Ettaler Curator Doppelbock

Brewed by Klosterbrauerei Ettal
Style: Doppelbock
Ettal, Germany

Sample poured from a bottle at the Winking Lizard Tavern (Crosswoods) in Columbus, Ohio on 1/23/2007... Another really good doppelbock that has been added to the list of beers to pick up again and sample in a private setting...

Bottle: Dark brown with a white head. Aroma, roasted malts, earthy hops, some chocolate, and some yeast. Flavor, chocolate, coffee, some bready notes, and some fruits. Pretty good.

Sweet cereal aroma -- like oatmeal, or the baby mush I used to feed my kids. Dark, but very clear, off-white head, good label and German pint bottle. Metallic, dark syrup, very cereal flavor. The flavor is a somewhat grotesque chariacature of the aroma. Glad this one is going on the expense account. Finishes out bitter and prune-fruity, over a medium-heavy body. Viscous and leggy on the sides of the glass.

Pours a deep clear ruby brown with half an inch of off white foam. Okay head retention and lacing. Rather mild aroma - you have to look for it - but when you find it some ripe dark stone fruit and chocolate malt great you. Sweetish flavor of chocolate, toffee, and cinnamon. Hops in the finish for balance only. Medium to full body, gentle smooth carbonation. Dry bitter chocolate, very ripe plum, and cinnamon in the aftertaste.

Savannah, Ga. - Habersham Beverage Warehouse - 500 ml bottle. Dark brown cola-like, slightly transparent pour with a faint wispy off-white head. Fresh aroma of raisins, bubble gum and a hint of brandy. Flavor has some raisiny notes, just a hint of chocolate and some baked brown bread for good measure. Some molasses is swirling around in the back end. Thin, but chewy mouthfeel. One of those beers that is not great is any one area - but melds together well - the sum of the parts...yada yada...thus the 16 overall.

Pours a very deep brown, almost black with a two finger head that settles quickly to a thin cap. Even with the head fading so quickly the cap stays around for a long time, and there’s more lacing than I expected. Smell; mild hints of chocolate with a sweetness that reminds me of honey. Darks fruits are definitely present, but I can’t see to pick anything out specifically. Taste; chocolate cake and prunes are the first things that come to mind on the first couple of sips. And I’m surprised to say that the combination works for me. The honey-like sweetness is there, as well as a slightly nutty bitterness in the finish. This is different than any other dopplebock that I’ve ever had, and I like it alot. Mouthfeel/Drinkability; mouthfeel is thick and full bodied with a fairly low carbonation, and the drinkability is good, especially since I can’t detect any alcohol, other than a slight warming in my stomach.

a solid doppelbock. dark brown with small white head, the aroma is malty with hint of roasted barley. sweet and caramelly flavor, full bodied.

In the 0.5L bottle from HyVee CB. Pours sepia black with a dense garnet in the light. Head is thick and sustained of a violet-beige color. Wonderful aroma of plums and toffee malt. Huge thick body and palate. Intense raisins and roasted malt experience. This is one fine german dopplebock. The high alcohol is very well masked. An easy drinker for a big beer.