One of the great exercises when it comes to boxing is comparing fighters from different eras. How would Marciano fare against Tyson for instance. Of course, these comparisons are fair enough as the two in question both fought as heavyweights. When you do the same with say a lightweight like Sugar Ray Robinson pitted against a larger opponent, it’s becomes more fantastical. Generally, comparing a high gravity beer against a lower octane one is similarly “unfair,” though when it comes to such things, it really would depend on what kind of drinking experience you’re looking for. Obviously, it would be the rare person looking to drink a Dopplebock in the Biergarten on a hot summer day.
Recent match-ups in this Heavyweight Championship of Beers Series included pitting two world class and similar Weizenbocks like Schneider Aventinus and Erdinger Pikantus, Aventinus against Schneider stablemate Hopfenweisse and finally two dark Ayinger beauties, their Winter Bock and much heralded Celebrator. While the beers compared were sometimes quite different, the pairings were always of similar strength brews. It being a heavy series, they were in fact all strong beers.
Rounds 1, 2 & 3 proved fun exercises
Schneider Aventinus has fared well against all competitors, emerging victorious in both of its bouts. I thought it would be interesting to have it go head-to-head with the Eisbock made by nearly freezing Aventinus and removing the icy crystals to render a more potent beer. Aventinus is no slouch in the alcohol department, clocking in at 8.2%. The Eisbock is amped up to 12% and due to the process, it is not bottle conditioned. Making matters somewhat more equal, the stronger beer is only sold in .33L bottles in contrast to the more typical .5L which Aventinus is solely available in.
Aventinus vs Aventinus Eisbock
Round 1 was very much a standoff with majestic heads atop both. I’d probably give a slight nod to the sublimely dark Eisbock. Round 2 was again hard fought with both exhibiting lots of dried fruit, the raisin of the Aventinus melding well with yeasty overtones and dried figs showing through in the Eisbock. Round 3 showed their weight difference with the Eisbock exhibiting a strong alcohol note along with its dried fruit and Aventinus teasingly intermingling yeasty elements with the raisin hinted at in its nose, and showcasing the esters the style is noted for. Round 4 surprisingly found the Eisbock with a more defined and dare I say clean finish; odd for such a strong beer. Aventinus finished in lingering fashion with whiffs of yeast and raisin, for me more enticingly interesting.
Though a a tough fight, once again Aventinus prevails and has gone 3 for 3 in this series.
If you’ve enjoyed this bout, check out Round 1, Round 2 and Round 3.
