Kulmbacher Reichelbrau Eisbock - Kulmbacher Brauerei AG

jubnat

Louisiana

1.73/5  rDev -58%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 1 | feel: 2 | overall: 1

Dark ruby color. Sweet fruity aroma. At first, all I taste is the fruity sweetness and alcohol. But after a few sips the flavor starts to bring itself out more.
This is a strange beer. I haven't had anything quite like it yet. Very sweet, with various fruit flavors emerging as I drink. It almost smells like fruitjuice. I'm not enjoying this too much. Just too sweet for me. This is my first experience with an Eisbock, and it's not looking too good. I may try another if one is recommended, but this one is not for me.

Serving type: bottle

11-23-2006 05:24:25 | More by jubnat

LilBeerDoctor

New York

2.2/5  rDev -46.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Reviewed on 7/26/08. Cool bottle. Pours black with a tan head. Aroma of raisins and alcohol. Flavor pretty much dominated by raisins and sweetness. Heavy palate and rather undrinkable. Not a fan.
Aroma: 5/10
Appearance: 4/5
Flavor: 4/10
Palate: 2/7
Overall: 7/10
2.2/5

Serving type: bottle

12-21-2008 23:50:59 | More by LilBeerDoctor

ms11781

Massachusetts

2.28/5  rDev -44.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

12oz bottle poured into a snifter.

Pours a deep, dark brown color with some reddish brown hues on the sides and bottom of the glass. A half finger off white head turns to a thin off white cap that stick around for the duration.

The aroma is strikingly sweet at first. Both dark malt and dark, ripe fruit come across almost immediately. The sweetness tends to outweigh the fruit when inhaled deeply. At times it smells almost sugary sweet. There is also some alcohol present but not a ton. Just enough to be noticed.

The taste starts off nearly identical to the nose. A huge malt sweetness with some dark fruit, plums, raisins and figs. There is a bready character that comes though in the middle along with some rich caramel sweetness. Some brown sugar and a lot of molasses are present as well. There is a ton of sweetness in this beer, perhaps too much.

The mouthfeel is very thick and syrupy. The body is viscous and there is very little carbonation. There is a sticky sweetness that coats the tongue and doesn't want to come off. The thicker mouthfeel might not be that bad if the beer itself wasn't so sweet.

The drinkability wasn't good for me on this one. The aroma and mouthfeel weren't bad at all, nothing outstanding but at least enjoyable. The sweetness was just overwhelming. There were some nice dark fruit flavors that made it through but there were quickly overshadowed. Not a drainpour by any means, but not as enjoyable as I would have liked.

Serving type: bottle

02-28-2011 19:54:48 | More by ms11781

FernMaster

Missouri

2.45/5  rDev -40.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

Poured from the bottle into a pint glass.

I wasn't going to review this beer because my internet is moving as slowly as a fat man down a water slide with a broken water pump. I was planning on sitting, relaxing and enjoying a beer; I'm not enjoying this beer.

The pour is great, it's what I want in a beer. There was two fingers worth of head in the pour and the colour is a nice amberish brown. If there was lacing on the glass I would give this look a five.

The smells not bad, but it's not good. It has this very dark fruit, yeasty smell, that kind of reminds me of hazelnut, yet there's this burning quality to it. Some kind of spice or something that is kind of disappointing, it doesn't really seem in place with the nose.

The taste is abrasive and offensive and had all the character of a Dane Cook routine. This beer is a combination of all sorts of things that, they're all competing together and not all of them can win, their battle only ends in failure. There's this earthy, dark fruit character along with abrasive burning sensation. It's abv is 9.2% maybe that is it? It may just be blended so poorly together that the alcohol stands above the rest of the flavors and proclaims the rest are its bitch. Kulmbacher Eisbock has the burning sensation of rubbing alcohol.

The mouthfeel isn't that bad. I don't know where to put the abrasive burning sensation though, drinkabilty I suspect. The mouthfeel is solid, not watery so that's good. I guess.

I wouldn't drink this again. I don't like it. Not one bit. Okay, a little bit. But a small bit. The price wasn't terrible, but if you pay for something you dislike it's too much. Overall, it's a terrible drink and the drain is looking thirsty.

Serving type: bottle

09-26-2010 03:41:08 | More by FernMaster

JDV

Texas

2.8/5  rDev -32%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Bottle shared by JohnathanL at tasting. Thanks!
Pours dark brown to black and looks like coca-cola in the glass with little head. Smell and flavor are both of strong dark malty caramel and alcohol. Notes weren't particularly long on this beer, but the strong toffee like caramelly sweetness was what mostly stood out. The alcohol wasn't overpowering in the flavor though. Decent beer, but didn't wow me.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2008 17:59:59 | More by JDV

zachary80

Indiana

2.85/5  rDev -30.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 5

This was an interesting beer.

The head was fairly thin after the pour but stuck around at a little more than half a centimeter, capping the copper colored brew down the glass with average lacing.

The smell is very sweet, and seemingly uncomplicated; that follows through to the taste. However, the lingering metallic aftertaste is at best unpleasant.

The beer seemed to "fizz out" a little when I poured it, and as I drank it seemed thin and definitely lacking carbonation.

There were a couple strong points. The alcohol was extremely well hidden; I would not be surprised if this was a 4% brew. This did not change as it warmed up. I was also shocked at how quickly and easily I finished this beer, especially considering its overall unpleasant taste and high alcohol content. If this was a little more complex and didn't have such a bad aftertaste, I could see myself drinking this frequently.

Serving type: bottle

07-07-2010 07:18:06 | More by zachary80

4000qtrap

Missouri

2.98/5  rDev -27.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Source/Serving: bottle.

Smell: Black grape, light coffee, melanoidiny sugars with deep toasting.

Taste: Fizzy up front, dry toasted caramel, and straightforward malts. Quite sweet in the middle with raisins, more toasted caramel and has almost a cola character to it. Finish is semidry and black cherry cola.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2010 02:33:21 | More by 4000qtrap

CasanovaCummins

Nevada

2.98/5  rDev -27.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

This has a very closed almost metallic nose. It doesn't open up as quickly as you'd like and seems very hesitant. I pick up dark fruits that have come right out of the fridge. Think cold plums on a cold plant.

This tastes very complex. Lots of small slight flavors developing just out of reach on the tongue. At times light, at times dense. Not very open. Keep thinking I'm tasting something metallic. Not very pleasant after awhile.

This never really opens up on any level of warmth. Condensed flavors that never really blossom on the tongue. More of an intellectual experience to me.

This is a an import by Shelton Brothers, Belchertown, Ma. and doesn't appear to be the same beer pictured. This is a 9.2% bottling.

Serving type: bottle

01-15-2012 23:31:46 | More by CasanovaCummins

TLove

District of Columbia

3.03/5  rDev -26.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

(From Notes)

Bottle from Cleveland Park Liquors, D.C.

Pours a brownish "black pils" color with a little bit of head. The smell is primarily sweet, which flows well through the tastes. Toffee-ish and plum, cherry and beet aromas, but a bit unsettling to the stomach because of the intense sourness of the fruit character in this beer.

Alcohol well-disguised, but the finish is kind of tart and unrefreshing. Similar to the Sam Adams Imperial Stout in the intenseness of the sour fruits used and similarly undrinkable.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2009 23:15:31 | More by TLove

PEBKAC

New York

3.03/5  rDev -26.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2

Bottle from WF Bowery. Same Carlsberg pils glass. Too lazy at the moment to do anything but rinse & drink. :)

First pour was nearly all head. Took it's sweet time to settle too.
Cream-colored lace. Filtered, dark brown body, ruby hued. Even blood spatter.

Sharp sweetness on the nose. Banana candy & some rum raisin-ish notions. A sticky can of malt concentrate. Glue stick.

Raisins, black tea, Euro malt, oxidation. Metallic, straight bittering hops. Macerated imperial kvass breadiness. Licorice & toast finish.

Thick feel. Stiff alcohol. Lack of carbonation. A bit difficult, though expected.

I fully expect someone to tell me that I had an old bottle. Not great. :|

Serving type: bottle

03-22-2011 05:47:57 | More by PEBKAC

tone77

Pennsylvania

3.1/5  rDev -24.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Poured from a brown 11.2 oz. bottle. Has a very dark brown color with a small head. Smell is of caramel and malts. Tastes like it smells caramel and malts, the alcohol taste becoming stronger as the beer warms. Feels medium bodied in the mouth. One of these was enough for me. Overall a different and not bad brew.

Serving type: bottle

02-20-2010 14:30:50 | More by tone77

jdense

Oregon

3.15/5  rDev -23.5%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Beer 17 sampled at Eastern Oregon DONG (Dudes of Northwest Grog) "We Will Bock You!" tasting @ Barley Brown's, 8.6.11. Last of the trio of Eisbocks, thank god.

Medium brown head with some reddish highlights, tan head, no visible carbonation with quick dissipation and minimal lacing. Uh oh, another oxidized beer, notes of butt sweat and cotton candy instead of wet cardboard, some floral hops. Taste mirrors the nose, this had some noticeable complexity re turbinado sugar and floral hops that were subterfuged by the oxidation. Too bad, this was the one Eisbock that wasn't so fricking boozy as to be almost undrinkable. On a positive note, I might try this as some future date, but for the foreseeable future, no Eisbocks for me.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2011 23:45:19 | More by jdense

Ellbert

Ohio

3.23/5  rDev -21.6%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 2.5

This came in a bottle with silver flake paper and a silver foil around the neck and cap.

It poured very nicely with a nice head that discipated into a tiny head. It has a very dark red color, almost blood color when held up to the light.

It has a sweet smell, almost fruity. It almost smells stale.

The taste is very malty. It has a sweet taste that is later overpowered by alcohol. The sweet malt taste is left in your mouth afterwards.

The mouthfeel is fairly thick, almost like a porter but with more carbonation. Very nice.

The drinkibility isn't very good mostly because of the alcohol content.

Serving type: bottle

08-08-2003 01:30:28 | More by Ellbert

stereosforgeeks

Virginia

3.23/5  rDev -21.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Appearance - Pours a cola brown with a tan head. Adequate head but nothing spectacular.

Smell - Dark fruits and alcohol dominate the nose. Some chocolate as well.

Taste - Roasted malts with quite a biting alcohol flavor. The dark fruits provide some sweetness but not ebough to overcome the alcohol. There are also some nut flavors.

Mouthfeel - Full body and active carbonation. Alcohol is a bit biting.

Drinkability. It's a sipper for sure, but this isn't really my thing. Ill have to try more.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2007 00:06:34 | More by stereosforgeeks

gonzo46and2

Florida

3.23/5  rDev -21.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours a bit viscous thick black beer with a dark tan head. Low lacing and very low hops.

Aroma is pretty one-dimensional. Sugary and syrupy.

Taste is sweet and slightly bitter. Licorice and sugar-candy.

Mouthfeel is too thick not very impressive.

Drinkability is tolerable but I couldn't drink more than a couple in one sitting.

First eisbock ever. Please take into consideratoin.

Serving type: bottle

07-05-2008 03:30:58 | More by gonzo46and2

DarthKostrizer

California

3.25/5  rDev -21.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Look: Coco coca brown color with a 1 inch tan head and ok retention

Smell: Sweet malt that I associate with high alcohol german beers

Taste: Again very malty with notes of plums figs and dates

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with a silkyness to it. Low carbonation

Overall: Very malty which for me is not very drinkable but still on point for the style

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2011 04:45:01 | More by DarthKostrizer

spiveym

Georgia

3.3/5  rDev -19.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Poured into a mug. Very very dark color. Wow this was strong stuff. Very strong alcohol scent. Good robust, rich roasted caramel taste that helps dwarf the alcohol. Smooth swallow up until the end when a bite of I presume alcohol gets you. I couldn't imagine drinking more than one of these, and at 9% abv you don't really need to.

P.S. That bottle is my photo!

Serving type: bottle

08-23-2006 05:08:59 | More by spiveym

Brenden

Ohio

3.33/5  rDev -19.2%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I'm pretty sure this is an old bottle, which might be okay for this style, but I'm talking REALLY OLD and stored in the heat for the entire time. I intend to pick up the Reichelbrau when and where I can.

This brew pours a clear brown with lighter brown and red highlights. A rocky off-white head of about one finger dissipates quickly and leaves little lacing.
The smell is quite sweet with a malt presence. An overwhelming metallic aroma seems to dominate, and even the sweetness can hardly be smelled past the metal.
An odd sugary sweet and malt mixture lightly masks then gives way to a metallic flavor. Grains are detectable underneath, but the sweetness comes on the tongue first and remains, and, mixed with the metal taste, makes for something a bit odd. It's not bad, but it's certainly odd.
A nice smoothness in a medium body and a light but persistent carbonation make for a pretty good mouthfeel.
This one's moderately drinkable given the sweetness, metallic taste, and 9.2% ABV.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2010 00:28:02 | More by Brenden

PatandDavid

Massachusetts

3.38/5  rDev -18%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

I normally don't drink this style, but like to grab beers off the shelf that I haven't tried. This poured a lovely dark maple sugar color, with a small head that has long since faded away...happens when you've been nursing the beer for over an hour. Aroma is strongly of alcohol, with an added earthy/dirt/wood sort of note. You do taste the alcohol, I also thought it was a bit sweet and syrupy at first, but it has mellowed a bit as it warms. I hesitate to call the mouthfeel heavy...let's just say it's decidedly more than medium. Actually this is not a bad sipping beer, but at that abv, I would recommend maybe only one at a sitting. Not a bad beer, but not one I need to have again anytime soon. pat

Serving type: bottle

10-03-2003 00:10:20 | More by PatandDavid

AgentMunky

Alabama

3.38/5  rDev -18%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Poured from a bottle into a shot glass.

A: Light, off-white head. Deep ruby amber is darkly transparent.

S: Rich and malty. Sugary-sweet, oppressively so.

T: Mm, this is tasty. Rich, complex sugars. Lightly nutty malts. Hint of roast. Still, a touch dull. Unengaging.

M: Thick and pleasant.

O: Goodish beer, mediocre eisbock. I would not have again and would recommend the Aventinus Eisbock in its stead.

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2012 01:20:35 | More by AgentMunky

hunteraw

China

3.4/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Sampled at Stubbie in Gainesville, my first eisbock.

Appearance: Very dark in the glass, with some purple highlights. Moderate head without much retention or lacing.

Smell: Alcohol and malt, obviously, but there's something else there that's a bit weird. A friend described it as "fishy," but "oily" might be a better descriptor. Dark fruit and caramel in the background.

Taste: No attempt to conceal alcohol, although I suppose that should be expected in this style. Malty, caramel, but also with lots more dark fruit than I would expect coming from lager yeast.

Mouthfeel: Medium body, and a slick mouthfeel.

Drinkability: It took me a while to put this one down, I don't know if it's the style or this one in particular, but I wasn't a big fan.

Serving type: bottle

09-10-2006 15:21:58 | More by hunteraw

B967ierhunter177

Pennsylvania

3.4/5  rDev -17.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This beer pours a clear, deep brown with dark ruby tones under the light. There's no head or lace. It's aroma is of dark cherries with a hint of dark chocolate. The flavor is sweet malt with cherry cough syrup, dates, and a vinous backbone. The mouthfeel is warm and syrup like with a full body. Kulmbacher Reichelbrau Eisbock is a very good beer, recommended!

Serving type: bottle

04-25-2012 20:49:57 | More by B967ierhunter177

aaronh

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Dark brown beer pours with a half-inch head that quickly fades to a tiny edging of bubbles around the glass. Aroma has nice dark malt, fruit, tobacco, and almost a bourbon note from the alcohol esters. Flavor is pretty complex. Starts of a bit sweet and fruity, like chocolate covered plums, then moves to a little more roasted flavors, quickly to alcohol sweetness, and then a nice bit of bittering. Alcohol flavor also lingers as it warms the esophagus. There's a good bit of just plain old malty goodness up in the front of the flavor as well. Takes a few sips to really pull it out for me. After a few sips, there seems to be a lingering sweetness, almost saccharin-like in taste. Mouthfeel is solid, carbonation a bit brisk. Drinkability is ok, but the sweetness gets a little tiring after a while. A bit more bitterness would go a long way in balancing this one out, but it's a good sipper for a cold winter evening. But for similar malt flavors, more complexity, and better balance, I'll dake a dark blegian ale over this any day.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2006 23:27:54 | More by aaronh

Celt44

New York

3.43/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Poured a very dark chocolate brown - thick head, little lacing.

Aroma - deep and fruity - plums come to mind first. Hints of malt

Taste - Plums. Chocolate/Coffee show up also. Alcohol is present.

Mouthfeel - carbonation is medium - rather smooth for such a high abv.

Overall not a bad beer. Although smooth, this one needs to be taken slow. First time trying this style - not my first choice when going dark.

Serving type: bottle

03-29-2007 22:47:48 | More by Celt44

PLANETBUSTERRAVE

New York

3.43/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

This was my first Eisbock so I didn't know what to expect. It pours a dark carmel with lots of carbonation that rushes to make a thick tan head. The head dissipated slowly to nothing, once all of the carbo cleared you could see that it was clean. There was a small sweet roasted hop scent with a little malt and some spices thrown in. Lots of alcohol and a little bitter hint of hop is all that I could taste, and a hint of malt. It was thick and creamy with a bitter alcohol aftertaste. I'm not to sure about this one, the high alcohol taste was nice but a little too much, there wasn't a lot of flavor but it did have a nice kick. This one seems like it would be better with age.

Serving type: bottle

07-22-2008 12:54:37 | More by PLANETBUSTERRAVE