Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock

Brewed by Brauerei Aying
Style: Doppelbock
Aying, Germany

Celebrator definitely lives up to the hype-the best dopplebock i’ve had. Pours a deep brown with an effusive, tan head. Very complex with dark chocolates and malts running throughout. The alcohol comes through a bit, so I don’t think I could drink more than one at a sitting.

Pours dark ruby red with big tan head. Aromas of malts, raisins, licorice and brown sugar. Flavor is sweet with roasted malts and some smokiness. Very smooth and silky mouthfeel. An excellent doppelbock.

On tap at maproom out of signature glass. Beautioful ruby red beer with nice off white head. Beautiful roasty raisiny aromas. Flavors are much the same with tangy taosty roasty up front and a well balanced malty sweetness. I love this beer and will drink as much of it on tap as I can.

Thin mahogany body with dense 1/2 inch tan head. The aroma is roasted malt and heavy brown sugar. Where’s the sour to offset the sweetness??? This issue continues in the taste. When I was a less seasoned beer rater, I liked this more. Now that I’ve expanded my horizons, this isn’t what I remembered. Thin, sweet, and unbalanced.

Beer pours a beautiful reddish brown color with a nice thick head of tiny bubbles. The aroma is very complex with notes of lemon, coffee, oak, and a nice roast malt. Flavor is equally fantastic. Perhaps one of the best beers I’ve ever had. Damn good.

Bottle from Beer Run in Charlottesville. I thought I’d rated this before, but apparently not. I was underwhelmed the first time, but I thought I’d give it another shot. So, for me, this is a re-rate. Pours a dark chocolate brown with a large brown head. Brown sugary wheaty aroma. Kind of off-putting. Nice malty taste. It has a "off" aroma and taste to me, but it’s minor (maybe it was bigger with my last bottle), so this is still enjoyable.

12 oz bottle. Pours clear cola, with a creamy light tan head that dissipates to a ring around the glass. No lacing. Strong aroma is fruity and malty, with figs and molasses most prominent, along with some toast and a touch of chocolate. Flavor is rich and malty (duh); rather sweet but nicely balanced toward and through the finish. Mouthfeel is medium to medium-full and slick, with low (a bit too low) carbonation. Smooth and a bit warming. The short head and low carbonation makes me think I may have sampled a slightly off bottle. Still an excellent beer and certainly the best doppelbock I’ve had.

Big malty fruity aroma. Dark body with lots of red highlights and almost no head. Flavor is delicious. Dark fruit, sweet roasted malt, coffee, alcohol, a dry roasted bitterness. The feel is silky. Just a wonderful beer! As good a Doppelbock as I have had.