Bayern Doppelbock

Brewed by Bayern Brewing
Style: Doppelbock
Missoula, Montana USA

Draught at Concordia, Portland. Clear dark ruby. Crystal malt aroma. Sweet with thick, yet hard mouthfeel. Papery and syrupy. I thought doppelbocks were supposed to display a rich malt character and soft mouthfeel, and here we’ve got a doppelbock with shitloads of hard, bleeding crystal malt. Give me a break!

Date: 05/11/2008
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party

Appearance: clear dark red, fine beige head, streaks of drippy lace,
Aroma: sweet dark caramel malt aroma with a touch of candy, light fruity character,
Flavor: sweet dark caramel flavor, light earthyness for balance, touch of fruity character, light smokeyness,

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 14/20
Rating: 3.5/5.0
Drinkability: 8/10
Score: **4

Very dark brown. Rasiny, lightly toffeeish aroma. Fusel character...ack. Chewy, alcohol, fruity with lots of malt and nuts. Get rid of the higher alcohols and fruitiness and it still lacks the sort of bright, complex maltiness that a beer of this style should have.

12oz bottle acquired in trade with kyzr (thanks!). Poured a medium and hazy brown color with a thin sized off white head. Aromas of chocolate, some toasted nuttiness, and caramel. Tastes of chocolate, some nuts, caramel, and dark fruits. Alcohol content well hidden.

Bottle thanks to kyzr: Pours a transparent dark mahogany with a spotty-lacing. Aroma of sweet toasty dark caramel malt and a touch of earthy German hops. Body starts with about average fullness and dark caramely sweet flavor along with some mild bittering hops toward a thinner finish. Decent authenticity, but could be a little thicker.

Somewhat rich nose of dark smoky wood, perhaps some licorice as well and some dark fruits and nuts as well. Overall a bit of a mild smell, but still complex I would say. Creamy and smooth texture, while still robust and sweet on the tongue with a brown sugar and maple presence contrasted by a more smoky wood and meat flavor. Very sweet and full.

Picked up a single 12-oz bottle via beer swap at ABA Annual meeting in Portland, Oregon. Pours a clear, golden brown brew with a thin beige head that slowly dissolves to a fine film, good lacing and white ring. Aroma of smoked apple and plum wood, some roasted nuts, sweet caramel malt, with a touch of flowery hops. Taste is medium bodied, lightly carbonated, semi-sweet with flavors of light milk chocolate, toffee, some apple/pear character and a touch of smokey brown sugar. Finish is sweet, then slightly dry with a faint maple syrup flavor aftertaste. Nice touch for a doppelbock.

Very dark with ruby highlights. Almost no head. Rich quality chocolate malt aroma. Flavour does not measure up to the aroma. Sour bitterness up front. Chocolate covered cherries in the middle. Sourness in the finish. Maltiness does grow on you through the bottle.