Gute Nacht, Marie
Freigeist Bierkultur

 

2024-12-23
330ml bottle served in a little sample glass. Dated "best before" 04.11.2024. Bought it at Bottleworks a couple days ago.

Pours black, viscous, very small amount of minuscule carbonation creeping slowly to the surface, where all but a thin ghost of a ring disappears. Smell is black licorice, burnt toffee, booze.

Taste is intense. Black licorice and black coffee. Soy sauce and burnt syrup and again, booze.

Mouthfeel is thick, chewy, still. Overall...I'm not going to rate it as an eisbock. I'm assuming this is a stout that received the eisbock treatment, not a bock at all. As such, it's not terrible, and if you really want a few aspects of stouts intensified, it might really be to your liking. I'm finding it just OK. Incidentally, if you're looking for a regular eisbock (a la Aventinus), this is definitely not it.

Poured into a Fremont small snifter. Pours is viscous, a very dark mahogany brown, appearing opaque black in the glass with a thin dark chocolate head that dissipates to patches with light lacing. Aroma of dark toasted malt, dark molasses, licorice, bakers chocolate; woody. Flavor is dark, lightly toasted malt, licorice, unsweetened chocolate, tannic wood; aspirin astringency in the finish. Medium bodied with moderate to thick mouth feel. Much more like a stout than an eisbock; not much bock malt here. Dense flavor with some umami elements, lots of licorice and old wood. Tastes like a dark, dark ale that has been aged in wood for almost forever. Interesting overall taste, but I found the finishing, slightly tart astringency a bit out of character with the rest of the taste. Unique and interesting, but not one I suspect anyone will put into their weekly rotation nor when they are looking for a traditional eisbock.

"Best before 11/4/24"; drank 2/5/24 @ the Yarchives.

Black appearance.

An even pour yielded a small dark tan head; no lacing remained.

Black licorice, smoky peat, bakers chocolate & a hint of cream notes in the nose.

Sticky, medium thick mouthfeel.

Black licorice, smoky peat & faint tart cherry flavors.

This is like a Russian Imperial Stout made entirely of peat instead of barley & aged in sour cherries. Which is to say...not boring, but certainy not very good!