Aventinus Weizen Eisbock Ale

G. Schneider & Sohn, Kelheim, Bavaria, Germany
Bottle # 2006/11781
11.2 fl. oz. bottle
ABV: 12 percent
Sampled: March 11, 2007

I admittedly had no clue what I got myself into by pouring Aventinus Weizen Eisbock into a glass for tasting. When I stood up after finishing and wobbled, I knew all too well.

Eisbock is created by partially freezing a bock, then removing the ice, creating a stronger, more concentrated beer. Aventinus gave no indication to alchol content on the bottle, so I had no idea I was facing a beer with an 11-12 percent ABV. According to the label, Schneider & Sohn accidently froze some Aventinus in the 30s and discovered the variant beer, but it only resurrected the experiment recently.

On first taste of this accidental brew, I prefer it to the standard Aventinus, an adventurous wheat doublebock. The molasses-filled nose is more muted, and the raging, mighty doublebock flavor is smoothed out with a more alcoholic taste.

The finish is thick and sweet, with a lemon flavor triumphing over the maltiness. Some gloppy sediment stuck the the bottle's bottom, but

I'm almost speechless with this beer. Drank with minimal refridgeration, its complexity rivals that of a strong Belgian ale (a Trappist quadruple like Rochefort 10 or Chimay Grand Reserve) yet it lacks the thicknes of those beers or of a standard doublebock. For the alcohol content, it's strangely and dangerously drinkable.

Though it's frozen under controlled brewery conditions, this Eisbock is tasty enough to make a beer snob wish winter held on a little longer. As it is, we've got a few weeks left, so track down a bottle and sip gently. Schneider & Sohn might not give up the alcohol content, but it will hit you quickly.

Rating: 8.5/10