Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock

Brewed by Brauerei Aying
Style: Doppelbock
Aying, Germany

Bottle. Pours deep brown/burgundy, with a huge head and great lacing. Aroma of malt, toffee, slight peat, cognac, and even corn flakes. Tastes malty, with caramel, port, peat, fruit, and a slightly sweet finish. As it warmed it gained complexity. A wonderful brew, and very deserving of a top 50 slot on RB.

Deep dark brown with brownish head. Wow. Wonderful aroma of caramel, vanilla beans, and light coffee. Not overly swwet malt with good bitter chocolate notes near the end. Soft hops enrobes the mouth with alcool warmth combined again in post taste. Round mouthfeel. Délicieux.

Dark brown with a lasting, creamy, off white head. Big bready aroma, some grain, some caramel and a hint of sourness. Bready, malty flavour rather dry for the style, some roast malt in the finish.

Bottle. Head is initially average sized, frothy, light brown, mostly lasting. Body is dark brown. Aroma is lightly to moderately malty (toasted bread/nuts, chocolate, roasted grain), with light notes of char and cardboard. Flavor is moderately sweet, lightly acidic, lightly bitter. Finish is lightly sweet, lightly acidic, moderately bitter. Medium body, velvety/creamy texture, lively carbonation. To be sure, this used to be something special, but I’ve never had a great example in the past 3 or 4 years. I suppose it’s finally time to "take it down a peg or two". Somewhat dull malt aroma with little else of interest, and this looks to be a fairly new batch (I noticed the label recently changed very slightly).

7/7/01 The aroma is almost overpowering, sweet, vinous, chocolaty. The taste does not disappoint, as powerful as any lager can be, but what’s really amazing is how smooth it goes down, how one can just toss off a glass as easily as a Bud (though it demands slow, contemplative savoring). One of the world’s best; an ex-girlfriend’s favorite for many years, I just had my first one in some time and am glad that the good old days aren’t gone yet.

3/29/02 One of the few beers I’ve re-sampled lately that’s held up over the last year. Might almost be TOO rich and smooth; it’s like drinking candy, not alcohol. I just wish the brewer’s other fine products were more tasted and appreciated.

what westvleteren is to strong belgian ales, celebrator is to doppelbocks. that is not meant entirely as a compliment, just to say that it is a classy, inoffensive version of a style that can be intimidating. ridiculously smooth with a lush toffee aroma. sweet, tastes like raisin toast. just lacks the saltiness that i like in doppelocks, i prefer the ayinger winterbock. thanks to duff for bringing this around, i'd been wanting to try it for a long time

Draught at brewery-restaurent. Fantastic appearence. Creamy light-brown good mostly lasting head. Brown colour. Very malty and hoppy aroma. Too many coffenotes in an otherwise fantastic taste. <long finish. Very oily palate. A great beer, but not the best german doppelbock!

Original Rating (8/25/204, 8-4-6-3-15=3.6): Vanilla, plum, prune, raisin, fig, toffee, yeasty, dough-like, and toasty notes in the complex and enjoyable aroma. Dark mahogany brown with huge, large-bubbled, pillowy, tan head that lasts nicely and recedes with some minor lace. Sweet dark fruit notes with some chocolate and nutty flavours. Notes of vanilla and licorice with a lightly smokey, roasty, dry finish. Though complex, the flavours seem a bit flat for some reason. Some alcohol warming. Mouthfeel is smooth and creamy. Port-like. I really expected to like this one more than I actually did. I’ll have to retry it at some point. Bottle. Thanks to Presario and Dorwart who both sent me a bottle of this!
Rerate (15-May-05, 7-3-6-2-12=3.0): Seems that either I just don’t get this beer or I have bad luck in the bottles that come my way. Strong worty raw wheat aroma with some dark fruits. Opaque brown with ruby highlights and a fine-bubbled cover of tan head. Sweet and lightly spicy with a tired brown malt character. Medium body with low carbonation. Bottle sampled with beerbuzzmontreal, MartinT, Olivier_MTL, Rastacouere and Yowie.