Blind Tiger Capricorn Doppelbock

Brewed by Blind Tiger
Style: Doppelbock
Topeka, Kansas USA

Handbottled gift from TAR and CB, mucho thanks! Poured a nice russet sunset hue with almost no head or lace, some oily film.
The nose detects a big vanilla wafer and candy corn sugary sweetness with just a touch buttery diacetyl for good (and not so good measure). Some plum and grape fruit esters as well.
The taste sweet and for the most part stays there with little palate deviation. Rich plum and rosehips before a vanilla toned Munich malting base added some depth. There is some quite strange spice undertone that honestly escapes me at the moment. There is even a touch of herbal hops right at the very end.
The feel is very lush and warming, a sipping beer. Good but somehow I feel it is one step short of making the porch. It is worthy of a try however for most beergeeks.

bottled by jeff - dark orange color , buttery malty smelling nose. rich malty flavor. easy to drink, pretty good amount of alcohol too - left me feeling decently buzzed. all in all, a really good brew, very well done. thanks TAR for the awesome trade!

Some definite diacetyl in the nose showing up quite buttery, as TAR has identified. Wet earth and a little molasses in the aroma. The flavors are a mix of saltiness and very husky grain, with pepper and a sweet brown-sugar influenced malt profile. The slight spiciness does keep the sugars at bay, resulting in a delicious tasting beer. Head dies rather quickly but was good upfront. This is a very good beer, and thanks to Jeff for sending it my way.

Growler: Vibrant rust. Dissipating dirty-white wisp of head. Pretty weak aroma of plum marmalade, diacetyl/popcorn, graham crackers, and lightly caramelized malt. Feather soft carbonation. Opens heavily fruity and soft with a rounded edge of acidity that tempers the ensuing bready sweetness. Deeply textural Munich encompasses the palate by clamping the throat shut with a weighty lushness. No diacetyl despite the misleading aroma. Forceful Munich character possesses just enough sharpness to vivify the more-velvety malt textures and to cut the sweetness. Magically, the body’s sumptuous juiciness remains fully intact. The breadiness steadily heightens, but the sweetness remains even keel due to a palate-cleansing surge of alcoholic dryness and clean minerals. Finishes pervasively juicy and tolerably sweet with a brilliantly placed tandem of brisk malts and spicy fennel. The aroma needs some work, but everything else is pretty much spot on. Well done.