JosephsBrau Winterfest

Brewed by Gordon Biersch Brewing Company
Style: Doppelbock
Palo Alto, California USA

First time I had this I scored it a 2.1 This time I enjoyed it much more. It has some sweetness to it that isn’t overdone and is mostly a pretty smooth beer.

I wish there was a "value" checkbox for these ratings because this beer would get a "10" in that category. Instead, I gave it an extra point in the "Overall" category. Anyhoo, from a 12-oz. bottle, this beer pours a crystalline ruby amber with a smallish tan head. Bready & nutty aroma. First taste is caramel malt with plenty of dark chocolate and nuttiness in the background. Some vanilla notes in there too. Surprisingly hoppy finish. No real alky presence but the 7.5% ABV does make itself known after two of these in a row. Reasonably full body and moderate carbonation. This is a very good brew--and one fine value. It reminds me a lot of Capital Brewery’s "Autumnal Fire", only about $4 per sixpack cheaper. Now I gotta head over the TJ’s and get me some more!

I liked this beer. A very hearty full bodied Dopplebock. Chocolate, Carmel, and roasted malt really hit your palate. Somewhat sweet but not too much. Enjoy with wild game or hearty German food(Sauerbraten). As this beer is 7.5% AVB and rich you won’t want to drink alot of it at one time.

From the bottle pours dark red/mahogany with a soft tan head. Flavor and aroma had a funk to it I couldn’t place, all I can say was unpleasing. Kinda reminded me of cat pee and rotten fruit. I couldn’t even finish this beer, was just to funky. Kinda nutty roasty sweet up front, with a medium bitter finish. But it was just that tinge of funk that made it undrinkable.

Slightly hazy reddish copper/mahogany with a small tan-beige head. High-toned but still sweet aromas. A bit of herbal character can be picked up as well. Attacks the palate with sweetness, backed by more fruitiness than maltiness. Slightest bitterness is apparent in the finish. A quaffable doppel for sure. I’m sure the 7.5% could sneak up on you quite easily.

Mom got this for me for Thanksgiving. Very nice of her. 12 oz bottle. Pours Mahogany with minimal head. Malty sweet with maple syrup hints in the aroma. The flavor is not my particular cup of tea but I noted malt, sassafras, maple and nougat. Sticky medium body. Drinkable but not really for me.

12oz bottle. Clear with a beautiful dep blood garnet shade. Looks good. Webbed white head. Cocoa and caramel. Vanilla and cookies. Smells good! Malt note is sweet and cola. Cocoa and bready. Malty and sugary. Prunes. Bittersweet chocolate. Smooth and rather nice. Holding up nicely! Finish has notes of a gritty hop flavor, but it is mainly the sweet bready flavor that dominates. Molassis and bitter. Not the fullest doppelbock, but this was a real pleasure to consume.

Clear orange/copper pour. Light off-white ring. Vegetal DMS flavours accentuates the total lack of fruitiness in the aroma. Low breadiness, mostly grainy malts that feel a bit dulled down through heavy filtration. In mouth, the simplistic malt profile allows for mellow earthy hops to show through, but so does it uplift the huskiness and absence of nutty flavours. Barely toasty. Light-medium bodied. Just has a rather processed global feel.