Kulmbacher Reichelbrau Eisbock - Kulmbacher Brauerei AG

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.38/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I grabbed this one just by visually shopping at my new favorite store here in Albuquerque. When the "beer guy" at the shop told me it was a lot like Celebrator and that I could even do a side by side tasting, my immediate thought was something along the lines of: "Brother. You are really putting your reputation on the line here." It was my first suggestion from him and anyone in the store for that matter. I took his advice though and took a bottle of Celebrator to do a side by side tasting. The two are virtually twins I feel, with minimal characteristic differences. The Celebrator has a more roasted quality and the Kulmbacher has a sweeter edge...and also 2.5% more on the ABV. Overall I appreciated this one quite a bit and was surprised how similar it was to Celebrator.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2007 03:49:00 | More by RblWthACoz

kguard

Iowa

4.75/5  rDev +15.3%

05-18-2013 11:25:04 | More by kguard

browniewithnuts

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +9.2%

05-18-2013 04:11:23 | More by browniewithnuts

deepseacatfish

Iowa

4.18/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

One of the more complex and interesting beers that I've had the pleasure of tasting. The Eisbock was dark and rich with the obvious presence of the 9.2% alcohol. Definitely a little sweetness, plenty of roasty flavor, caramel, and Germanic beer fruit notes. Wonderfully balanced and very drinkable in spite of the heavy nature of the beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-14-2013 19:58:53 | More by deepseacatfish

JamesStreet

Louisiana

4/5  rDev -2.9%

05-12-2013 16:33:57 | More by JamesStreet

beergoot

Colorado

4.44/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Cola-brown body sitting beneath a rich, foamy head. Aroma exudes caramel and ripe, dark fruits with hints of roasted grains. The body comes across heavy and sweet. Caramel and nougat flavors abound with a rich sweetness taming a bold alcohol presence in the background.

I'm hard-pressed to notice a big difference between this eisbock and some of those big, bold doppelbocks I also love and crave. And this is a good thing! This eisbock is big and bold in flavor and character, and for a high ABV beer, does a supremely excellent job of balancing things out. Most definitely a good beer for a cold, late Spring winter storm while the hardwood fire burns in the fireplace...and I can easily think of other occasions where I would enjoy this powerhouse beer...!!!

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 23:22:57 | More by beergoot

BLACKENEDPLAGUE

Ohio

4/5  rDev -2.9%

04-18-2013 02:51:28 | More by BLACKENEDPLAGUE

AmandaSchaefer

Wisconsin

4/5  rDev -2.9%

04-15-2013 23:14:35 | More by AmandaSchaefer

GRG1313

California

4/5  rDev -2.9%

04-13-2013 17:48:48 | More by GRG1313

BlackHaddock

United Kingdom (England)

4.05/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Last beer in a random tasting evening on 2 Apr 2013: 33cl bottle, best before 26 Aug 2013, poured into a Palm Special tulip at home. labelled as Kulmbacher 'Eisbock'.

I love dark, rich, sweet brews and this fits the bill nicely.

The smell is all malty molasses: with a dark alcohol laden fruit cake dropped into the brew. The taste is also sweet malty fruit cake: raisins and Victoria plums soaked in a bitter-sweet balsamic mix with some caramel and burnt butterscotch all add to make this beer more than just a uber strong Bock.

All in all, a very nice beer, strong but balanced, if a little malty and sweet.

Serving type: bottle

04-02-2013 20:51:29 | More by BlackHaddock

BeerBucks

New York

4/5  rDev -2.9%

04-02-2013 02:32:24 | More by BeerBucks

RochefortChris

South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +9.2%

03-31-2013 02:40:46 | More by RochefortChris

Asics

Washington

4/5  rDev -2.9%

03-29-2013 03:41:22 | More by Asics

drgonzo2k2

California

4.25/5  rDev +3.2%

03-25-2013 00:49:23 | More by drgonzo2k2

Stinger80OH

Ohio

4/5  rDev -2.9%

03-14-2013 11:08:42 | More by Stinger80OH

CharlatanSin

Connecticut

4.5/5  rDev +9.2%

03-14-2013 00:15:39 | More by CharlatanSin

MattSweatshirt

Texas

4.1/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

On tap served into a snifter.

The beer comes to me with a small off white head and a dark body with amber highlights.

Smells like a malt bombbb. Dark fruits like crazy. Raisins.

More raisiny dark fruit malt character on the taste. The alcohol is there but fairly tame and warming.

This is smooth with a medium-full body. It has a subtle carbonation that massages your tongue.

Serving type: on-tap

03-10-2013 04:10:35 | More by MattSweatshirt

ejimhof

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -27.2%

03-09-2013 14:33:14 | More by ejimhof

Bouleboubier

Pennsylvania

4.21/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Must of built it up in my head. Was expecting more from this. When it comes down to it, though, this is a fantastic (doppel)bock. Reminds me of Samichlaus or EKU 28.

(poured into a snifter)

A: huge, tan head rises on the pour, little retention, some spitty lace...deep, dark burgundy in color - appears opaque, at first

S: Concord grape, hops(?!), chocolate drops...really just a melanoidin-rich, dark-baked bread aroma with some notes of herbal alcohol (similar to an amaro)

T: oh, that's a bock alright! - just with a juicier malt/alcohol richness, flavor that fans out and expands over the palate....Port-ish aftertaste....caramel, a touch of anise, herbal cough drop OR root beer / cola....perhaps just a bit too restrained for what I had anticipated....just a lovely rich bock flavor

M: pleasant smooth malt roll, however, a few notches more dry in the finish than desirable - ends up being much more drinkable for it, though....mild+ bitterness seems to distract from silky bliss....more body (at least) would be nice

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2013 05:14:26 | More by Bouleboubier

Hoptometrist

Oregon

4.2/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Served from the bottle into a globed glass

A- Poured a very dark brown with lots of red hues shining throuh. Latte colored head with big bubbles dissipated quickly but left a ring of lace at the top for a while

S- Prominent sweet fruit juice notes like cranberry, black cherry, and concord grape. Some caramel and toffee notes in the background. Quite fruity and toasty aroma.

T- Pretty big caramel, toffee, and toasted bread notes up front. Nice concord grape and cranberry juice flavors in the middle of the tongue. Some light roastiness and raisin notes.

M- Fuller bodied, very smooth, almost creamy surprisingly dry, no trace of alcohol, not really any stickiness. This has a really substantial mouthfeel without any alcohol burn or stickiness. I am very impressed.

O- Having never had an eisbock before I went in expecting this to be very sweet, boozy, and sticky. I really enjoyed this beer, very nice balance of sweetness and toastiness. Incredibly drinkable for the ABV as well.

Serving type: bottle

03-07-2013 04:34:39 | More by Hoptometrist

ZombiesAteMyDog

Indiana

4.25/5  rDev +3.2%

03-02-2013 23:26:55 | More by ZombiesAteMyDog

MikePrice1976

Louisiana

3.75/5  rDev -9%

02-26-2013 02:43:53 | More by MikePrice1976

Holland

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2.9%

02-25-2013 17:33:23 | More by Holland

bigred89

Maryland

4.25/5  rDev +3.2%

02-25-2013 02:10:55 | More by bigred89

jsanford

Georgia

3.5/5  rDev -15%

02-16-2013 03:14:40 | More by jsanford