Does anyone else struggle to drink pre-aged or vintage beers when you have never had it fresh? I recently got hold of some Pannepot 2007 and have never tried it other than at that age. First-world problems...
When opportunity knocks.... My first Aventinus was one the brewery had aged in their Eiskeller for 5 years before it was released. No way I was going to pass that up and try and go find a recent release before trying the 6 year old version on the menu of the place I was having lunch.
I'm reviving an old post here, but have been searching for reviews of Aventinus Eisbock because I've got a few of them I wanna cellar. How was that 6 year? I've had it fresh before.. worth cellaring?
My review of the basic Aventinus and my experiences with different degrees of aging that I've had is described here: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/72/224/?ba=drtth This is not the Eisbock however. Eiskeller is the German term used by the brewery to describe what, if I understand it without having seen it, is their man-made cave type storage area. Every year they put a number of cases of the basic Aventinus into this cool, constant temperature storage area and every year they also pull out some of the stuff that’s been sitting there for 5 years and some of the stuff that’s been there for 3 years. They wrap it in special paper and then sell it as a limited release beer. As you'll see from my review comments it was not something I expected to find in a local bar and I did take full advantage of the opportunity. :-) Their Eisbock involves freezing the beer, removing the ice and bottling the result. Never had that aged.
Aventinus eisbock ages very well. I don't think I've ever had a fresh bottle, but it's great around 3-4 years.
Sounds awesome! Yea I know what an eisbock is, but I always hear people throwing around the name Aventinus when they are really talking about the more concentrated eisbock, so sometimes it's hard to tell which one people are referring to. Aventinus, the regular, is a spectacular doppelbock but I only have a basement, not a cave - which would be ideal since I've got a few I will probably try one every year. Thanks for the info!
Well, IIRC, the Avetinus brewery does make an Eisbock from their regular doppelbock so there are two "different" beers. Enjoy!
