Capital Autumnal Fire

Brewed by Capital Brewery
Style: Doppelbock
Middleton, Wisconsin USA

Bottle from Ughsmash (thanks, Jason!) - nice bring orange/copper pour, with moderate lacework - quite herbal and hoppy in the nose, at least initially, followed by some caramel notes, munich malt, buttery/nutty hints - and interesting take on a doppel - you can really taste the oktoberfest influence in the slightly higher hop profile and mild floral notes - the caramel sweetness one would expect is there, too, and the higher bitterness and mild spice actually balance the beer quite nicely - finishes mildly sweet and floral - nice.

Coming from one of my favorite styles did expect much, i was wrong. Poured a darker amber color with small head and not much lacing. Aroma was nutty,roasted caramel and bready. The roasted malt flavor dominated with bready and nuttyness coming out as it warmed.

Nose of rubied cherries and lots of pale malt cream. Plenty of sweetness in dates and figs abound. Otherwise a fairly standard lagered malt musk. A nice clear firey pour, with a red core and golden-orange fringe. True leaf color. Rim of silky white. Flavor is a warming sweet malt, with lots of Munich character, rising fig reduction, pear candies and a rather hot alcohol. A little muskmelon and candied apple shine over the grain husks and light woody notes. Stays sweet and warm down the back haul, with sugars smacking to the end. Not a whole deal of hop balance, save for a crisp reminder on the top of the mouth. A fair dopple.

Poured an amber to orange color nice initial off-white head, weak retention, only ok lacing. Aroma was dry roasted caramel and nutty malts, lots of dough. Flavor was strong malts, dough, toasted caramel, nuts, faint grass, and some lighter fruits (grapes?).Finishes with a slight hop accent. Mouthfeel was moderately thick, but pretty drinkable. This is one of the best approaches I’ve ever had to a lighter doppelbock category (not quite a blonde, but it was a dunkel) of beers, alcohol was silent, it didn’t grass hop everything up. It’s like they started with more of a Vienna base than a pilsner base, very much appreciated here. The run from Winter Skal to Oktoberfest to this was ordered and themed quite nicely.

Golden raisin color. Aroma of caramilized raisins, campfire smoke and dried apricots. Taste is more of same. Too sweet and alcoholic at first but warms up nicely. Dry finish that does not linger long.

12oz, pours cloudy amber with small white head. aroma is mainly brown sugar, cookie, and floral hops. taste notes are toffee cookie, and maple syrup. feel is a tad thin, fizzy, and alcohol warm on the way down. although i got used to the sweetness of this beer it’s a bit much at first. a nice doppelbock.3.7.

cellar aged 1 year. won’t adjust rating since Capital brews beer meant for consuming fresh. nose is mostly toffee and some cookie. flavor is very malty, toffee, toasted biscuit, and cookie finish. the hops have faded but those never played a big role in this beer. the malt seems to not be quite as robust as it is fresh which perhaps is why this doesn’t seem as sweet. don’t notice the alcohol either. this beer really hasn’t changed much, i wouldn’t say it’s better, but maybe not worse either. didn’t notice any oxidized notes though. kinda curious to see it at 2 years but do i have one in the cellar? not sure...A solid doppelbock at a fair price!

9/6/08, Fall ’08 vintage. $7.99/sixer for such a nice balanced malty and delicious Fall/Winter brew, wow what a deal. There are only a few American and German doppelbock that are better and in the states this is easily the cheapest. sweet caramelly, nutty, dark fruity, nice subtle floral noble hop character, not too sweet or boozy, yummy lager! this ’08 vintage is much improved, much less sweet and boozy, the feel isn’t fizzy as noted before. 3.9.

Pours a beautiful copper/amber in my chalice. A little under in the smell department. I have gotten more malt sense in the nose from other doppels, but none the less they are not hugely floral beers, so I understand it’s lacking. The taste is absolutely delicious, I love it’s early easy toffee, and it’s silky hop balance. I could easily drink an unhealthy amount of this beer. The balance gives the ease of warm bread. The mouthfeel is smooth and silky. The drinkability is unreal. This is the ultimate German-style session beer.

App: Deep copper with full tan head, good lacing on the glass Smell: Roasted Maltiness Taste: Malty, sweet caramel. Good warm qualities Mouthfeel: Full body. Spicey cherry like finish Drinkability: Great Aftertaste. Another great Dopplebock from Capital Brewery.