I have found that it is well worth while to stop by my favorite beer bar/retailer on a regular basis as the tap selection, modest though it is at the moment, rotates frequently. One of there 4 taps changes nearly every day. Usually regional micros, sometimes an import or east coast gem, but always an I treating selection of styles. A little birdie told me that the number of taps may well double soon. So I got that going for me….which is nice.
Today’s new arrival is an Eisbock made by Redhook Brewing. Now in my experience Redhook is what I call a “safe” micro-brewer. Meaning that other than their standard run a d a few seasonals, which are decent, they do not experiment much. Economically this can be risky, but in the craft beer business, you will have trouble developing the kind of loyalty among beer nerds if you don’t wow them occasionally with some unique offerings occasionally.
I considers RedHook to be in the category…but maybe nit anymore. Or maybe I just wasn’t paying attention. In the fairly recent past, brews such as Trebblehook, Big Ballard IPA and Expedition 8-4-1 have been released to compliment their standard lineup.
Today I stumble led upon their most recent, Eisbock 28.
Eisbocks are a curious style. They start out as a malty, slightly sweet lager, sometimes a little dark. After its slow cool fermentation is finished, the beer is chilled to the point where it starts to freeze. The alcohol and remaining sugars freeze at a lower temp than the water that makes up 93-95% of the beer so when the remaining solution is drained and some of the now frozen water is left behind, what you are left with is a sweeter, richer, higher alcohol beverage that is very tasty. Essentially it is a form of distillation and Eisbocks typically are atoms 10-12%ABV but can be much higher.
This one is 10% and it will be my “dessert” after the flatbread and pale ale I had for dinner.
A clear deep reddish amber and a dense light tan head with lots of sweet Carmel and brown sugar in the aroma. Softly carbonated the smooth rich feel just slides down leaving a little alcohol burn in the after taste. I would almost call the flavors sugary and barring some of the back-sweetened fruit “lambics” I’ve had, this might be the closest to beer candy of any I’ve tasted. Malty and sweet, with some holiday spices. Cinnamon, nutmeg maybe and gingerbread. If anything, I’d trade a little residual sugars for another ABV point but all in all this is a tasty sipper that fit the bill for my dessert while watching game 5 of the ALDS.
