Eisbock (Congelator) | Micro-Brasserie L'Alchimiste
Brewed by:
Micro-Brasserie L'Alchimiste
Quebec, Canada
lalchimiste.ca
Style: Eisbock
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 9.40%
Availability: Spring
Notes / Commercial Description:
No notes at this time.
Added by Beersignal on 03-13-2007
Ratings: 42 | Reviews: 25
Reviews by the Alström Bros:
None found.
More User Reviews:
3.43/5 rDev -4.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Grabbed a bottle of this at the Atwater Market in Montreal a few weeks ago.
This beer pours a deep dark brown colour, with muddled tan edges, and a finger or so of thin soapy beige head, which leaves a ring of lace around the glass. It smells of sweet boozy, raisiny malt, and earthy hops. The taste is sour, fruity roasted malt, with some nutty bitterness. The alcohol is just barely perceivable as a general warmness. The carbonation is fairly tame, the body smooth, warm, and somewhat weighty, and it finishes dry, but with a sweet alcohol edge seeping in.
An interesting high-octane brew, definitely more suited for a cold winter's night.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Grabbed a bottle of this at the Atwater Market in Montreal a few weeks ago.
This beer pours a deep dark brown colour, with muddled tan edges, and a finger or so of thin soapy beige head, which leaves a ring of lace around the glass. It smells of sweet boozy, raisiny malt, and earthy hops. The taste is sour, fruity roasted malt, with some nutty bitterness. The alcohol is just barely perceivable as a general warmness. The carbonation is fairly tame, the body smooth, warm, and somewhat weighty, and it finishes dry, but with a sweet alcohol edge seeping in.
An interesting high-octane brew, definitely more suited for a cold winter's night.
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3.65/5 rDev +1.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
They have changed the label on this. Told to serve at 50 degrees plus (what happened to Celsius?). Pours a dark thicker looking brown. above average mouthfeel, above average carbonation and in the taste, good chocolate and malting . The alcohol is there though not extreme. Some raisin, anise is good. Though I got this fresh from Metro Joanette, it has a few months bottling on it and sweetness is not too much. Refreshing and satisfying.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
They have changed the label on this. Told to serve at 50 degrees plus (what happened to Celsius?). Pours a dark thicker looking brown. above average mouthfeel, above average carbonation and in the taste, good chocolate and malting . The alcohol is there though not extreme. Some raisin, anise is good. Though I got this fresh from Metro Joanette, it has a few months bottling on it and sweetness is not too much. Refreshing and satisfying.
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3.88/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Micro-brasserie L'Alchimiste "Eisbock"
341 ml brown glass returnable bottle with multiple codes, most likely less than 3 months old (or about 5 years old ;)
Notes: Labeled 9.5% ABV. Cloudy Russet, short creamy yellow-tan head. Malt aroma with alcohol and some dark skinned fruit - not sharp, dull... raisin, fig. The flavor is fuller but follows. The impression of dark fruit skins seem to over-ride the dark fruitiness, I'm guessing because of the bitterness, and then there's a central caramelish malt component and an outside alcohol note. It's moderately toffee-ish. Medium full body with a median carbonation. Certainly not the best eisbock I've ever sampled, but pleasant enough.
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look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Micro-brasserie L'Alchimiste "Eisbock"
341 ml brown glass returnable bottle with multiple codes, most likely less than 3 months old (or about 5 years old ;)
Notes: Labeled 9.5% ABV. Cloudy Russet, short creamy yellow-tan head. Malt aroma with alcohol and some dark skinned fruit - not sharp, dull... raisin, fig. The flavor is fuller but follows. The impression of dark fruit skins seem to over-ride the dark fruitiness, I'm guessing because of the bitterness, and then there's a central caramelish malt component and an outside alcohol note. It's moderately toffee-ish. Medium full body with a median carbonation. Certainly not the best eisbock I've ever sampled, but pleasant enough.
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3.41/5 rDev -5.3%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
2.59/5 rDev -28.1%
look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Bottle: Poured a clear deep brown color bock with a huge foamy head with good retention but no lacing. Aroma of sweet malt with too much sugar for my own taste. Taste is dominated by cardboard notes (oxidized) with some over the top sweet. I could also detect some dry fruits notes which I am sure would have been great had they not been dominated by the cardboard and the sweetness.
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look: 4 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
Bottle: Poured a clear deep brown color bock with a huge foamy head with good retention but no lacing. Aroma of sweet malt with too much sugar for my own taste. Taste is dominated by cardboard notes (oxidized) with some over the top sweet. I could also detect some dry fruits notes which I am sure would have been great had they not been dominated by the cardboard and the sweetness.
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2.84/5 rDev -21.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Tasted January 10th, 2009.
Tasting notes:
Appearance: Dark brown with some red on the edge.
Smell: Not one of the best... fruity and malty. Probably some notes of alcohol. Not impressed however.
Taste: The persistance is long. It stays in the mouth. I get a malty taste with alcohol.
Not sure this is my type of beer. Too much alcohol, IMO. To sip...
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look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Tasted January 10th, 2009.
Tasting notes:
Appearance: Dark brown with some red on the edge.
Smell: Not one of the best... fruity and malty. Probably some notes of alcohol. Not impressed however.
Taste: The persistance is long. It stays in the mouth. I get a malty taste with alcohol.
Not sure this is my type of beer. Too much alcohol, IMO. To sip...
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3.5/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Flashback #272
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Flashback #272
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3.48/5 rDev -3.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
4.05/5 rDev +12.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A- Dark brown and ruby tone with frothy head that has nice retention and creamy lace.
S- Strong, bold and fruity. Sweet toffee and toasted grains, hints of booze, earthy notes, and cherry tones; other dark fruit.
T- Toffee, brown sugar, rich sweetness. Fruit notes are prominant with cherry, dates, plums, and raisins. Biscuit and toasted grains underneath and a hint of booze well hidden under the sweetness.
M- Thick, creamy, and slick
D- Very sweet and slick with a booze burn makes this delicious beer a sipper.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A- Dark brown and ruby tone with frothy head that has nice retention and creamy lace.
S- Strong, bold and fruity. Sweet toffee and toasted grains, hints of booze, earthy notes, and cherry tones; other dark fruit.
T- Toffee, brown sugar, rich sweetness. Fruit notes are prominant with cherry, dates, plums, and raisins. Biscuit and toasted grains underneath and a hint of booze well hidden under the sweetness.
M- Thick, creamy, and slick
D- Very sweet and slick with a booze burn makes this delicious beer a sipper.
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3.66/5 rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Viggo brought this one over. thanks eric!
12oz bottle. sampled march 25/2010.
pours a beautiful crystal clear ruby red. the small dense tan head drops fairly fast and leaves spotty lace behind as it falls.
aroma is nice. caramel and toffee. lightly toasted whole wheat bread. bit of biscuit. light alcohol. earthy and woody. cherry, date, and a bit of raisin.
taste is nice. light alcohol. lightly toasted whole wheat bread. bit of biscuit and cracker. bit of caramel and toffee. dark chocolate. cherry and date. earthy and woody. slightly herbal. bit of fenugreek?
mouthfeel is nice. medium-large body. medium-light carbonation level.
drinkability is good. nice balance. fairly interesting, but doesn't quite have the depth and complexity i usually expect in an eisbock.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Viggo brought this one over. thanks eric!
12oz bottle. sampled march 25/2010.
pours a beautiful crystal clear ruby red. the small dense tan head drops fairly fast and leaves spotty lace behind as it falls.
aroma is nice. caramel and toffee. lightly toasted whole wheat bread. bit of biscuit. light alcohol. earthy and woody. cherry, date, and a bit of raisin.
taste is nice. light alcohol. lightly toasted whole wheat bread. bit of biscuit and cracker. bit of caramel and toffee. dark chocolate. cherry and date. earthy and woody. slightly herbal. bit of fenugreek?
mouthfeel is nice. medium-large body. medium-light carbonation level.
drinkability is good. nice balance. fairly interesting, but doesn't quite have the depth and complexity i usually expect in an eisbock.
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3.35/5 rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Big thanks to MasterSki for the gift.
A - It pours a rustic russet hue, with a surprisingly lustrous head. The froth recedes to plentiful wisps of pancake batter foam.
S - The aroma is better from afar, where it seems spicy and sweetly malty. Up close it reveals too much naked grain. The malt is slightly toffee-ish, and tends toward spicy more than sweet. Herbal hoppiness is apparent.
T - It tastes pretty nice; it is surprisingly bitter, though the hop is not specifically flavorful, more so it is generally bitter. There are generally hop-driven spicy and savory notes, and the maltiness is only an equal partner in this equation. This is not tremendously hoppy; it is also not the beer equivalent of Aunt Jemima (of which many a brew of this description suffer from this type of syrupy affliction.)
M - Fairly lively, and not syrupy at all... still it is fairly uninspiring.
D - Pretty good stuff, not great. The well-hidden ABV is commendable.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Big thanks to MasterSki for the gift.
A - It pours a rustic russet hue, with a surprisingly lustrous head. The froth recedes to plentiful wisps of pancake batter foam.
S - The aroma is better from afar, where it seems spicy and sweetly malty. Up close it reveals too much naked grain. The malt is slightly toffee-ish, and tends toward spicy more than sweet. Herbal hoppiness is apparent.
T - It tastes pretty nice; it is surprisingly bitter, though the hop is not specifically flavorful, more so it is generally bitter. There are generally hop-driven spicy and savory notes, and the maltiness is only an equal partner in this equation. This is not tremendously hoppy; it is also not the beer equivalent of Aunt Jemima (of which many a brew of this description suffer from this type of syrupy affliction.)
M - Fairly lively, and not syrupy at all... still it is fairly uninspiring.
D - Pretty good stuff, not great. The well-hidden ABV is commendable.
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4.12/5 rDev +14.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A: Ruby-bronze, off-white head, very little retention, only slight hints of lace.
S: Figs, light raisins, berries, brown sugar, sherry, nut-bready/cake... a bit like a Christmas cake.
T: Fruit bread, brown sugar, sherry, lightly spiced (slight metallic earthyness), solid bitterness, alcohol is warming but not overly assertive.
M: Fairly full body is well-attenuated (Eised?), with only a hint of syrupy sweetness, finish is fairly crisp & dry.
D: Quite drinkable for its weight.
It's a very good beer. Too bad there isn't a little more protein for a stand-up head.
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look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A: Ruby-bronze, off-white head, very little retention, only slight hints of lace.
S: Figs, light raisins, berries, brown sugar, sherry, nut-bready/cake... a bit like a Christmas cake.
T: Fruit bread, brown sugar, sherry, lightly spiced (slight metallic earthyness), solid bitterness, alcohol is warming but not overly assertive.
M: Fairly full body is well-attenuated (Eised?), with only a hint of syrupy sweetness, finish is fairly crisp & dry.
D: Quite drinkable for its weight.
It's a very good beer. Too bad there isn't a little more protein for a stand-up head.
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3.81/5 rDev +5.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
341 ml bottle.
A- Dark red with amber highlights. Very nice orange tinged head. Very good effervescence. Very nice.
S- Deep malt. Berries. Hints of chocolate and caramel. Some alcohol aroma, but not too much considering ABV. Too weak for great marks, but pleasant.
T- Fermented dried fruit. Sissappointed by slightly watery middle. Mild hop finish. Alcohol overtones. Pleasant and balanced but not very complex.
MF- Smooth. Alcohol warmth present but not over the top. Leaves mouth a little dry and pasty by the end but overall it is rather pleasant.
D- Very smooth and easy to take considering ABV. A nice strong beer to turn to on a cool day.
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look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
341 ml bottle.
A- Dark red with amber highlights. Very nice orange tinged head. Very good effervescence. Very nice.
S- Deep malt. Berries. Hints of chocolate and caramel. Some alcohol aroma, but not too much considering ABV. Too weak for great marks, but pleasant.
T- Fermented dried fruit. Sissappointed by slightly watery middle. Mild hop finish. Alcohol overtones. Pleasant and balanced but not very complex.
MF- Smooth. Alcohol warmth present but not over the top. Leaves mouth a little dry and pasty by the end but overall it is rather pleasant.
D- Very smooth and easy to take considering ABV. A nice strong beer to turn to on a cool day.
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3.53/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12 oz bottle picked up at Peluso.
Pours a clear very dark red, crimson hues, very thin tan head forms and quickly settles down to a thin ring around the glass and a thin layer, some tiny lace spots stick.
Smell is neat, lots of dark fruit and raisin, brown sugar and caramel sweetness, quite rich, honey on biscuits, light fruity sourness, alcohol, sherry, lightly oaky, a bit earthy, sour cherries, pretty neat.
Taste is nice but a little light, slightly oxidized, some honey and caramel, brown sugar, raisin, leathery, sour fruit, cherries, biscuit, lightly oaky, some citrus/floral in the finish, alcohol, not bad.
Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied, lightly oily feeling, medium carbonation, some alcohol burn going down. Overall not bad but pretty plain.
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look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
12 oz bottle picked up at Peluso.
Pours a clear very dark red, crimson hues, very thin tan head forms and quickly settles down to a thin ring around the glass and a thin layer, some tiny lace spots stick.
Smell is neat, lots of dark fruit and raisin, brown sugar and caramel sweetness, quite rich, honey on biscuits, light fruity sourness, alcohol, sherry, lightly oaky, a bit earthy, sour cherries, pretty neat.
Taste is nice but a little light, slightly oxidized, some honey and caramel, brown sugar, raisin, leathery, sour fruit, cherries, biscuit, lightly oaky, some citrus/floral in the finish, alcohol, not bad.
Mouthfeel is medium to full bodied, lightly oily feeling, medium carbonation, some alcohol burn going down. Overall not bad but pretty plain.
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3.5/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
4.05/5 rDev +12.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle ( thanks Serge)
Puts a dark chestnut brown lager in the chalice with ruby highlights. Hard pour puts a small 1 finger fine pored cap on the top..moderate lacing.
Aroma: Char, smoke, figs, cocoa and a wisp of fusil not overly pronounced.
Up front the big chewy cake like malts..gorgeous!!..like liquid Bundt..midpalate the wonderful Nobel variety hops show up to give that signature German herbal-woody balance to the malts...finish is long and wet...bready, chared astringency shows a bit, cocoa and woody hops..excellent finish. smooth and warming...alcohol hidden well in the profile. Decent drying in the after taste between the thick noble herbas and carred astringency of the patent malts.
Well put together...tasteful, balanced, drinkable for a big beer but not over the top ans unbalanced like an extreme beer.
As eisbocks go this is very drinkable..not overly complex but has a character like a very mellow malty tripple bock with just enough herbal hopping to offset the big malts and keep sweetness out of the mix. 2 thumbs up!
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look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bottle ( thanks Serge)
Puts a dark chestnut brown lager in the chalice with ruby highlights. Hard pour puts a small 1 finger fine pored cap on the top..moderate lacing.
Aroma: Char, smoke, figs, cocoa and a wisp of fusil not overly pronounced.
Up front the big chewy cake like malts..gorgeous!!..like liquid Bundt..midpalate the wonderful Nobel variety hops show up to give that signature German herbal-woody balance to the malts...finish is long and wet...bready, chared astringency shows a bit, cocoa and woody hops..excellent finish. smooth and warming...alcohol hidden well in the profile. Decent drying in the after taste between the thick noble herbas and carred astringency of the patent malts.
Well put together...tasteful, balanced, drinkable for a big beer but not over the top ans unbalanced like an extreme beer.
As eisbocks go this is very drinkable..not overly complex but has a character like a very mellow malty tripple bock with just enough herbal hopping to offset the big malts and keep sweetness out of the mix. 2 thumbs up!
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Eisbock (Congelator) from Micro-Brasserie L'Alchimiste
3.6
out of 5
based on 42 ratings.
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Mahogany pour with a modertate, off-white cap.Clear & settled for the most part. Little head retention. Chewy malt nose with some molasses & fig highlights along with a pinch of spice. The taste is where this beer makes it's mark. Leaving behind the subtle nose this beer takes on flavours such as molasses, brown sugar, plum & beneath it all, a little bit of toasted malt all backed up by some spiciness. Nice complexity. The finish lingers nicely and offers up a trace of alcohol warmth. A nice mouthfeel that is both lively up front and slighhtly creamy on the finish. Great drinkability, a nice exampleof the style.
Thanks to Beersignal for the sample!
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