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Kulmbacher Eisbock

Kulmbacher Brauerei
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🌍 Germany · Eisbock · One of 2 Eisbocks in hopIQ

Kulmbacher Eisbock goes back to a local story from around 1900, when bock barrels left in the brewery yard froze and a concentrated beer remained. Today a modern freezing process takes it to 9.2 percent, and it is sold only from October to March. It pours near-opaque dark brown with red highlights. Roasted malt, dark chocolate and mocha lead the aroma, followed by dried fruit, plum and a nutty, vinous note. The palate is sweet and heavy with caramel and dark berries, ending in a roasty, hoppy bitterness.

ABV
9.2%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter29 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
dark28

AWARDS

Silver · 2022
World Beer Awards
Silver · 2023
Brussels Beer Challenge
Platinum · 2016
Meininger's International Craft Beer Award
Holzfassgereifte Biere – Eisbock
Silver — World Beer Awards
Silver — Brussels Beer Challenge
Platinum — Meininger's International Craft Beer Award (Holzfassgereifte Biere – Eisbock)
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Where this beer sits· Four axes, the same for every beer in hopIQ.
Body
Full body.
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
Gently sweet notes.
drysweet
Bitterness
Soft bitterness.
mildbitter
Texture
Somewhat creamy mouthfeel.
crispcreamy

A frame with real heft — the palate has plenty to hold onto through the finish.

Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Eisbock.
Malt character
roasted
caramel
chocolate
nutty
Distinctive notes
berry
dark fruit
Hop character
hoppy

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Kulmbacher Eisbock

Appearance

This Eisbock pours nearly opaque dark brown with distinct red highlights shining through when held to light, a hallmark of the concentrated freezing process. The dense, creamy head settles into persistent lacing that clings to the glass walls with each sip, indicating substantial body and protein content.

dark brownopaquered highlightsdense head

Aroma

The nose leads with roasted malt and dark chocolate alongside mocha tones that develop into dried plum and stone fruit notes. A subtle but distinctive vinous character emerges in the background, complemented by a warm, slightly nutty undertone typical of high-alcohol concentration.

roasted maltdark chocolatedried plumvinous warmth

Taste

Entry presents immediate sweetness balanced by rich caramel and dark berry flavors that coat the palate with full-bodied, syrupy texture. The mid-palate sustains this weight while roasted grain complexity deepens, finishing with assertive hoppy bitterness and a subtle roasty dryness that cuts the initial sweetness.

sweet entrycaramel bodydark berriesroasty finish

Finish

The finish extends with lingering hoppy bitterness and roasted grain dryness that persists well into the aftertaste. Alcohol warmth builds gradually without harshness, leaving a slightly tannic, vinous character that encourages contemplative sipping.

long finishhoppy bitternesswarming alcohol
82
hopIQ score
Aroma
84
Taste
83
Appearance
85
Finish
79
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Kulmbacher Eisbock

Serve at 12–16°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

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

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

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

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Kulmbacher Eisbock

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 sweet, roasted, chocolate character as Kulmbacher Eisbock will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Eisbocks in hopIQ

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