Capital Dark Doppelbock

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

Dark with medium white head. Mine stuck around until I started drinking it. Not much aroma at first, but as it started warming, I could smell raisons and other fruity aromas. I liked the taste; it starts off sweet and finishes balanced. Lots of different malty, fruity flavors to start and then a touch of hops as an aftertaste. I’d definitely drink this regularly if I lived where I could get it.

2005 bottle from StewardofGondor, shared on 12/22/2005 with Rastacouere. Pours your typical Capital pour, that is, lightly hazy, with a bubbly head that is quick to run for cover of the edges, and only leaves marginal, spotty lacing. Head is beige while the body is a deep auburn tinged mahogany brown, with coal brown hues. Aroma of sweet raisins, cream, milk chocolate and light touches of dry bock yeast. Tinges of tart fruits combine on the end to give a well-balanced, and quite authentic feel to it. Raisins, caramel, light breadiness and vinous dark fruits all in abundance. Flavor is quite sweet, with a soft milk chocolate sweetness that gives way to a light bit of earthiness and dry yeast. Berry skins, roasted, but minimally bitter barley notes and succulent, warm, dripping caramel. Flowery, lightly herbal hops are just faintly noticeable. Dosent have that hard crystal malt dryness and intense breadiness. While it seems that overly bready, grainy, sourish munich malts and such seem to be the majority take on this style, I’ve got to say that this creamier, more milk chocolatey take increases the drinkability and sensuousness on the palate, while the light raisins and boisterous plum/prunes add a needed dryness, with a touch of light tartness. As with other Capital beers the carbonation is very low, the bubbles loose and the mouthfeel a touch wet. It would certainly benefit from tighter carbonation, but yet, it’s sort of a house character for Capital, and who really cares about carbonation when the flavors are so true and rich. The liquid bread goes down effortlessly, with no trace of any alcohol.

Clear chocolate brown, little head. Sweet melanoidy nose, some chocolate, caramel. Fairly sweet, a touch of chocolate, melanoid malt, and a touch of dry bitterness. Just great.

Bottle: Courtesy of The_Enemy via a bonus box of beer. Aroma of molasses, light nuttiness, and light alcohol. Pours a dark mostly transparent garnet with a small off-white head that quickly fades to a ring. Flavor of molasses, brown sugar, and light roasted nuttiness. Very light alcohol flavor in the finish and light warmth. Slight bitterness in the finish as well.

Clearish reddish brown pour offers mediocre head retention. The aroma takes the appearance mistakes back with glory though showcasing a very competent malt display. Complex leathery, almost smoky, earthy and highly fruity malts (apricot, grapes, dark fruits in general). Comfortable in its transition, it remains dark and well caramelized, toasted and while sweet, never cloying. Delicious lasting earthy dark fruits finish. Low carbonation, medium bodied. An exquisite doppelbock. Lighten the filtration and work out the carbonation to last longer and keep a head and you have a world-class take.

Light yeast aroma initially with a hint of spice, some dried fruit and a hint of coffee. Nice, but subtle. Dark, dark brown with a thin head that diminishes. Chewy caramel and raisin flavor with a nice hint of spice. I love that dried fruit flavor. Medium-full body, chew and chalky in the finish.

12oz bottle.
Wow. Except for the vegetal nature of the aroma, this is the best of Capital’s impressive doppelbock series. Pours a clear deep mahogany red-brown with medium-thin but well-formed foamy white head that leaves substantial lacing on its way down. As mentioned before, the aroma has a strong vegetal element that put me off, but there was also good sweet malt backbone there. That backbone obviously makes up the better part of the flavor, along with a touch of toasted grain, a hint of black licorice, and a rather complementary alcohol flavor that is at the same time quite noticeable but not at all intrusive (it is quite smooth and not harsh or warming). Medium-thick mouthfeel with creamy, chewy palate. God I love this brewery, and beers like this is why.

pours a dark copper color w/ a small tan head pretty well laced. Smells of carmel wheat, red grapes and hints of toffee. Palate is thick and creamy well coated. This beer surprised me.. a great taste to it.. big sweet carmel malt with a bread and grape and toffee flavor.. even hints of oak.. This one surprised me I didn’t expect much and was very pleased