Allow me to introduce you to what is quite possibly the most delectable beer style to ever grace this mudball called Earth: the Eisbock. As you probably know by now, I'm a bock man. I love my bocks. I love my doppelbocks even more. And sitting upon the throne of bocks is the majestic, seclusive and rarely photographed eisbock. So what is an eisbock? To make an eisbock, you begin by freezing a doppelbock. Seriously. Then once frozen, you remove the water ice. That's it. And what you have left over is a super-concentrated doppelbock. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is one hell of a tasty beverage.

Aventinus Eisbock is a beautiful beer. A funny thing happens when you make an eisbock. The beer actually gains a level of translucence. All that sediment and murkiness common with doppelbocks gets trapped within the water ice. The result is a stunning burnt sienna color.

Anyone who has ever smelled a good doppelbock knows what to expect: caramel. Lots and lots of caramel. Now take that expectation and concentrate it. Yup, super intense nostril flaring caramel. Now couple it with the other intensified doppelbock smells like savory chocolates and tangy fruits such as plum and pomegranate. Salivating yet? Yeah, you should be. Another prominent aroma is the alcohol due to concentration, which means that eisbocks can reach high ABVs (this one is a hefty 12% ABV).

Considering the appearance and aroma, you can probably imagine what the mouthfeel is like. Very smooth, nicely balanced without being too aggressive. Like with most beers in the bock family, there is absolutely no hop bitterness, so you can really chew on this beer to pick out all the flavors. This is a very full bodied beer that sticks with you for quite some time. It has a wonderful semi-sweet aftertaste that really plays up the tangy fruits.

Overall, Aventinus Eisbock is an exquisite beer. I can't recommend it enough to any and all style camps. Unfortunately novices will find this beer way too heavy to handle. Beers like this are end goals, i.e. you can't fully appreciate them until you can appreciate their predecessors. In other words, I would advise getting a good feel for quality doppelbocks before even thinking of tackling an eisbock. Otherwise, the aromas and flavors will assault you like a rabid wolverine.