Capital Dark Doppelbock

Formerly brewed at Capital Brewery
Style: Doppelbock
Middleton, Wisconsin USA

December 2005 bottle, consumed December 2005.
Deep, translucent chestnut brown in color with a short, creamy white-to-grey head. Milk chocolate bubble gum leads the aromatic display, along with slight plastic band-aids crossed with chocolate scented scratch n’ sniff stickers. Some caramel contributions and a dry pecan edge in the nose as well. Wonderful milky sweetness oozes in for the flavor portion, equally imparted with caramel, chocolate toffee and honey roasted hazelnuts. Dry crackle at the sides of the tongue mimic the teeth snapping unsalted pecans, and its likely aftermath. Sweet, viscous syrup accents akin to maple vats, imparting a pacified wooden smoothness. Only detraction is a bubblegum current of a failed Bubble Yum chocolate-flavored gum experiment (would that I could blame this character flaw on their bottling operation in Monroe, where a dark shadow is cast on the Wisconsin brewing industry as a whole.) Perfectly succinct and balanced, finishing like buttery Rolos hammered onto Heath bars. Barely skips a beat from last year’s version, and I still love this doppelbock to death.

December 2004 bottle, consumed January 2005.
Excellent beer - definitely one of (if not) the best doppelbocks I’ve ever had. Pours a deep ruby brown. Little to no head with small lacing - one of the lighter doppelbocks I’ve had. It didn’t appear to be as thick as I was expecting when I poured it into the glass, but the taste delivered. Smooth and complex semi-sweet chocolate malt nodes and moderate carbonation. Definitely a rich, whole-mouth experience. Tastes yeasty, almost like a liquid bread made with brown sugar. Traces of oak and roasted nuts. Alcohol is very well hidden and isn’t evident even in the finish. Leaves a nice nutty, malty aftertaste which I can still remember and pine for as I write this review. Fantastic beer.

Reminds me more of a Porter than a Doppelbock, at least the ones I’ve had. Has the slightly bitter coffee taste which I don’t mind. Since I am not a big fan of heavily hopped brews, I’m glad the bitterness isn’t the type that comes from lots of hops. The head dissapates faster than I’d like to see, but all in all its a pretty well made, pleasing, rich, hearty, flavorful brew.

This turned out to be the ideal beer to rejuvenate my ratings. I think I had been resorting to rating a little too much by style, rather just on a beer’s own merits - and especially when I pick up a beer in one of my favorite styles, I’m going to take notice when it doesn’t completely match up to the standard (in the case of doppels, Celebrator sets the standard for me). But while this may lack some of the huge melanoidiny Munich malts of Celebrator and others, this turns out to be a very nice easy drinking dark lager. There is plenty of toffeeish malt, if restrained and balanced by a semi-dry finish. Very smooth. Attractive deep reddish color. I could drink alot of this, even for its strength.

Bottle Pours a medium dark brown, with a small off white head. Aromas are a nice sweet caramel, apple, dark woody malt combination. Flavors are slightly smokey, lots of dark malts, and very little hops. Feel is a bit thin and dry, and the ABV is a bit noticeable but does not take away from it. Becoming one of my favorite styles. Thanks to MrFacto for this one

12 oz bottle. Yay! My Capital doppelbock ratings are complete! This one is clear walnut with a very creamy, lasting off-white head. Caramel and a bit of underlying chocolate and vanilla dominate the nose...is there some anise and cherry? Is our children learning? They is! The body is smooth and creamy, alcohol evident...no Laura I’ll come to bed after I’m done with this...coke! Juicy baked apples and cherries appear in the body with touch of rum and a big dose of caramel...mmm good, I misunderestimated this one...

Sent to me by CaptainCougar, Thanks Tom. Very well made Doppelbock. Aroma of carmel, toffee and above all else German hops(Saaz and halertau). Flavor is slight tart and sweet. Creamy mouthfeel .Sweet & lasting finish.

Recently purchased at Discount in Milwaukee. Purchased again in Madison a couple weeks ago. Pours with a very dark amber hue. Head dissapates very quickly. Rich nose of toffee, caramel and malts. Taste is roasted malts and caramel. There is still a slightly buttery finish that bugs me. I still like the brewer, but something about this one hits me the wrong way. Too rich.

Pours a very deep amber, with a decent but short-lived head. Malt is overwhenlming, with molasses and chocolate flavors, and only moderate hops balance. Very sweet, but drinkable, but with the alcohol content, I wouldn’t consider this a sessions beer. Another fine product from Capital in Middleton.