Beer Style Guide: Get to Know Eisbock with Em Sauter
Before I begin to talk about eisbock, I have some bad news. Eisbocks are illegal to brew in the U.S. UNLESS the brewery also has a distillation permit to make spirits as well. I, myself, have only had a few of this style. But it would be wrong to not discuss this fascinating beer style even though you may go your entire life without seeing it.
There’s a fun myth (or is it true? Who knows when it comes to beer history) about the origination of the style. Legend has it that at a brewery that is now part of the Kulmbacher brewery in Franconia in 1890, an assistant was told to put a barrel into a warm part of the brewery on a freezing night but forgot to do so. The barrel froze the water in the beer but concentrated the product, creating a new style. Eisbocks (eis is the German word for ice) are in a rare club in that they are, in part, one of the only styles created by using another style as its base (gueuzes are another in that they are a blend of lambic style beers).
In this freezing of the water, eisbocks gain ABV, richness, concentration and viscosity. Eisbocks can be as high in alcohol as wine but can be made even stronger, resulting in actual distillation of beer into something that resembles more like a whiskey at 40% ABV. No wonder breweries aren’t allowed to brew them!
Tasting Notes
Eisbocks’ malt profile starts with a darker doppelbock that would have a base of Munich malt and perhaps some darker malts as well. A decoction mash would be traditional as well as a long lagering time before distillation would occur. In terms of flavor and aroma, you’ll have noticeable alcohol aroma and flavor with notes of pie crust, raisin, cocoa and caramel.
Food Pairings
And for food pairings—eisbock’s richness is best drunk on its own as it makes a lovely digestif and due to its high test strength, best shared with good friends after a long day. If you are insistent about pairing it with foods, go bold with a sweet and decadent chocolate mousse, caramel custard or flourless chocolate cake.
Last thing, eisbocks can be aged! A few years on an eisbock can mellow harsher alcohol flavors. For a fun activity best done at home so you don’t have to drive,, try a vertical of different ages of eisbock to see how age changes a beer’s flavor and aroma.
Beers to Try
Kulmbacher Eisbock
The original Eisbock was made by a brewery that is now owned by Kulmbacher so this is the closest thing you’ll get to the original product. Kuhnhenn Brewing Company Raspberry Eisbock- Michigan-based Kuhnhenn brewery is known for its eisbocks, including its fruited ones. Worth seeking out if you have an option to purchase one of these beauties.
Schneider Weisse Aventinus Eisbock
A unique style in that this is a frozen weizenbock, not a doppelbock, which means it is made with majority wheat malt. You’ll get flavors of banana, plum, and other flavors from the ale yeast (yep, weizenbocks are the only bocks that aren’t lagers- we will get to that soon!).