Blue Ridge (MD) Subliminator

Brewed by Wild Goose LLC (Flying Dog)
Style: Doppelbock
Frederick, Maryland USA

2004 bottle. Pours dark brown with a tan head. Smells of fruit (cherries, some strawberries, sweet oranges), spicy, some dry woody hints. Tastes of roasted malt, some tartness, earthy, spicy. This has aged well.

Slightly hazy deep brown coloured body with a super-thin tan head. Aroma of malt, grapes, alcohol, whiskey and some subtle spices. Medium to Full-bodied; Sharp malty taste up front, fading to strong caramel and a nice spiceyness. Aftertaste shows character of spice and malt - a good doppelbock. Overall, definitely worth trying...good for the style. I sampled this twelve ounce bottle purchased from Chevy Chase Wine & Liquors in Washington, D.C. on 04-July-2005.

Feb. 2006 - Wow...what a pleasant surprise! Most of these American attempts at dopplebocks are just too darned sweet...this one could’ve passed for the real deal. Beautiful pour with nice one finger foamy head and lacing. The smell and taste was of rich malts and dark fruits. The flavor was just sweet enough, but NOT OVERPOWERING. Very nicely done. They have to get the word out. My second Blue Ridge beer and they were both very good!

Name: Blue Ridge Subliminator
Date: 12/20/1998
Mode: Bottle
Source: Chevy Chase, DC

hazy dark amber, whispy head, strong sweet malt aroma with slight floral hops, rich malt flavor, balanced just right to be not too sweet without being hoppy or bitter, aroma and flavor strengthen significantly as it warms

Aroma: 7/10; Appearance: 5/10; Flavor: 7/10; Palate: 5/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 3.6/5.0
Score: **4
-------- /> The score was calculated based upon the notes and an old scoring system.

I think I got this in a trade with 1FastSTi. This beer looked like icedtea. Minimal carbonation with fast vanishing tan head. Aroma was of caramel and sweet malt. The taste was the same with nice roasted notes throughtout. Rich, smooth ,and chewy with a mild roasted finish.

Bottle, aged 6 months to a year: Pours a clear dark copper mahogany with a nicely-lacing, thin tan head. Nice and authentic, rich dark caramelly sweet German malty aroma has good raisin and plum complexity with a good lager yeast strain. Body starts with a nice viscous maltiness and plenty of carbonation with pleasant toasty bready sweetness and a touch of brown sugar. Sticky finish hides the alcohol very well. Not sure what some of the low ratings are about, but I thought this was a tasty brew and a good example of the style. Maybe my aging it helped some. This makes a very nice dessert beer.

Multi brown. Modest, frothy, tan head. Roasty malt, biscuits, caramel/toffee, banana, clove like spice, subtle dark fruits, and a splash of a bourbon like flavor. Medium/full palate, smooth. Very nice doppelbock.

Poured a copper brown color with a very nice initial head, but weak lacing. I want more depth of color out of my doppelbocks. The aroma was doughy and spicey, almost smelled like a maibock. The flavor was of some caramel, dough, spices, light grass, and maybe some nuts. I wanted more dark fruit flavors at least in the background. Mouthfeel was only moderate for the style (ie. kinda light). A nice beer, but not an outstanding doppelbock. A little bit of a let down after some good success on other Frederick beers.