EKU 28
Kulmbacher Brauerei AG

EKU 28EKU 28
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From:
Kulmbacher Brauerei AG
 
Germany
Style:
Doppelbock
Ranked #52
ABV:
11%
Score:
88
Ranked #12,957
Avg:
3.95 | pDev: 14.68%
Reviews:
481
Ratings:
761
Status:
Active
Rated:
Sep 29, 2023
Added:
Aug 16, 2001
Wants:
  75
Gots:
  78
A super-strong Bock, but not an Eisbock.
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Ratings by AltBock:
Photo of AltBock
Reviewed by AltBock from Ohio

3.72/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
11.2 oz. bottle with a simple oval label that is tan colored in the middle with a red and gold trim. In the middle of the label in big red letters is "EKU." Above the letters is a gold crown with three gold coins on each side. Each of the coins has a different picture in them, but they're too small to read. On the back is a square label that's the same color as the front label, but with a paragraph of information about the beer, a Michael Jackson quote that says this beer is "World Classic," Govt. warning, and a batch or some other kind of number on the back, mine being 1546154. There's a big neck label wrapped around the neck (duh), but it's all in German, so I can't read it, but I can read a few key words.

Appearance: I decided to break out the Oversized Wine Glass for this one. When it was poured, the beer was an orange color with a tint of brown to it. The head of foam was nonexistent. Maybe not nonexistent because I did see a few bubbles at the top and that dissipated away very fast and left no sign of either rings or lace around the glass.

Smell: The aroma was that of sweet malts in the beginning, caramel and a hint of hops in the middle, and all of this ended with a fruity background. I hostly thought there would have to be some kind of alcohol in there as well, but nope! Just a very nice sweet aroma.

Taste: Like the smell, I thought maybe this beer wouldn't have much flavor and end with a huge explosion of alcohol, but that's far from the truth. What I got was a very sweet taste of sweet malt, sweet caramel, hint of bitter hops, and with a not too big taste of alcohol at the end. Basically it was very sweet with an alcohol finish. The alcohol was there because it's at 11% ABV, but it wasn't as one dimensional as I thought it would be. Nice!!!

Mouthfeel: Very thick, full-bodied, very little carbonation, and with a slight alcohol burn to it. I can say I'm feeling it going to work on me. A nice sipping beer.

Drinkability: Overall a very nice beer that would be good on an occasional basis, but be careful with this one. Although Eisbocks are not my favorite style of beer, I would probably buy again in the future.
Aug 06, 2006
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.09 by misteil from Ireland

Sep 29, 2023
Photo of BucBasil
Reviewed by BucBasil from Rwanda

3.54/5  rDev -10.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Poured from the 500mL can. The beer is a dark amber color, clear when held to light.

Smell is sweet toffee. Brown sugar. Toasted malt.

Taste is sweet caramel up front with more nuanced toasted malt flavor coming in the middle. The beer stays heavy on the malt and has a slight boozy character.

Feel is a little light for the style.

Overall an OK doppelbock, but not my favorite of the category.
Jul 08, 2023
 
Rated: 3.8 by TMoney2591 from Illinois

May 28, 2023
Photo of REVZEB
Reviewed by REVZEB from Illinois

4.15/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Murky caramel brown body with a tan cap that fades. Smell features caramel malt with nuts, dark fruit and a kiss of honey. Taste is much the same, but the malt itself shine through more slightly. Medium bodied, malty, smooth and warming. The wife loved it
Dec 04, 2022
 
Rated: 4.5 by bigred89 from Maryland

Oct 01, 2022
 
Rated: 3.84 by desint from Belgium

Aug 16, 2022
 
Rated: 4.06 by Blogjackets from Ohio

Jan 08, 2022
Photo of backblast
Reviewed by backblast from Alaska

3.94/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured a hazy amber with a thick white head that dissipated quickly and no lacing.

Tasted sweet malts up front combined with toffee and light fruit. Can barely taste the alcohol.
Jan 01, 2022
Photo of s4s
Rated by s4s from Puerto Rico

4.25/5  rDev +7.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Can't hide that alcohol, but pretty good. I think it needs a bit more hops. It's not a doppelbock, but a starkbier (strong beer).
Dec 31, 2021
 
Rated: 3.77 by Dentist666 from Russian Federation

Aug 12, 2021
Photo of dkoehler42
Reviewed by dkoehler42 from New York

2.38/5  rDev -39.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5
I opened this beer expecting something different. This pours a dark copper with minimal head. I originally considered it skunked before reading other reviews. It definitely tastes of raisin, and has minimal carbonation. This doesn't do anything for me, and I'd pass on it next time.
Jun 17, 2021
 
Rated: 4 by Hopweiser from Korea (South)

Jun 16, 2021
Photo of Peach63
Reviewed by Peach63 from New York

4.19/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Pours light copper with a 1/4 inch tan head, which dissipates. Minimal lacing.

Aroma is malty, bready, toffee, caramel. Port like.

Taste is toffee, caramel, light roast malt, raisins, prunes.

Medium bodied, light carbonation. Semi-sweet finish.

The Germans know how to brew beer. this is a good one.
Mar 06, 2021
Photo of milkshakebeersucks
Reviewed by milkshakebeersucks from Maryland

3.89/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Clear, deep amber appearance with a large tan head that faded quickly and left modest lacing. Toffeeish, sweet malt, ripe fruit aroma with accents of honey and alcohol. The sweetness mingles with the alcohol, giving the taste a dessert wine-like edge. Sweetness linger through to the finish. The ever present alcohol is unavoidable in the aftertaste.
Jan 23, 2021
 
Rated: 4.27 by jwohio from Ohio

Dec 13, 2020
Photo of mgrady3
Reviewed by mgrady3 from Missouri

4.08/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured a 11.2oz bottle into a pint glass. Had to pour right down the middle to get a head to form, which built up decently high but then dissipated very quickly. Since this is a big ABV beer, I made sure to let the bottle warm up for a minute or two after snagging from the beer fridge.

Color was lighter than expected - light brown or copper, with high clarity.

Nose comes through right away with sweet, caramel, molasses, and dark fruit.

Taste is quite sweet at the beginning but it finishes very clean and crisp. There's a little bit of hop bitterness present in the finish, but fairly minimal.

For an 11% beer, the alcohol is masked quite well.

Overall a really interesting Doppelbock. Not sure I'd go out of my way to buy more but would certainly recommend everyone try it at least once.
Nov 27, 2020
 
Rated: 4.02 by Robertas from Lithuania

Nov 23, 2020
Photo of crazyspicychef
Reviewed by crazyspicychef from Pennsylvania

4.52/5  rDev +14.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Not the beer to purchase for going boating. F.Y.I.
It has been decades since I have come across this amazing beverage.
All I can remember is that I loved it and would purchase regularly if available in PA.
As close to an Eisbock as I could find in this area years ago.
I remember it poured a nice brassy color, beautiful malt presence, and finished just dry enough, probably the alcohol.
I put this up there with Kulmbacher Eisbock as far as amazing bocks.
Oct 30, 2020
 
Rated: 3.82 by Luckydog91 from Texas

Oct 20, 2020
EKU 28 from Kulmbacher Brauerei AG
Beer rating: 88 out of 100 with 761 ratings