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Gulpener IJsbock

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A bock from half wheat and half barley, fermented with the same yeast as the brewery's Weizen. It is unfiltered and freeze-distilled, a technique in which the brew is chilled to -20°C after fermentation, so part of the water freezes out and the flavour concentrates into banana, clove, chocolate, caramel and coffee. 9.0% ABV, brewed in Gulpen, Limburg.

ABV
9%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark28
PaceSipper
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
chocolateclovecoffee
chocolate
clove
coffee
banana
caramel
wheat
Aroma
The nose opens with pronounced notes of dark chocolate and roasted coffee, layered with warming clove and a subtle banana note from the weizen yeast.
also:malty,yeasty
not found:hoppy,roasted,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Gulpener IJsbock

◎ Appearance

Deep amber to brown, displaying the concentrated hue characteristic of freeze-distilled eisbock. The beer presents a cloudy appearance due to the unfiltered nature and wheat component, with a dense, persistent head that clings to the glass. Carbonation is moderate, appropriate for the style's weight and alcohol content.

deep amber-brownunfiltered, hazydense head retention

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced notes of dark chocolate and roasted coffee, layered with warming clove and a subtle banana note from the weizen yeast. Beneath these primary aromatics lies a soft caramel sweetness and toasted grain character, creating a complex and inviting bouquet. The alcohol is present but well-integrated, not sharp or acetous.

chocolate, coffee roastclove spicebanana, carameltoasted grain

◐ Taste

Entry is rich and vollmundig, with chocolate and coffee flavours immediately dominating the palate. Mid-palate reveals layered notes of clove, caramel, and a wheat-derived smoothness that balances the roasted character. Bitterness is restrained at 35 IBU, allowing the malt complexity to shine; any heat from the 9% ABV is absorbed into the malt structure rather than standing apart.

full-bodied, richchocolate-coffee forwardbalanced bitterness

◑ Finish

The finish is long and warming, with chocolate and caramel notes persisting on the palate alongside a faint clove dryness. A gentle alcoholic warmth emerges in the throat without becoming hot or harsh, leaving a pleasant, slightly sweet aftertaste.

long, warming finishlingering sweetness
87
hopIQ score
Aroma
88
Taste
89
Appearance
84
Finish
85
Serve at 12–16°C

Serve at 12–16°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Gulpener IJsbock

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About Eisbock

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Eisbock?

Bocks are strong German lagers with 6.5–7.5% ABV. Rich malt sweetness — toast, chocolate, caramel — with low bitterness and a warming finish.

Finding a similar Eisbock

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same chocolate, clove, coffee character as Gulpener IJsbock will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all Eisbock beers in hopIQ →Browse Netherlands beers →