Blue Ridge (MD) Subliminator

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

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.

Clear light brown colour. The head died like it was a Pepsi. Cardboardy, thick malt aroma, rather indistinct. Blunt toffee, earthy, cardboardy malt character. Sweet, with a slightly hot finish. Lack of complexity and lack of melanoidins put this one below the Mendoza line for me.

This beer is being made again after an absence of a couple of years. Based on the significantly higher earlier ratings, I have to wonder whether it is the same recipe -- the alcohol has been bumped from 6.75 to 7.3%. Opaque brown body with off-white head. Aroma is medium sweet, roasty, caramel, light chocolate. Taste is medium sweet, roasty, caramel. Watery medium-full body.

Light haze lives among the dark caramel hue, wearing an unconvincing off-white ring. Doughy, grainy, very bready nose of sweet well extracted malts, slightly earthy and very reminiscent of graham crackers. Faint meaty aspects come to reinforce the otherwise bready, cerealic malts that have this out of place vegetal note that kill the dried caramel notes faster than they should end. Moderate amounts of alcohol perceived, very light carbonation, oily textured, light-medium body.

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.

Bottle... Clear, ruby lager with a small, fizzy, off-white head... gone in a flash - leaving a reddish gem in my glass. The malty nose is of English toffee, milk chocolate and very light hickory smoke. Nice malt backbone with plenty of bitter and zesty hops to stick to the ribs. Flavors of butterscotch and toffee. Full-bodied with a sticky mouthfeel and lively carbonation. Lengthy, malty-sweet finish.

The Lure:
Caramel-covered raisins and mild black beans work in the direction of authenticity. Doughy yeast and roasted malt inhabit the same space, peacefully. The end result is a little too mild for complete satisfaction, but is nonetheless well-done.

The Festivities:
Earthy hops resting under caramel malts and raisin-y, sweet fruitiness. The doughy yeast takes a little too much room for me, but at least it subsides in the end. The main problem is that most flavors follow its path. More assertiveness and you would have a splendid doppelbock.

Transcendence:
If you are true to yourself, you will eventually get the respect you deserve.

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.