Reichelbräu Eisbock (Kulmbacher Brauerei)

"The Original German Ice Beer"

Don't let the fancy, shiny label fool you. This is one serious beer. Kulmbacher Eisbock weighs in at 9.2% ABV and should not be mistaken for anything akin to those ice beers you drank in college!

Eisbocks are traditionally made by brewing a big, malty doppelbock and freezing off some of the water thus leaving a more concentrated liquid and a higher alcohol percentage (since the alcohol doesn't freeze). It is said that an apprentice at the Kulmbacher brewery back around the turn of the 20th century "forgot on a cold winter day to carry two barrels of bock beer into the brewery cellar. The barrels stayed outside, were covered by ice and snow and weren't discovered until the following spring. The barrels had burst and the apprentice was reprimanded. But the carelessness was a stroke of luck because under the thick ice coat, a bock beer extract remained, strong tasting and high in alcoholic content."

Kulmbacher's Eisbock is very dark brown in color almost like maple syrup and has a very sweet smell of cooked apples and raisins. The taste is very smooth for such a strong beer and the warming from the high alcohol comes quickly after an initial taste of sweet, heavy malt and fruit. A 12oz bottle should be poured and enjoyed slowly. Its best to let this warm a little after opening, that will bring out more of the flavor.

You can get 6-packs of Kulmbacher Eisbock for about $10-12 in Maine at most good beer stores. 

For more about Kulmbacher's other beers go HERE!

Beer Facts:

Name: Reichelbräu Eisbock

Style: German Eisbock (original)

Brewery: Kulmbacher Brauerei 

Location: Kulmbach, Bayern, Germany 

Container: 12 oz. bottle

Malts: ?

Hops: ?

ABV: 9.2%

IBU’s: ?

this is no Natty Ice