap

06-11-2006 23:43:56 | More by DaPeculierDane

SpeedwayJim

New York

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

Poured from a 12oz. bottle into a Blue Point snifter.

A: Vigorous pour yields a 3 finger moderately fine orange creme head with OK retention. Beer is an spectacularly clear, carbonated red. I've never seen anything remotely close to this color... simply stunning looking brew. Lacing is a downward cascading waterfall. Appearance on this one is simply perfect.

S: Nose is slightly boozy, citrus, cherries, a subtle spiciness, all over a deep malt backbone.

T: Opens slightly malty, fruity, spicy, a bit chewy, cinnamon becomes more apparent as it wamrs, brown sugar, sugar cookies. Malt profile never backs off though and there is no semblence of hops whatsoever. Finishes sticky and sweet to the point of the slightest bit sour.

M: Medium to full bodied and surprisingly smooth
given its initial appearance. Mouth is even a bit oily though not like an imperial stout. Finishes messy and the malt lingers. This also gets stickier and stickier.

D: A massive beer that I really wasn't prepared for. This one demonstrates that it doesn't take an "Imperial" anything to be full bodied, full flavored, and intensely delicious. I'll seek this one out again for sure. The most amazing looking beer I've ever come across with a flavor profile to match.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2010 02:21:32 | More by SpeedwayJim

jsh420

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

pours ruby brown with a 1 finger off white head that faded fast and left no lacing

smell - what can i say but not much here - malt little booze

taste - might not be any nose to this beer but the flavor is great - rich carmel/toffee malts that are somewhat toasted also has a little dark fruit flavors in there to

mouthfeel - thick full body and oh so smooth and creamy

drinkability - while it might not be a session beer - it is a nice sipper for those cold winter nights

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2009 03:39:48 | More by jsh420

MuenchenerKindl

Germany

4.63/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Obtained by trade with first Shbobdb, and then Flyingbison. Thanks so much for this one guys. you could not have picked a better brew to double up on

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle to a pint glass that was so unworthy. The liquid is a dark Carmel color, great carbonation, semi cloudy and thick looking. the head is stupendous 2 fingers plus creamy smooth and tan to off white looking. It faded very slowly and left a nice lace.

The smell, Wow, big carmeled malts, wonderful hops to balance and a sweet scene of alcohol

The taste is fabulous, what a great beer this is, a huge big time carmely malt with an equally bold hops too balance. What is not to like, the alcohol taste comes through just enough to let you know what you are in for. Take one of the best Maibock Munchen has to offer chill it and sift off the ice and Bam! this is what they came up with in Wisconsin, Pure Genius.

The mouthfeel is right on this is not a beer you want to put down, mine was gone way to fast. At 11% ABV you would not last long taking them down at that rate. The best carbonation I have ever had in and ice brew, and a killer full body. Hey guys PLEASE put a few more of these aside for the next trade.

The drinkability, gosh gee what else can I say. This beer rocks it has it all +++. Prosit und Zum Wohl, MK

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2006 02:38:24 | More by MuenchenerKindl

mntlover

Tennessee

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

Pours a copper/amber color mix with a big khaki head feed by small bubbles rising. The head falls slowly and laces well.

Aroma is nice fruity malts mingled with toffee, molasses rich malty big smelling. Figs and cherries mingle with some soft spice and light alcohol notes.

Taste is nice sweet but not over done malts mingled with brwon sugars and fruit cherries, dates fig ect.. Finish is nice and soft light spices mixing in with malty fruit.

Mouthfeel is a big medium about full carbonation is mellow and so smooth.

Drinkability is good an enjoyable brew, not really an eisbock or atleast not like the other two I have had. Seems more like a big kick ass doppel bock with just a touch more malts. What ever it is I want to thank dirtylou for sending it my way, wishing I had a few more to enjoy.

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2006 11:58:17 | More by mntlover

sinstaineddemon

Connecticut

3.6/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

in a trade from TPatuto, thanks again Tom

A - light brown with a thin lacy head, moderate amounts of visible carbonation, quietly unassuming its 11% ABV

T - malts hit first, followed by a sweet vanilla note, distinctively nutty with some confectioners sugar

M - the roasted malts are of course dominant, they create a explicit nutty aroma, so sharp as to be able to pick out the light sweetness of macadamia nuts or almonds, complineted by some sweet vanilla, a great malty taste

M&D - the 11% isnt obvious, but isn't obfuscated either, the quality malt flavors mellow some of the alcohol heat, not easily drinkable for all, but it is a great flavor

Serving type: bottle

12-03-2009 02:20:16 | More by sinstaineddemon

BeerLover99

New Jersey

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

A: deep copper/amber body, trace body, very little lacing

S: big sweet malt, ripe fruits (dates/figs)

T: ripe date/figs, big sweet malt, sweet biscuit, hint of alcohol warmth

M: med body, slight oily/sticky body

O: Capital continues to make mighty fine bocks!
This is real summer treat, almost think it should be
for the brutal Winter months. This is
Autumnal Fire's wild twin brother. Sip this treat.

AMAZING, WORTH HAVING!

Serving type: bottle

07-08-2011 19:43:14 | More by BeerLover99

Westsidethreat

California

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

A: A very cloudy, cider like brew leaning towards the amber side. Good carbonation..as the liquid shifts in the glass, 1/2 inch deep a line of bubbles form and fire to the surface. Head is an ultra light beige that has fallen to just a ring and a few wisps.

S: Raspberry, apricot, red apple, fresh dough, light toffee and a touch of young hops.

T: Upfront toffee with nice mandarin orange moments. Very caramely sweet but not over the top, very drinkable. Surprising bitter wash hits after the sugary malts and gently stabs at the tongue. Finishes with sweet red fruits, hazelnut and vanilla notes. LIghtly alcohol, not too boozy

M: Medium body, minor syrupy mouth feel.

D: This beer sort of reminds me of an old ale. Unlike some old ales though, this isn't cloying by any means. An additional beer would have done this beer some good, really pushing it over the edge. Very nice.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2006 04:23:36 | More by Westsidethreat

bsp77

Minnesota

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

Serving glass: Poured from bottle into Mug.

Appearance: Reddish copper with thin light tan head.

Smell: Very toasty and fruity, with plum, cherry and light spiciness.

Taste: Pretty sweet, with layers of fruitiness (plum, cherry, and other stuff I can't place). There are some toast, biscuit and spicy hop qualities, which showcase the Marzen-like Autumnal Fire base, but the sweetness and fruits really dominate.

Feel: Pretty smooth, full body for a lager with a fairly clean taste. Just barely dry at the finish, as there is a decent level of residual sweetness.

Overall: Bigger version of Autumnal Fire, but not better, as this is sweeter, friuitier and not as balanced. Still, besting Autmnal Fire is near impossible in my eyes, so this is another great Doppelbock from Capital.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2012 00:59:31 | More by bsp77

Blakaeris

Iowa

4.5/5  rDev +9.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours brilliantly clear dark copper with a creamy white head that leaves globs of sticky lacing.

Aroma is caramel malt, brown sugar, and hints of dark fruit.

Taste is rich caramel and toffee, along with generous dark fruit sweetness. Brown sugar has a stronger presence in the sweet boozy finish. Hops are subdued, but bring a pleasant earthy bitterness.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and velvety soft.

Very smooth and flavorful. Alcohol is present, but adds flavor intensity instead of just harshness. This a flavorful and smooth malt bomb. Very tasty.

Serving type: bottle

09-16-2010 00:44:26 | More by Blakaeris

DarkerTheBetter

Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I got this in BIF 49.

This one pours a slightly cloudy apple cider and cinnamon color in my Duvel tulip with just smattering of irregular head.

Smells subtly of over-ripe plumbs and peaches, golden raisins, a slightly sour caramel barley and a distant remnant of cheese burger. There’s also a dry cranberry and ginger Christmas spice sitting atop the aroma. 11%? You’ve got to be kidding me! There’s a masterful job of masking that quantity of booze here.

The flavor is based on a gooey barley that caries with it notes of dry prunes, oak and birch bark. There is then a dry bark and mushroom on top that nestles into sour pin-pricks of CO2. Finishes delicately smooth, dry and neat. Again, the 11% seems to be a joke.

Feels clean but dense with a nice thickening brought on by the carbonation.

Seriously, 11%? I really have to look for it to sniff/taste it out. Well done! This is a terrifically easy to sip take on the style with a clever dryness that adds a lot of balance.

Serving type: bottle

06-05-2007 05:00:50 | More by DarkerTheBetter

beerwolf77

Wisconsin

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

Split with BeerFMAndy.

Pours a tawny brown hue with a light beige head. The head rise amybe a half in a leaves just a smattering of lace.

The aroma has a great sweet malty funk going on. Toffee, apples, candied dark fruit and a hint of roasted nuts. Traces of booze can be picked out as well.

The flavor sweet roast malt is the dominant force in this beer. Caramel, sugary dark fruits, tart cherries, and a trace of nutiness are all present after some warming. The booze comes out at this point too. Although not too heavy.

Medium body with very light carbonation.

Overall a pretty good beer. Life changing? No. Would I drink it again? Yes.

Serving type: bottle

12-17-2009 19:10:33 | More by beerwolf77

goodbyeohio

Oregon

4.63/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

fiery orange-ish red pour with two fingers of airy, bulbous foam. stray bubbles are observed in ascention.. clusters of oval chunkiness cling to the walls of the glass as the head quickly evaporates. i can hear the snap, crackle, and pop of the carbon dioxide fleeing the crisp topper.

sweet malt blast in the aroma.. luxurious.. caramelly with carrot cake and cream cheese frosting accents. hints of black cherry essence swirled into a dulce de leche custard. slightest off hint of baby food, but overall a sensory blast into the sweet oblivion of dessert beer pleasure.

silky body with some carbonation, sips more like a 9er than a 11ish.

sips almost like a belgian quad. layer upon layer of dark fruits, fermented malt madness and residual alcohol blast sweetness. decomposing vegetables meet candied fruits in a battle to the palate death. hints of brown sugar and a brief butter note are welcome factors in the flavor stability. this beer is insanely complex and easily one of the best eisbocks available today. this beer, while experimental, seems completely planned to the 't'. capital struck gold by eis'ing this dopplebock, and hopefully the tradition here will continue for years. i will certainly continue to sell my testicles for 12oz'ers.. although i probably only have one more year left of that before i need to switch up organs.

highly fffing recommended

Serving type: bottle

12-16-2006 06:22:25 | More by goodbyeohio

paco1029384756

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Pours a deep ruby color with one and a half fingers of a short lived creamy white head.

Scent of rich caramel, some dark fruit, tobacco, a bit of earth and sugars. I couldn't detect the 9.8% of alcohol that the bottle suggested.

Taste of sugars, caramel, sweet dark fruit, toacco and some earth. This beer has a very nice complexity with a sweet and full flavor while hiding the alcohol perfectly.

Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied with a good strong bite of carbonation.

Serving type: bottle

11-30-2009 01:02:17 | More by paco1029384756

Duff27

Illinois

4.05/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

2011 vintage

Short off white head on a murky copper colored body.collar left throughout. Nice lacing, especially for the style.

Sweet boozy aroma, some toast.

Booze and almost a smoke flavor come out towards the end of each sip. Toffee. I must say. Very drinkable for nearly 10%abv.

Thicke mouthfeel, lower end of carbonation which works well.

I really liked Eisphyre, nice and drinkable. Worth a try for dopplebock/eisbock fans.

Serving type: bottle

09-17-2012 00:49:50 | More by Duff27

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

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

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

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

I got 8 12oz bottles date stamped 4/20/11 for the cellar to observe how they change over time...even though I suspect there is no live yeast at all left in the bottle, my curiosity won't take that for an excuse. For Science!!

"Baseline" review on 6/7/11 (I've been busy, sorry)
Remarkably clear copper color, decent carbonation, 1 finger cream colored head which doesn't stick around long. Smells of chewy caramel candies and slightly toasted fig newtons. Tastes and feels like a really nice sticky-toffee barleywine with barely any hops at all. However, it does not have anywhere near the complexity of malt profile that something like an Ayinger Celebrator has. Taste is more raisin-caramel sticky sweet but avoids the pitfalls of alcohol hotness or cloying sweetness rather nicely. Finish is long, drawn out, and rather much drier, here is where the alcohol is found, but only as a drying aftertaste. I've got to wonder if I've already aged out all the booziness in just the 2 months that this sat until I could get to it for the baseline! Time will tell, I'll add on to this review next time I sample. (overall 4.0)

Serving type: bottle

06-07-2011 19:47:35 | More by WastingFreetime