Ayinger -- Jahrhundert-Bier

 Ayinger Brewing Co.'s Jahrhundert-Bier, is a "Dieses Bier wurde erstmals 1978 zum 100. Geburtstag der Brauerei eingebraut. Es ist von goldgelber Farbe mit einem leicht hefeblumigen, honigartigen Geruch, schmeckt würzig und vollmundig im Antrunk, im Haupttrunk mild und weich mit einer feinen Rezenz und klingt mit einer gut abgestimmten Bittere aus. Es ist ein besonders süffiges und harmonisches Bier. Im August 2009 untersuchte das Magazin Öko-Test 46 deut-sche Biermarken. Das Ayinger Jahrhundert-Bier wurde von der Fachjury des Verbraucher-Magazins als bestes Bier bewertet und war Testsieger.." Um... yeah... That's what she said.

 5.5% ABV and "Erhältlich in der 0,33l." I hear it is a Dortmunder lager.

Review:

This is a European lager that smells like a lager, has a slightly sweet nose with some grain husk notes, but remains clean and fresh.The color is light yellow to straw color and produces a bright white head.  Sweet to bitter/tart flavor progression. No DMS, some chalkiness in the finish. A nice peppery hop character rounds things off.

(Side Note: All of you European lager drinkers who drink out of green bottles have a big surprise waiting for you when you have one from a brown bottle--
What could it be, you ask?...   GOOD BEER! )

Overall Impression: 

There is a smell of Fritos corn chips, but there can't be corn according to the Reinheitsgebot. Lagers taste like lagers... some are delicious, some taste like, well, they came from a horse. This beer tastes like a really good European lager. I gather from the label that this beer has been around since Ayinger celebrated an anniversary in 1978. Whatever. This beer is still good and has won awards in  1995, 96, 97, 99, 2001, 03, 05, 07, 08. Who am I to argue with success?

Grade: A

Barrel Man Say,

"Refreshing Lager."

(bottle purchased at Liquor Collection)

Kulmbacher Brauerei -- Eisbock

Kulmbacher Brauerei's Eisbock claims to be the original eisbock.

 This is a very deceptive 9.2% ABV

Review:
The story goes that an apprentice at Kulmbacher Brewery left some casks of beer out in a snowstorm, and when finally discovered, a portion of water in the beer was frozen leaving the unfrozen alcohol (alcohol has a much lower freezing point than water) in a concentrated condition. Personally, I doubt that they were the first to accidentally freeze beer. I've accidentally frozen beer a half a dozen times, and I have the sticky dregs in my freezer to prove it! Nonetheless, they probably were the first to decide to market frozen beer from a blown-out keg.
--Yeah, yeah, I can hear you all saying, "But, the beer! The beer!"
Ok, so, the aroma is heavy on the dark cherries and has a light chocolate roasty aspect. If you swirl the glass, you get some serious whipping cream notes. The color is of a dark Koa wood (the picture above is misleading. It needed some back-lighting.) The initial taste is dominated by an apple cider flavor, but there is some butterscotch/toffee flavor in the background. The aftertaste has an, ahem, interesting medicinal quality similar to cough syrup mixed with coriander. Other tasters noted equal sweet and burnt notes in the aftertaste with a hint of anise.

(Side note: The process of freezing beer to concentrate the alcohol is what BrewDog used in their Tactical Nuclear Penguin that was the world's strongest "beer" for a short time -- 32% ABV.)

Overall Impression:
I've liked all the Eisbocks I've had... until I had this bottle. Because I've had this specific brand before, I have to say that it was probably an old bottle and that it may not be representative of the brewing skills of this company. Still, while the blame may be more on the distributors or the retailers for not rotating their stock, I've got to, "play it as it lies." Sorry, Kulmbacher.

Grade: C

(This beer purchased at Whole Foods)

EKU Pils

Kulmbacher Brauerei's "Pils" claims to have "flawless balance" while being "light and refreshing, rich and deeply satisfying."

It weighs in at 5% ABV.

Review: Although this beer gets B average ratings on the Beer Advocate website, the Great Brewer's website states that in a blind taste test in 2008, Germans chose this beer as the best German Pilsner. After tasting this beer I must say I align more closely with the Great Brewer's opinion.
The very first whiff of aroma screams of pilsner malt. For me, this is always a plus within the Pilsner category as I feel it adds to the drinking experience. The straw color was crystal clear and the pleasant head had good retention. The body was light/thin, (as German Pilsners should be) but there was a nice light pilsner maltiness. The slight bite from the hops balances the grain. Basically, this has all of the enjoyable characteristics of a German Pilsner.

(Side Note: This brewery was created in 1872, only 30 years after the first Pilsner was brewed in the Czech republic.)

Overall Impression: This ain't one of those green bottle beers that has suffered its way across the pond, getting skunked all along the way. This is crisp, clean, light, flavorful and delightful. American brewers should strive to make their Pilsners taste more like this beer! As the bottle says, "perfect for everyday drinking!"

Grade: A-

This bottle was purchased at Whole Foods.