Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock

Brewed by Brauerei Aying
Style: Doppelbock
Aying, Germany

33cl bottle from Total Wine (Tampa). Rated on 3/24/08. Pours very dark brown to almost black in color, with one finger tan head. Good head retention. Smell: rich malt aroma, strong sweetness, lots of wheat, straw and barley notes. Maybe some ripe fruit as well. Taste is a velvety chocolate with strong malt notes and a slightly bitter, lingering coffee finish.

Draft at Zeno’s. Sweet, sweet aroma. Very dark look with decent head that stays. The real prize for the beer is the taste. Excellent balanced flavor. Almost taste like purple soda but not in a bad way. I think this is probably one of the best malt and hop balances in a beer I’ve ever had. Goes down exceptionally smooth and is very drinkable. Cheeer! Cheers! Cheers!

Back in the early days of Ratebeer, at which 5 ratings was still sufficient for a top 50 notation, this beer was the only European brew in the top 50 i just couldn´t find anywhere. While apparently widely available in Northern America, this one was impossible for me to find in Europe. Over the years i´ve been looking everywhere, including Bavaria, but the closest i got was an empty bottle in some bar in Sevilla, Spain. But finally, jbrus had obtained a bottle and was willing to share (big thanks John!). Naturally, it would be very difficult for this beer to live up to its reputation. And of course, it couldn’t. Without going into detail i can say that it basically has all features a German Doppelbock requires, but i can not say it has any exceptional qualities. A bit of a deception, but on the other side, it ends a 5 year quest.

i havent even lifted this beer up to my nose and i can already sense the complex aroma of this great brew. very dark in color. smells bananas, cherries, and lots and lots of malt. Amazing taste, very drinkable. Word up, Goat.

This is the best doppelbock and unlike any I have ever tried. First of all the design of the bottle is great and the little necklace goat, i save them all. No bitterness in the flavor at all. Very very dark color and nice aroma. Tastes a little like a Samiclaus if you took away all the alcohol and calmed the flavor to a normal level. Everyone should try this beer.

Time for a return rate. This was one of those "in the beginning beers" that will forever leave a lasting impression. Especially since I got the glass, really one of my favorites glasses. First of all, for presentation the bottle really takes the cake, a simple idea yet very well executed, not to mention the cool hanging goat. It pours a dark brown, dark enough for medium clarity but obviously a clear beer in there. It’s got a small but strong tan head. Aroma is strong with a grainy-toasty-buckwheat thing. Taste is bitter bark, light chocolate with more of that buckwheat. The whole beer is very toasty and earthy. A low bitterness at the end. A medium body that’s so damn drinkable. The light earthy sweetness is not sugary and the beer has lots of unique flavors, yet so damn German, just at the peak level of the style.

(on bottle, thanx hopscotch)Deep brown, chestnut hue, steady white head. Exelent aroma of fresh made ryebread, vanilla and canemolasses. Great snif for sure. After a while, tasting began. Theres a plesant carbonation, fast rising, yet suttle. Taste is both rich and full, but the finish does turn a bit too coffeeish-bitter-burning on me. Has resemplents to a underfermented stout in that afterburn. Still a treat I waited for my whole rating career, thanx for sending it, Eric.

I don’t see what all the fuss is about. Not the best dopplebock that I have encountered. Very dark but thin on the tounge and cloyingly sweet.

Bottle, March 22nd, 2006 - Pours dark reddish brown with a fully receding tan head. Aroma is toffee, dark chocolate, roasting coffee, and raisins. Taste is smooth, subtle, and seductive. Quite bready and chewy, some roasted flavors to balance. Medium to heavy bodied with lush carbonation and mouthfeel. Ayinger is my favorite brewery, and has yet to let me down.
Ar 8 Ap 5 Fl 8 Pa 5 Ov 18 = 4.4

Tap @ Brick Store Pub, August 18th, 2006 - Pours near black, with ruby hues. Aroma of plums, caramelized fruits, and chocolate. Taste is malty sweet, heavy caramelized flavors. Mouthfeel is medium/heavy and slightly sticky. Tap and bottle ratings averaged.
Ap 4 Ar 7 Ta 7 Mf 4 Ov 16 = 3.8