Kulmbacher Reichelbrau Eisbock - Kulmbacher Brauerei AG

scar

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +21.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I am a beer expert. That being said, this is the beer I judge all beers against because it is simply the best beer I have ever had.

I had it on tap in 2006 during the world cup in Sachenhausen Frankfurt at a pub that only served this beer. The tap sign had an snowman on it labeled 24%, which is the starting Plato.

Appearance in a half liter mug, tan head, really a thick lather that didn't dissipate. The color was a little darker than cola. Sticky lace.

The smell and taste of this beer can't be separated. Molasses, chocolate, booze, burnt dark fruits/burnt marshmallow, licorice, and an insane hammer of Munich malt maltiness. The heat is nice and not overpowering. Smooth and truly remarkable especially since this beer is only made with malt.

Mouthfeel, Sticky like a big porter, but not as thick as a barleywine. The malty sugar actually makes your lips sticky.

Germany has been going through a beer de-evolution, however not in this case. The Kulmbach brewers hit this ball out of the atmosphere in every way. This beer was the best thing I have ever drank and edged out a Robert Mondavi Cab worth over $300, and 30 year old Highland Park which are my second and third respectively. I often fantasize about taking a trip to Germany just for this beverage because for my taste buds this beer was rapturous and cathartic.

Serving type: on-tap

07-14-2012 01:46:18 | More by scar

VncentLIFE

North Carolina

4.05/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Probably shouldnt have ordered a liter stein, but whatever.

Pour is pitch black with a full inch head. Huge for the ABV, but given the volume, its understandable.

The smell is laden with a sweet candied dark fruit booze. Its sweet and boozy.

The taste started all boozy at first, but as it warmed, the vanilla came out. I really liked how warm it tasted almost Barrel-Aged. Very malty, but still had some punch of non-sweet flavors.

Overall, still boozy and rough, but in the most glorious way possible.

Serving type: on-tap

06-23-2012 02:17:20 | More by VncentLIFE

notchucknorris

California

4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Pours a deep mahogany color with a one finger tan head.

S: Raisins, prune, a bit of brown sugar and a lot of sweet malt. Very dopplebock-y.

T: Raisin, dark malt, rye, dark chocolate and a touch of peat on the finish. Alcohol is a bit evident but the mouthfeel makes this super drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

06-21-2012 21:24:34 | More by notchucknorris

ElCommodoro

Texas

4.98/5  rDev +20.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

This beer was freaking amazing. Smell was old, malty, woody, smoky malt. Taste was unexpectedly dry. Very little sweetness for such a strong, dark beer. Woody, smoky flavour was still there. Just the right amount of bitterness was present, seemingly all from roasted malt. I didn't taste any hop flavour (thank god). Very thin and refreshing, yet the alcohol was still very well disguised. Not sure how with such moderate bitterness and low sweetness. This is simply an amazing beer. The only eisbock I've ever had, so not sure how it compares to others, but I am thoroughly impressed.

Serving type: bottle

06-19-2012 06:29:18 | More by ElCommodoro

greybeardloon

Rhode Island

4/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

No date

A: Very dark red with a fizzy head.

S: Dried fruit, cola, some spice.

T: Dried fruit, but not too sweet, almost like unsulphured apricots. A hint of cough syrup from the alcohol, but not bad. Some herbal, almost medicinal hops on the finish. Surprisingly dry on the finish too.

M: Lighter and more carbonated than I expected. Not at all syrupy.

O: Solid, a nice change of pace.

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2012 02:37:28 | More by greybeardloon

kangarooAdam59

Maine

4.38/5  rDev +6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanx to bth86 (you kick butt for this one):

In a pint glass:

A: extremely dark body with a white foamy head that died within a minute, no carbonation to be seen rising. The lacing was lightly speckled, but intricately stayed together for a good two minutes before it spider-webbed, very impressive. The lacing eventually died, but it took a good five minutes before it all died. No rings were left.

S: mainly raisins, plums and cherries - mainly balanced between the three. Some sweet malts enter in at the end.

T: extremely rich and sweet with some molasses and the raisins, plums and cherries come back but just enough to remind you they exist in this beer, yet well balanced.

M: medium with a good fullness to it. It could be the ABV, not sure?

O: wow, I've never had an eisbock, but this is spectacular at least by the smell and taste. I liked the appearance as well, slightly unique to me with the lacing doing what it did. Of course, I would have this again and am really intrigued by eisbocks.

Serving type: bottle

05-03-2012 00:08:53 | More by kangarooAdam59

jonvan04

Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev +10%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured a dark brown with a thick, creamy tan head. The aroma was of toffee and molasses with some raisin. The taste was a mix of fruity flavors, some raisin, fig flavors. It had the complexity of some Belgian quads with the drink-ability of a good lager. This was my first of this style, and I would definitely buy this one again.

Serving type: bottle

04-27-2012 22:51:01 | More by jonvan04

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

UCLABrewN84

California

3.98/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a clear super dark brown with a 1 inch foamy khaki head that settles to an oily film on top of the beer. Small foamy streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark malt, dark fruits, and some alcohol aromas. Taste is also of dark malt and dark fruits with some nice toasty/roasty flavors on the finish. There is a definite alcohol kick in the throat with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good eisbock that is tasty and dangerously drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2012 05:26:37 | More by UCLABrewN84

FeDUBBELFIST

Pennsylvania

3.65/5  rDev -11.4%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

11.2oz bottle to pint glass. Code #2057352. $3.75 for the single. Sampled 11/20/11.

A: Above average head of 2 fingers, creamy and light brown in color. Retention is decent. The body is dark brown - if not black - with traces of ruby tint.

S: Dark fruit aromas of prune, plum and cherry, with a smack of unsweetened red grape.

T: Very rich and robust flavor. Steely caramel. Hints of molasses and licorice. Very mellow and long, rounded out flavor. Moderately sweet. Surprisingly, the ABV is almost undetectable.

M: The body is medium full with a slick texture. A long lasting fizzy effervescence keeps the tongue relatively clean.

O: While Kulmbacher's Eisbock may be "the original German Eisbock," I didn't find it to be exorbitantly interesting - nor was there the hidden layer of complexity that I was looking for.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2012 02:24:44 | More by FeDUBBELFIST

flagmantho

Washington

4.05/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from 330mL bottle into a pint glass. I've been wanting to try Kulmbacher Reichelbrau for a couple of years now, and I'm glad for the chance.

Appearance: very dark brown hue with two fingers of frothy tan foam atop. Not abd.

Smell: rich, fruity aroma with hints of raisin, raspberry and tobacco. There's also kind of a light smokiness to the mix. I quite like it.

Taste: rich malt flavor which is quite satisfying. With this is the big alcohol component, which lends a nice fruitiness to the whole thing. Good!

Mouthfeel: big, roamy body with a good silkiness and a big carbonation with its attendant creaminess. Together, these make for an awesome mouthfeel -- love it!

Overall: this is a very tasty and enjoyable beer. Not really sessionable, but tasty enough to warrant having again.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2012 20:09:13 | More by flagmantho

RollBounce

New York

4.15/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Interesting floral aromas, molasses, buckwheat honey, coffee, black in color, cream like foam, java flavors, dark yeast, concentrated, roasted notes,some cola as well, dark chocolate on the finish.

Overall; Very drinkable, thou not as heavy as color makes it out to be. ABV is balanced nicely here. Would recommend trying thus beer.

Serving type: bottle

03-17-2012 22:19:31 | More by RollBounce

Bung

North Carolina

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

11.2 oz. very dark brown pour, a little red around the edge. Thin layer of white.

Hearty malt, fruitcake aroma. Caramel covered, red fruits. Brown sugar like.

Taste, sweeter malt, caramel, toffee up front. More fruit, cherry, blackberry, toasted malt.

Medium bodied, quite coating. Lower carbonation, or the body makes it feel that way. Just a faint warming.

I think this is how one of these should taste, well done.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2012 03:35:27 | More by Bung

soju6

Missouri

4.35/5  rDev +5.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Pours a deep ruby color with a small head that fades fairly quickly and has a bit of lacing.

S: A rich aroma of dark fruits, with some malt sweetness and a hint of chocolate.

T: Taste is similar to the aroma. Flavor of dark fruit with a mild sweetness. There is just a hint of bitterness and a dry finish.

F: Medium body, smooth and creamy. Very clean with and excellent balance. No reach hint of the alcohol.

O: Excellent drinker that goes down very easy. Good sipper on a cold eventing. Well worth a try.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 15:30:39 | More by soju6

Duff27

Illinois

4.23/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Pours a very nice looking deep red/brown. Head dissapates pretty quickly.

Cherries, dark fruits. A little booze.

Comes off smooth compared to the smell. More dark fruits with a little smoke perhaps. Well hidden 9.2%

Medium to medium thick mouthfeel, lower end of carbonation.

A real treat, the best eisbock I've had this far. Well worth the $3. I can't believe how hidden the alcohol was. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

03-03-2012 04:09:59 | More by Duff27

57md

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Pours a rich dark brown with and orange hue. This offering starts with a finger of head, but there is little to no retention. Dark fruits are distinctly present in the nose. Sweet malt along with some caramel are upfront in the taste. The finish is nicely bitter with a bit of an alcohol bite at the very end.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2012 05:03:12 | More by 57md

Flounder57

Massachusetts

4.15/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

12 oz bottle was poured into a tulip glass.

Appearance: The beer poured a one finger head that has reduced quickly to a thin layer. A dark brown/black beer with no clarity, but signs of carbonation coming up the side of the glass.

Smell: boozy, dark fruits like plums and figs, bready maltiness.

Taste: raisins, figs, plums, caramel and sweet malts, bready malts, booze that burns in the back of the mouth all the way down. All the flavors are pretty mellowed out and blended well together.

Mouthfeel: carbonation seemed high, medium bodied, smooth, a little dry, and the alchohol burns a little on the way down.

Overall: For my first eisbock, this was actually better than I thought. What a great introduction into this style of beer that is not attempted by too many breweries. Will have more of this again in the future.

Serving type: bottle

02-17-2012 06:23:04 | More by Flounder57

JizackFH

New York

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

A - This beer pours a very dark ruby color that is so dark it almost appears black. there is a little more than a finger of off-white head on top. The head has okay retention, and it leave behind just a few specs stuck to the glass.

S - The nose has a good amount of caramel malt and dark fruit aromas. I am getting some Raisin, plum and fig. Also there are some scents of oak, booze, and a little bit of bread-like aromas.

T - The taste starts off with some bready malt flavors. There is also a good amount of caramel and dark fruit flavors. There is some Raisin, plum, and fig. Also, there is some brown sugar, oak, some roastiness, and some booze. The finish leaves some lingering roasted malt, caramel, dark fruits, and booze behind on the palate.

M - This has a medium-full body and lower carbonation. It goes down easy and has a rich smooth feel to it. It also has a bit of a chewy quality to it. There is some initial caramel sweetness and a nice amount of roastiness. There is also a little bit of boozy warmth on the back end.

O - This has good drinkability. It goes down good and has nice flavor. It is a little bit of a sipper, but i wouldn't mind a couple glasses of it. Overall, I think this is a really nice beer. It is my first Eisbock, but I am looking forward to trying more. I recommend trying this one out. A tasty and new beer experience that I think you will enjoy. Got it for about 2 bucks as well, so you can't beat that.

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2012 14:56:19 | More by JizackFH

Starkk00

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a clear deep mahogany with a finger and a half or head. It did dissipate quickly. I would say a medium carbonation.

S - Very rich and and sweet. I do sense the figs and raisins as others have noted. Nice bread malt notes as well. Not much presence of hops.

T - Also as others have noted the taste is very similar to the smell. Very rich but not overly sweet, it may be for some though.

M - Medium mouthfeel that leaves your mouth without much trace.

O - I enjoyed the beer. It was smooth and a bit sweet for some but overall enjoyable. It finishes very smooth without leaving much aftertaste at all. I would order again for sure. Almost reminds me of a Scotch Ale.

Obtained from Michael Jackson's Beer Club Jan 2012.

Serving type: bottle

02-03-2012 02:59:04 | More by Starkk00

crnipeter

Slovenia

4.55/5  rDev +10.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

Pours dark coppery-brown body with good clarity and ruby hue when held to the light, capped by only half-finger yet well formed deep-ivory head that gradually sets to fine veil surrounded by circum peripheral ring.

The nose is very intense rich malt with prominent toasty qualities and powerful plum, prune and raisin-like fruitiness. Alcohol is surprisingly well hidden considering the high ABV.

This is a desert beer with rich sweet malt counterbalanced by evident alcohol-warmth that adds some dryness to the finish of otherwise heavily malty beer.
Malt has bread-crust and nearly burnt brown sugar qualities, and there is above mentioned dark fruit element while hop flavor is virtually absent (unless faint spicy notes I get can be attributed to hops). Nevertheless, a light hop-bitterness acts in sinergy with alcohol helping it to balance the malt and prevent the beer from getting sticky or cloying. The beer has been resting in my cellar (despite being a lager) for more than a year past its best before date so it's well rounded with flavors perfectly mellowed.

Smooth and warming on the palate, with moderate foamy carbonation making the full body seemingly lighter than actually is.

In short, a malt juice (not in a negative way) with toasty-bready qualities, dark fruits and warming alcohol. (330 ml, BB date 10-26-2010, into small chalice.)

Serving type: bottle

01-29-2012 22:23:52 | More by crnipeter

dbrauneis

New Jersey

3.98/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

A: Pours a mahogany brown with a off-white head that dissipates quickly. This beer leaves very little lacing.

S: Aromas of sweet malts with hints of figs/raisins.

T: Sweet malts with hints of dark fruit - figs, raisins, currants. Very little bitterness.

M: Medium bodied and average carbonation.

O: Very enjoyable and matched nicely with dinner of sausages.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 01:05:53 | More by dbrauneis

warnerry

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A - Pours a clear deep mahogany with more than two fingers of tan head. Head has very good retention and leaves some nice lacing. This even sounded good coming out of the bottle.

S - Rich sweet malt with aromas of bread, fig and a bit of raisin and brown sugar. Faint alcohol aroma. Very good. Has some elements of a quad.

T - Just like the smell, but magnified. Nice big dark fruit presence with caramel and bread malts. Slightly burnt brown sugar. A faint bitterness near the end, but still a slightly sweet finish.

M - Medium mouthfeel that is slightly viscous.

O - I really enjoyed this. Great flavors and a nice mouthfeel. Dangerously drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

01-27-2012 00:29:14 | More by warnerry

jwhancher

Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Bought a bottle from the Foodery after being in Bock mood.

A: pours a clear dark amber with ruby highlights and ample carbonation. Nice 4-5 fingers head that appear tan in color.

S: carmelized brown sugar with notes of fig, prune and plenty of dark malt character. Perhaps I received an older bottle because the aromas feel faded.

T: just like the taste with caraelized brown sugar, fig, prune, maybe some mollasses, and again plenty of dark malts. The flavors blend wonderfully together. Slight alcohol warmth without being harsh.

M: full mouthfeel. Sweet tasting with pleasant alcohol warmth.

O: I enjoy this but wish I knew I had a fresh bottle. No freshness date on the bottle I had, but assuming it's slightly dated. Would easily try this again. Great for the winter.

Serving type: bottle

01-23-2012 23:11:41 | More by jwhancher

horshack7

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +9.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Appearance: Poured into a flute glass is a very dark brown mahogany with garnet hues around the edges. The head is off white that is only about a finger thick.

Aroma: Scotch and vanilla notes oakiness, dark sugar ripe fruits. Touches of molasses and some figs towards the end.

Taste: Alcohol notes are very much up front. Solidly crisp moutfeel. Dark fruits, molasses lots oak and oats that give it a light dryness. Dark sugar and bready malts which lends a very malty backbone.

Notes: This packs quite a mighty wallop an incredible tasty beer as well as being a hearty meal in a bottle. Cheers.

Serving type: bottle

01-21-2012 23:40:43 | More by horshack7

tvv375ia

Iowa

4.4/5  rDev +6.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

poured from 11.2oz bottle into pint glass

A-dark ruby with about 1 finger of head that fades to a small cap

S-a lot of carmel malt with some dark fruits and brown sugar

T-dark fruit and carmel malt are present here as well

M-creamy body with good carbonation

O-a lot of flavor and complexity in this one could make it a go to beer

Serving type: bottle

01-16-2012 03:17:00 | More by tvv375ia