Indian Wells Lobotomy Bock

Brewed by Indian Wells Brewing
Style: Doppelbock
Inyokern, California USA

Pours dark brown with a short lived beige head. Smell is brown sugar, caramel maltiness and ever so slightly of burnt raisin. Decent nose, but mild. Wow, this beer is like a magic trick in a glass. You can smell it, but you can’t taste it... Wow. I’ve had pale lagers with more flavor than this nearly 11% doppelbock. That takes real talent to hide of the flavor like this! Water followed by extremely mild toasty, dry malt. Not really sweet or bitter or flavored at all for that matter. Thin body and normal carbonation. Uncanny how bland this is for a 10.8% beer. Drinkable, anyway. Definitely unique...

Bottle. Pours a dark ruby color with a small frothy off white head that diminishes quickly. The aroma is a sweet fruity malt with raisin and caramel. Decent spotty lacing on the glass. The taste is similar to the aroma with brown sugar and raisin. Easy to drink while hiding the alcohol very well. A very good doppelbock from Indian Wells.

12 oz. bottle shared by goldtwins. Pours brown that allows very little light to pass through. Very pleasant aroma of molasses, malt and brown sugar. The flavor has the same profile, but steps back quite a bit in intensity as compared to the aroma. Smooth mouthfeel in line with what one would expect in a doppelbock.

The first thing that popped in my mind when seeing this brew was an old Ramones song," LO-BOT-O-MY... LO-BOT-O-MY..." Anyway- 12 oz. bottle served in stein- poured almost solid black, half finger off tan head after one minute like a real sickie, nice bubbly head after one head that tried to lace. Aroma of a toasted malt, caramel, brown sugar. Hits the mouth with a medium body, malt is there but not enough for my own personal liking, holds up ok during the middle, finish is rather lackluster. However, you may be able to finish the whole 6 pack in 30 minutes, just like an entire Ramones record. For that, it has earned it’s score and rightful name. Enjoy!

Tasted during the Nor Cal Beer Geek Tasting on 3/11/2009. This dopplebock pours a medium brown color from the bottle. Small to medium sized white foamy head. The aroma is caramel, fruity and sweet. A medium bodied dopplebock. The malts are fruity and sweet, caramel and some chocolate. The hops are earthy. Seems a touch thin tasting. Hides the alcohol very well. Mouthfeel is a touch thin. Finish is clean and smooth. Aftertaste is slightly sweet.

Thanks to goldtwins for sharing - holy hell, this is one of the most bland 10+% beers I’ve ever had - sure, it’s smooth and drinkable, and I guess it should get credit for masking the alcohol, but come on - some raisin and nuts - creamy mouthfeel - a bit of date on the back - fairly thin for the strength - a little bit of burnt malt - meh.

Appearance: A dark auburn that lets in about 5% light. You really need to put it up to a light source to see any bit of translucency. The head is a 1/2 inch of sudsy light tan foam. After sipping this down, I notice rings of lace left behind. Aroma: Bread and bread crust, with a bit of sugary spice mixed in. Dry leaves and grain are there as well. Taste: Bitter bready malt and yeast. A touch of caramel and fruitiness in the finish. A modest bit of hop spice can be found in there, but it is very faint. Mouthfeel: A bit on the thin side. Overall: With all alcohol products, I have a good faith belief the advertised abv. is correct. If this beer is to be 10.8% abv., you would not know it. It is very modest in bold flavors department, and isn’t nearly as thick as a beer packing that much punch. This is most definitely the best beer Indian Wells sells at Whole Foods, and is a great beer to add to your six pack rotation.

Poured dark reddish brown, roasted malts, caramel, dark fruits, nutty, slightly thin.