Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock

This is the benchmark for all doppelbocks... the best I’ve ever tasted. A total malt bomb that shows off the Ayinger brewer’s prowess. Creamy, smooth, full-bodied... almost black with ultra-garnet hues when held to the light. If you don’t know what decoction mashing is or don’t know what it does to a beer, this brew represents the epitome of decoction... great, sweet, melanoidin flavor, and geat dextrin body. This beer is all about the malt and has just enough carbonation and hops to help wash it down so you’re left reaching for another bottle. While most of Ayinger’s offerings have become shadows of themselves (to varying degrees), Celebrator has remained gloriously constant. A must for fall, winter, and even the spring!

Nearly black with huge light brown head. Malty and nutty aroma. Sweet flavor with roasted malt, caramel and chocolate. I don’t get the fuss about this beer...

Pours black with brown in thin areas. Malty at first, and ands on a smoky slightly dry note, just like the description says. You can taste notes of yeast, figs, sultanas - but strangely not chocolate, like most Dopplebocks I’ve had.

This from a bottle of unknown age from a basement... I guess you could say it was cellared, but who knows the conditions it was cellared in. Funky aroma in a good way. Strong notes of raisins and yeasty funk. Poured a dark brown, with a great tan head. Flavors seemed a little off, probably due to the conditions it was kept in. But a nice dark german beer nonetheless. re-rate- chilled one of these in the fridge for a bit longer than the first one... flavor was much more mellow, and didn’t seem as far off as the first one. It definitely kicked up the rating a bit... will try to get a fresher pack and see how that rates.

I suppose this isn’t fair, as I am not really rating by style. I don’t have that much experience with the Doppelbock, but I am just not a fan of this beer. I didn’t give it a 2, because it obviously has things that work well, but it simply is not appealing to me. It smells of yeast, dates, and funk, and tastes of dates and simple syrup, with a very present alcohol for this low of an ABV, with a very mild hop finish.

Dark brown pour with a slightly tan but thin head. Aroma is strongly of prunes with a little hint of roasted malts. I expected it to be creamy, but it actually is surprisingly thin which made it rather drinkable. Lots of roasted malts and raisins up front with a mild bitterness backbone. It leaves the grape like fruit taste on your palate.

Thanks to the Devonshire gents who provided me with this beer. Well I tell you what, the ratings nail this. Excellent pour, into a Corsendonk glass, nice deep very dark amber with about an inch of creamy off white head. Kept some foam around throughout good lacing. Aroma is subtle with malt, hops, slight roast. After the first sip I had to control my urges to down this, just really refreshing and robust. A slight sweet roast with a perfect blend of everything. Fills the pallet with a nice lingering after taste, smoky, earthy and rich. I had this after a big meal and it was perfect. For an import thats traveled to the states this is top notch, don’t think anything was lost in translation. I have to say one of the best Doppelbocks and beers I have had.

Black with off-beige head.Taste of dark fruits and rosted malt and caramel,well balanced with warming mouth feels really power full beer.