Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock

Brewed by Brauerei Aying
Style: Doppelbock
Aying, Germany

Very good beer, sweet not overpowering very clean easy going down. The strength of the alchahol is hardly noticed. Great beer.

In my books, Ayinger"s Dopplebock is the one for which all others are ranked against. Ayinger"s rendition which is routinely found in bottled with white tin wrapping and a plastic ram wrapped around the neck. It pours exceptionally dark, giving off a great big carmel toned head which gives way to a strong collar and great lacing on the glass. Its is quite oily, yet creamy and pleasing to the palette and despite usually a beer pegged for the spring, I find it makes for a suprinsingly good warming beer for these (El Nino influenced) winter months. Hints of toffee, coffee and caramel come through in the aroma and are right there on the palette in drinking, as too are some spicey hints and a raisiny sort of texture. A great brew worthy of a closer look by all beer enthusiasts.

Tan head with a brown color body. Huge malty aroma. Thick beer with a great malty taste. Very sticky. Slightly noticeable alcohol but a very drinkable brew.

Bottle into pilsener glass. This is the one that started it all. I should be saving this rating for a milestone, but I’m impatient. My appreciation for good beer began in the University of Chicago Pub under Ida Noyes Hall during my fourth year there, when Chris Quiroga handed me a bottle of this and told me to try it. He had just recently discovered it, and wanted to share the experience; I’m glad he did. I remember that on that occasion in 2002, my only comment was that there were layers to the flavor, three distinct ones that I could not describe but could definitely taste. I’ll try to be more descriptive this time. Pours with an oatmeal head that is creamy and filmy, over a dark but clear ruby brown beer. Very musty bready smell, with a buttery sweetness and some fruity alcohol notes. Luxuriously full, the malty sweetness coats the whole mouth; then, the flavor gives way to dark grains, prunes/raisins, and twiggy earthiness (still juicy, though, not dusty); the third layer gets almost bitter and dry, intensifying the earthy qualities in a mild roastiness and a cracker malt character over the top. The first layer also belies the fruitiness, like malted grapes (if such a thing makes sense; I’m thinking like malted milk, not malted barley), before it really takes center stage on the second level. This is still a world-class beer, even after all these years, and will forever be a sentimental favorite.

Its not often that something with as much aclaim, holds up its end. From the wonderful head when pooured, to the after taste that makes you want more. If this beer was school work, it would definately be on the fridge, or at least in the fridge.

One hell of a double bock. Full-bodied, dark brown, malty with excellent aroma and flavor. Hints of chocolate, carmel, and molasses with a toasted flavor in there somewhere.

Re-rate 8/31/04 Deep dark brown-ruby body topped by a huge creamy light tan head. Glass lacing is quite nice. The aroma is a very pleasant pure, crisp malt. Caramel and grain. Beautiful aroma. The flavor is not quite as good as teh aroma but is still outstanding. Chewy, almost buttery maltiness. Full thick lovely body. This beer is defintely worthy of all of the praise heaped upon it.
Old Rating -10/18/2003- 9/3/7/3/16 Clear brown, can’t quite see through it. Nice quickly diminishing tan head comprised of fine particles. The aroma is exactly that of stepping into an active brewery. Boiling wort, yum. The flavor is exactly like the aroma. Nutty malt and sweet dark fruit flavors. Some smokey flavors. Bitterness seems to all come from the grain. Body is medium with a grainy aftertaste.

Definately a beer for celebrating! Definitely good malt flavor. Just the right level of hops.