Goose Island Aviator Doppelbock

Brewed by Goose Island Beer Company
Style: Doppelbock
Chicago, Illinois USA

Draft… DLD’08… Sits mostly black in my glass (clear, crimson/orange when held up to bright light) with a small, creamy, off-white head. Fruity, malty aroma with notes of dark fruit and berries. Ester of medium sherry with low acidity. Full-bodied and creamy with dancing carbonation. Good chocolate malt and fruity sweetness with light acidity and decent mineral bitterness. Bittersweet, mineral finish.

On tap at Clybourn. Pours a garnet color with a small off white head. Aroma is caramel, dark fruits. Flavor is caramel, dark fruits, brown sugar, hint of cola. Palate is medium bodied, medium carbonation, finished sweet. Very nice.

On tap at GI Clybourn. Pours a clear burgundy with a thin, creamy head and patchy lace. The nose is of dark, burnt caramel and candy sugar with a light phenolic note at the finish. Medium bodied and slick with a lightly, dry, bitter finish. There’s a touch of alcohol warmth at the end as well. The flavor follows the nose, more-or-less with a slight drop-off. A solid rendition of the style. Certainly worth trying if you enjoy the style.

On tap @ GI Clybourn. Deep dark red with a light head. Aroma is nutty, light chocolate, melanoidin rich and very malty. Taste is very malty and nutty with supporting earthy hops. Very tasty dopplebock.

Draft at GI Clybourn. Poured a clear medium brown-orange color. Head was light tan with good retention and an orange tint. There was some nice lace on the glass at the end. Aroma was of light cola with a subdued cherry/raspberry accent. there was also the slightest hint of adhesive tape from time to time. Medium bodied and slightly sweet. I tasted molasses and light cherry with some warming alcohol at the end.

draught at GI clybourn..... poured a murky dark reddish cola brown with light brown edges and an off-white head... aroma of dark fruit, spices, and bread.... flavors of bread, a little spice, and lots of sugary malt. a bit boozy in the finish and a medium level of carbonation.

64oz Growler $19 Goose Island Clybourn Aviator Doppelbock pours a chestnut brown but glows mahogany when backlit. A surprisingly large three finger dirty white head formed on the pour and fell a thick cap of creaminess leaving patches of lacing after each sip. A good looking doppelbock for sure. When I bury my nose in the glass I immediately get a big dose of caramel. There’s even a touch of banana bread with the bread being more prominent than the banana. A pinch of brown sugar, raisins, and dates round out the big maltiness. There’s a cola-like sweetness that although not bad does detract from the aroma slightly. Floral hoppiness and spiy alcohol finish things off and add some complexity. All the malts come together seamlessly in the flavor. I’m happy to say the cola sweetness is non-existant in the flavor. When all the maltiness comes together it’s actually softer than the nose suggested and combined with the floral hop character on the finish becomes a quality doppelbock. The alcohol is just spicy enough on the finish. Medium bodied with a touch of drying alcohol. The alcohol keeps the sweetness in check and the medium body keeps this an incredibly easy drinker for the abv present. As I said before this is a very easy drinking doppelbock. Mellow flavors minus the big sweetness that can be a turn off in other examples. Another good brew from Clybourn. I drank it by itself at the bar and here at home. This just happens to be one of the easier drinking doppelbocks I’ve encountered. I’d drink this again at Clybourn. A solid example of the style. 2/18/08

on tap at GI Clybourn. pours dark ruby with biege head. an aroma of toasted biscuits and caramel. flavor notes are toasted biscuit, caramel, peaty, with a nice saaz hop character. med. body with full mouth feel. solid example of the style.