Dark Horse Perkulator Coffee Dopplebock

Brewed by Dark Horse Brewing Company
Style: Doppelbock
Marshall, Michigan USA

Chestnut color with a head that fades quickly to just a few bubbles around the rim and a oil slick gathering of bubbles in the middle of the glass. Heavy aromas mocha. Light caramel, dough and a hint of charred oak. A mix of dark coffee and darker malts seem to transcend all flavors. It seems at times that they are fighting each other for attention rather than come together in one balanced brew. I’m not a confessed coffee brew lover, but a dopplebock lover. Tell me this is a strong coffee brew and I’m ok with it.

Pours a deep clear dark amber, almost mahogany with a thin lasting creamy off white head. Aroma is upfront with lots of coffee, at first it seems nice and fresh and a surprise to find in a doppelbock but after a while the aroma goes to a bit ashy and turnns almost to old coffee grains left out in the filter- some caramel and toasted lager malts coming through. Flavor is not quite so dominated by the coffee and it seems a bit more well integrated and not as harsh or old tasting- more munich and toasty vienna malts come trhough the moderately fresh coffee flavor. Pretty smooth finish though and easy to drink.

Poured a clear caramel color with a small, light tan head that left light lacing on the glass. Aroma of roast, caramel malts, some smoke, and light cocoa. Taste was sweeter caramel, roasted malts, vanilla, and molasses. A bit sweet, but a nice try...

Draft sample at MBGF Summer08. Poured dark brown color with an average frothy light brown head that mostly lasted with good lacing. Moderate to heavy fruit, toasted malt and nutty aroma. Medium body with a smooth texture. Medium to heavy roasted sweet flavor with a medium to heavy bittersweet finish of moderate to long duration. My expectations where met.

12 ounce bottle. Pours dark brown with some nice ruby red highlights when held to light. Nice tan head. Nice cup of Joe aroma. The flavor has a nice bit of coffee with some caramel character. Ahh, the problem arises. This think is water thin and just kind of disappears from you palate. Not bad, but certainly leaves you wanting.

Bottle. Pour is a brown with some red highlights and a little bit of a head that leaves just a trace of tiny bubbles. Aromas are sweet and roasted malt... more of a brown sugar smell than coffee, which seems a bit strange. A little bit of a pungent and earthy burnt smell (coffee?) Flavor has a strange mix of sweetness and burnt/old coffee that then transforms into a more reasonable coffee aftertaste. All that said, I was hoping for something a little more interesting. Mouthfeel is fairly thin. I think this beer could be much better... the flavors seem to work together, just needs some help with the fullness and the transitions.

bottle. thanks bri. strange chestnut pour with thin head. aroma is very malty, sweet chocolate and coffee. dark coffee, light nuttiness, chocolate, roasted malt. earthy funkiness in dry finish. I don’t know how if I like this or not. a bit strange.

Tap at brewery. Poured a very dark orange color. Aroma of nothing but coffe. Taste is smooth with a very heavy coffe finish.