Virtual Craft Beer Tasting Club » Discussions

Doppelbock Tasting March 5th - 11th 2012

• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  March 1, 2012

  The Doppelbock Tasting runs from March 5th - March 11th. Please post your reviews below. Feel free to drink whatever you have on hand or can find locally. Some choices might include; Fort Collins Doppelbock, Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock, Weihenstephaner Korbinian, Capital Autumnal Fire, Duck-Rabbit Duck-Rabbator, Smuttynose S'muttonator, Stoudts Smooth Hoperator, Sam Adams Double Bock & Paulaner Salvator Doppel Bock.

  The Doppelbock Tasting runs from March 5th - March 11th. Please post your reviews below. Feel free to drink whatever you have on hand or can find locally. Some choices might include; Fort Collins Doppelbock, Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock, Weihenstephaner Korbinian, Capital Autumnal Fire, Duck-Rabbit Duck-Rabbator, Smuttynose S'muttonator, Stoudts Smooth Hoperator, Sam Adams Double Bock & Paulaner Salvator Doppel Bock.
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  March 5, 2012

  Fort Collins Doppelbock
  Fort Collins Brewery, Fort Collins, CO
  22 ounce bottle, 10.20% ABV
  
  The Doppelbock from Fort Collins Brewery in Fort Collins, Colorado is double smoked and lagered for six months prior to bottling. This craft beer pours out toffee brown in color with a lot of ruby hues shimmering in the light. Good clarity and topped with a two finger, tan head that readily reduces to a film. On the nose, this is smokey and sweet. Peat, smoke and molasses are the prominent aromas. In the mouth, good smoked flavors that taste almost meaty with toffee and molasses sweetness, some nuttiness and earthiness. Medium bodied. Moderate carbonation. Splotchy lacing on the glass. Slightly sticky mouthfeel. The finish is long and smokey with an appropriate sweetness.
  
  If you like smoked craft brews you will love this. The smoke imparts great depth to the doppelbock while not being overbearing. Complex, intriguing and very quaffable. Recommended.

  Fort Collins Doppelbock Fort Collins Brewery, Fort Collins, CO 22 ounce bottle, 10.20% ABV The Doppelbock from Fort Collins Brewery in Fort Collins, Colorado is double smoked and lagered for six months prior to bottling. This craft beer pours out toffee brown in color with a lot of ruby hues shimmering in the light. Good clarity and topped with a two finger, tan head that readily reduces to a film. On the nose, this is smokey and sweet. Peat, smoke and molasses are the prominent aromas. In the mouth, good smoked flavors that taste almost meaty with toffee and molasses sweetness, some nuttiness and earthiness. Medium bodied. Moderate carbonation. Splotchy lacing on the glass. Slightly sticky mouthfeel. The finish is long and smokey with an appropriate sweetness. If you like smoked craft brews you will love this. The smoke imparts great depth to the doppelbock while not being overbearing. Complex, intriguing and very quaffable. Recommended.
• BrewWitch

  

  Member
   

  March 7, 2012

  S'muttonator Double bock
  Smuttynose Brewery, Portsmouth, NH
  22 oz bottle, 8.5%abv for 2011 I think (2010 was 9.5%, 2009 was 8.8
  
  Served in Smuttynose pint glass (of course), poured a deep, red-amber with a tall, almost white, lacy head. Been in my hording closet since late fall 2011, but still a bit more alcohol burn than I expect from 8.5%. Thick, chewy sweetness immediately offset by an unexpected hoppy bitterness. Lacing stayed on glass throughout. It's a big beer, without being heavy.
  
  S'muttonator has been one of my favorites and has held a special spot in my hording closet for a few years. Being seasonal and not even brewed every year, it's sometimes tough to find, but highly recommend a buy and hold if you ever come across one.
  
  *Note: this tasting may have been mildly influenced by the novocaine that is still subsiding after a filling today. My apologies as I just couldn't wait any longer this week to get back to this old favorite!

  S'muttonator Double bock Smuttynose Brewery, Portsmouth, NH 22 oz bottle, 8.5%abv for 2011 I think (2010 was 9.5%, 2009 was 8.8 Served in Smuttynose pint glass (of course), poured a deep, red-amber with a tall, almost white, lacy head. Been in my hording closet since late fall 2011, but still a bit more alcohol burn than I expect from 8.5%. Thick, chewy sweetness immediately offset by an unexpected hoppy bitterness. Lacing stayed on glass throughout. It's a big beer, without being heavy. S'muttonator has been one of my favorites and has held a special spot in my hording closet for a few years. Being seasonal and not even brewed every year, it's sometimes tough to find, but highly recommend a buy and hold if you ever come across one. *Note: this tasting may have been mildly influenced by the novocaine that is still subsiding after a filling today. My apologies as I just couldn't wait any longer this week to get back to this old favorite!
• KajII

  

  Member
   

  March 19, 2012

  Paulaner "Salvator"
  Paulaner Brauerei (Schörghuber) - Munich, Germany
  Doppelbock (ABV 7.9%)
  
  [Best served in a Dimpled glass]
  
  Rating: 3.8/5.0
  
  Aroma: 7/10
  Appearance: 4/5
  Taste: 8/10
  Palate: 3/5
  Overall: 16/20
  
  The pour was a medium copper brown with a yellowish-amber hue and a large (2-3 finger) cream colored frothy head that mostly diminished down to a very small amount of residue with a tiny collar, which produced some poor lacing.
  
  The aroma was of a light biscuit malt, and a sweet doughy yeast with notes of caramel, dark fruit (figs and plums), and was a bit nutty.
  
  Taste was sweet and very malty with a big note of caramel in the beginning and ended a tad bitter and mildly sweet with a strong note of dark fruit and a mild alcohol tinge. The flavor lasted an average time after the swallow with a nice sweet fruity taste left behind along with a nice mild alcohol warming sensation.
  
  Mouthfeel was a bit under medium in body and dry yet a tiny bit syrupy in texture with a moderate carbonation.
  
  Overall a very impressive beer with a really good blending of malts, fruit and sweetness which made this a wonderful tasting experience...

  Paulaner "Salvator" Paulaner Brauerei (Schörghuber) - Munich, Germany Doppelbock (ABV 7.9%) [Best served in a Dimpled glass] Rating: 3.8/5.0 Aroma: 7/10 Appearance: 4/5 Taste: 8/10 Palate: 3/5 Overall: 16/20 The pour was a medium copper brown with a yellowish-amber hue and a large (2-3 finger) cream colored frothy head that mostly diminished down to a very small amount of residue with a tiny collar, which produced some poor lacing. The aroma was of a light biscuit malt, and a sweet doughy yeast with notes of caramel, dark fruit (figs and plums), and was a bit nutty. Taste was sweet and very malty with a big note of caramel in the beginning and ended a tad bitter and mildly sweet with a strong note of dark fruit and a mild alcohol tinge. The flavor lasted an average time after the swallow with a nice sweet fruity taste left behind along with a nice mild alcohol warming sensation. Mouthfeel was a bit under medium in body and dry yet a tiny bit syrupy in texture with a moderate carbonation. Overall a very impressive beer with a really good blending of malts, fruit and sweetness which made this a wonderful tasting experience...
• KajII

  

  Member
   

  March 21, 2012

  Augustiner "Maximator"
  Augustiner-Bräu - Munich, Germany
  Doppelbock (ABV 7.5%)
  
  [Best served in a Dimpled Mug]
  
  Rating: 3.2/5.0
  
  Aroma: 6/10
  Appearance: 3/5
  Taste: 7/10
  Palate: 3/5
  Overall: 13/20
  
  The pour was a semi-transparent medium brown with an orange hue and an average sized (1-2 finger) cream colored frothy head that dissipated quickly to a small amount of residue which produced some poor lacing.
  
  The aroma was of a toasted light bread malt and a sweet doughy yeast with notes of toffee, caramel, dark fruit (cherries and plums) and also had a mild nuttiness to it.
  
  The taste was lightly sweet with a note of toffee early on and then had a nice bold maltiness come on board with notes of caramel, dark fruit and an ever so mild taste of alcohol. The flavor hung around for only a short while with a sweet fruity taste that was left to fade away rather quickly.
  
  Mouthfeel was just above light in body and had a kind of watery texture with a moderate carbonation.
  
  Overall a brew that was quite easy to drink and had a nice malty fruity flavor...
  

  Augustiner "Maximator" Augustiner-Bräu - Munich, Germany Doppelbock (ABV 7.5%) [Best served in a Dimpled Mug] Rating: 3.2/5.0 Aroma: 6/10 Appearance: 3/5 Taste: 7/10 Palate: 3/5 Overall: 13/20 The pour was a semi-transparent medium brown with an orange hue and an average sized (1-2 finger) cream colored frothy head that dissipated quickly to a small amount of residue which produced some poor lacing. The aroma was of a toasted light bread malt and a sweet doughy yeast with notes of toffee, caramel, dark fruit (cherries and plums) and also had a mild nuttiness to it. The taste was lightly sweet with a note of toffee early on and then had a nice bold maltiness come on board with notes of caramel, dark fruit and an ever so mild taste of alcohol. The flavor hung around for only a short while with a sweet fruity taste that was left to fade away rather quickly. Mouthfeel was just above light in body and had a kind of watery texture with a moderate carbonation. Overall a brew that was quite easy to drink and had a nice malty fruity flavor...
• ironarrow42

  

  Member
   

  March 21, 2012

  Glad to see I'm not the only one posting late to this month's tasting!
  
  Lagunitas Our Own Bavarian-Styled Doppel Weizen
  Lagunitas Brewing Co., Petaluma, CA
  Alcohol 9% ABV, OG 1.084, 34.2 IBUs
  
  This limited release came in a 22 ounce bomber, which I inverted to rouse the yeast sediment as I am typically wont to do with a German-style heffie; it poured a beautiful bright orange/light amber color, appropriately hazy, with a near-white head that started out almost 2 fingers' width tall but subsided to a thin cover after a few minutes.
  
  Aroma was redolent of banana, bubblegum, and clove; spot-on for the style (and right up my alley, I might add).
  
  Body on the heavy side of medium. Carbonation very fine and on the lighter side for a weizen. Flavors are pure Bavarian wheat beer - fruity, with banana and bubblegum, a hint of vanilla, then a nice clovey finish. Gotta love that heffie yeast! Sweetish up front with a bit of a tangy edge, followed by enough bitterness to balance. Malt base shows some light caramelized notes. No hop flavor evident. Alcohol becomes noticeable as it warms but doesn't burn or overwhelm by any means.
  
  Very true-to-style and quite refreshing on a March day in Ohio that feels more like summer. Another gem from Lagunitas!

  Glad to see I'm not the only one posting late to this month's tasting! Lagunitas Our Own Bavarian-Styled Doppel Weizen Lagunitas Brewing Co., Petaluma, CA Alcohol 9% ABV, OG 1.084, 34.2 IBUs This limited release came in a 22 ounce bomber, which I inverted to rouse the yeast sediment as I am typically wont to do with a German-style heffie; it poured a beautiful bright orange/light amber color, appropriately hazy, with a near-white head that started out almost 2 fingers' width tall but subsided to a thin cover after a few minutes. Aroma was redolent of banana, bubblegum, and clove; spot-on for the style (and right up my alley, I might add). Body on the heavy side of medium. Carbonation very fine and on the lighter side for a weizen. Flavors are pure Bavarian wheat beer - fruity, with banana and bubblegum, a hint of vanilla, then a nice clovey finish. Gotta love that heffie yeast! Sweetish up front with a bit of a tangy edge, followed by enough bitterness to balance. Malt base shows some light caramelized notes. No hop flavor evident. Alcohol becomes noticeable as it warms but doesn't burn or overwhelm by any means. Very true-to-style and quite refreshing on a March day in Ohio that feels more like summer. Another gem from Lagunitas!
• Mark

  

  Leader
   

  March 21, 2012

  I have not had the Lagunitas, I'll have to look for it.

  I have not had the Lagunitas, I'll have to look for it.
• KajII

  

  Member
   

  March 22, 2012

  Spaten "Optimator"
  Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu - Munich, Germany
  Doppelbock (ABV 7.6%)
  
  [Best served in a Dimpled Mug]
  
  Rating: 2.8/5.0
  
  Aroma: 6/10
  Appearance: 3/5
  Taste: 6/10
  Palate: 2/5
  Overall: 11/20
  
  The pour was a medium-dark brown with a large (2-3 finger) light brown head that diminished quickly and had poor lacing.
  
  The aroma was of a toasted bread malt and a doughy yeast with notes of caramel, molasses, dark fruit (raisins and plums) and a slight metallic smell.
  
  The taste was lightly sweet and malty throughout with a note of caramel early on and had notes of dark fruit and a mild alcohol presence at the finish. The flavor lasted an average time after the swallow with a slight metallic fruity flavor left behind.
  
  Mouthfeel was light to medium in body and watery yet just a tad dry in texture with a medium carbonation.
  
  Overall a pretty basic Doppelbock with a slightly bland flavor...
  

  Spaten "Optimator" Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu - Munich, Germany Doppelbock (ABV 7.6%) [Best served in a Dimpled Mug] Rating: 2.8/5.0 Aroma: 6/10 Appearance: 3/5 Taste: 6/10 Palate: 2/5 Overall: 11/20 The pour was a medium-dark brown with a large (2-3 finger) light brown head that diminished quickly and had poor lacing. The aroma was of a toasted bread malt and a doughy yeast with notes of caramel, molasses, dark fruit (raisins and plums) and a slight metallic smell. The taste was lightly sweet and malty throughout with a note of caramel early on and had notes of dark fruit and a mild alcohol presence at the finish. The flavor lasted an average time after the swallow with a slight metallic fruity flavor left behind. Mouthfeel was light to medium in body and watery yet just a tad dry in texture with a medium carbonation. Overall a pretty basic Doppelbock with a slightly bland flavor...
• KajII

  

  Member
   

  March 23, 2012

  Birra Moretti "La Rossa"
  Heineken Italia - Milano, Italy
  Doppelbock (ABV 7.2%)
  
  [Best served in a Dimpled Mug]
  
  Rating: 3.1/5.0
  
  Aroma: 7/10
  Appearance: 3/5
  Taste: 6/10
  Palate: 3/5
  Overall: 12/20
  
  The pour was a clear medium/dark brown with an average sized (1-2 finger) off white frothy head that was fully diminishing and had very poor lacing.
  
  The aroma was of a roasted caramel malts, a mild resin hop and a doughy yeast with notes of caramel, molasses and dark fruit.
  
  The taste was mildly bitter-sweet with a hint of caramel from the onset and matured into this bitter acidic taste with just a hint of dark fruit and had a mild alcohol finish. The flavor lasted an average time after the swallow with a nice fruity alcohol taste left lying on the taste buds.
  
  Mouth feel was medium in body and oily-yet dry in texture with a lively carbonation.
  
  Overall a nice fruity Doppelbock with a good alcohol warming at the end...
  
  

  Birra Moretti "La Rossa" Heineken Italia - Milano, Italy Doppelbock (ABV 7.2%) [Best served in a Dimpled Mug] Rating: 3.1/5.0 Aroma: 7/10 Appearance: 3/5 Taste: 6/10 Palate: 3/5 Overall: 12/20 The pour was a clear medium/dark brown with an average sized (1-2 finger) off white frothy head that was fully diminishing and had very poor lacing. The aroma was of a roasted caramel malts, a mild resin hop and a doughy yeast with notes of caramel, molasses and dark fruit. The taste was mildly bitter-sweet with a hint of caramel from the onset and matured into this bitter acidic taste with just a hint of dark fruit and had a mild alcohol finish. The flavor lasted an average time after the swallow with a nice fruity alcohol taste left lying on the taste buds. Mouth feel was medium in body and oily-yet dry in texture with a lively carbonation. Overall a nice fruity Doppelbock with a good alcohol warming at the end...
• ironarrow42

  

  Member
   

  March 24, 2012

  Ettaler Curator Dunkler Doppelbock
  Ettaler Klosterbrauerei
  9.0% ABV
  
  Served in a dimpled mug. Pours a lovely, clear near-mahogany hue, but shows more of a deep garnet/auburn when held up to the light. Pale beige head about a finger's width thick fades quickly to a thin dense layer with small-to-medium large bubbles on top, then subsides to a thin collar.
  
  Deeply caramelized malt aroma with some sorghum molasses and baked prune notes.
  
  Medium body with a smooth texture and very light carbonation.
  
  Dark malty flavors with burnt sugar, toffee, molasses, light roastiness, and hint of raisin mixed in. Starts mildly sweet and gradually builds into a pleasant bitterness, leading into a malty-roasty-bitter finish that fades gently.
  
  Gives no obvious indication of the 9% ABV level. Tasty and very quaffable. Wish I had some apfel streudel to pair with it!

  Ettaler Curator Dunkler Doppelbock Ettaler Klosterbrauerei 9.0% ABV Served in a dimpled mug. Pours a lovely, clear near-mahogany hue, but shows more of a deep garnet/auburn when held up to the light. Pale beige head about a finger's width thick fades quickly to a thin dense layer with small-to-medium large bubbles on top, then subsides to a thin collar. Deeply caramelized malt aroma with some sorghum molasses and baked prune notes. Medium body with a smooth texture and very light carbonation. Dark malty flavors with burnt sugar, toffee, molasses, light roastiness, and hint of raisin mixed in. Starts mildly sweet and gradually builds into a pleasant bitterness, leading into a malty-roasty-bitter finish that fades gently. Gives no obvious indication of the 9% ABV level. Tasty and very quaffable. Wish I had some apfel streudel to pair with it!