Kulmbacher Eisbock

Brew: Kulmbacher Eisbock

Location: Germany

First Impressions: The eisbock, otherwise known as “ice bock”, owes its discovery to an apprentice who forgot to bring two barrels of beer into the brewery cellar, and as a result discovered this frozen beer the following spring. Hmmm…that makes for an interesting introduction to this brew.

I also have to mention how sweet this bottle looks. Holograms galore. Shields. Snowflakes. Truly badass.

Aroma: Dark fruits with roasted malts – chocolate, maple syrup, cherry, raisin, and vanilla. A wide combination of nose candy.

Overall Taste: Very heavy, highly complex, and strong in alcohol content. Overall, this was a memorable brew with tons of flavor and tons of kick to it.

However, the one thing which it lacks is drinkability. It took me about 40 minutes to kill one bottle of this Eisbock so I would recommend a food pairing with it, or at least some chips and salsa.

This brew is not your typical foreign beer, as it will suprise you with it’s taste and complexity. This brew will require your full attention.

You might also like: EKU 28, Brauerei AG, Brooklyn Chocolate Stout

Price: 11.99 / 6-pack

ABV: 9.2%

Grade: C+

Pandora’s Bock | Breckenridge

Brew: Pandora’s Bock | Breckenridge

Location: Denver, CO

First Impressions: The girl on the front of the bottle is pretty banging, another prime example of companies using sex appeal as a marketing tool. The glass showed an auburn color that was clear and the carbonation resembled fizz from that of a soda.

Aroma: This is where the brew started to turn south. My nose picked up about five faint scents ranging from vanilla to olives to fruit to yeast to almonds. It was not a very pleasant aroma.

Overall Taste: Let me start by saying that I am a fan of Breckenridge and I am surprised that they would release such a disastrous brew. It was an uneventful brew from beginning to end, no distinct flavor, no kick. This brew tastes pretty much like it smells and doesn’t leave after taste.

Breckenridge says that once you open a bottle of Pandora’s Bock that “a wealth of flavor and complexity will spill out into the world”. To me, it was more like a cheap wine invading upon a night of drinking. I was able to finish one of them but I would hate to have a six pack in my fridge.

You might also like: White Zinfandel

Price: 8.99 / 6 pack

ABV: 7.5%

Grade: D