JosephsBrau Winterfest

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

I bought this at Trader Joe’s and thought I was in for a treat when the checkout clerk remarked, "Oh, good one. I drank that last night." I should’ve double-checked my receipt for errors because, without a doubt, this was the worst beer I’ve had in a year. It started with the aroma. Pure stank. I thought it was rotten. Distinct sewer, rain puddle smell. I poured it into a glass. Poured smoothly. Deep brown color. Never formed much of a head. From the first sip I knew this one was going to be bad. Chewy, licorice, mud flavor. Tasted like Penzoil with strained prunes. Might make a potent laxative, actually. Would never drink this again. I ended up pouring the last 5 down the drain. My drain seems to drain faster? Hmm. Drano has a new competitor.

Bottle. Pours deep mahogany, with a small tan head, quick dispersion. Aroma is very caramel, and sweet. Well it smells better than it tastes. Caramel and sweetness, but a little watery, and at least it was quite inexpensive--1$ for a single at Trader Joe’s.

Clear raisin brown, eggshell head, poor retnetion. Brown sugar and molasses malt, but thin and very fizzy with a metallic alcohol finish.

Didn’t expect much other than a decent, inexpensive winter beer from Trader Joe’s. But damn, this beer is flavorful and mouth coating. Very malty, with more than a hint of port wine.

This beer had a slightly yeasty aroma coming off a very modest head. The dark amber lager is crisp and subtly sweet. It seems to have potential, but doesn’t quite live up to it. It’s not a bad beer, but not particularly good either.

Pours a dark amber with small off white head. Aroma has some carael sweetness. Thaste has some roasted character. A slight bitterness on the finish. Not a bad beer just not a good dopplebock

Bottled. Very dark borwn with a small ran head. Nice sweet aroma of caramel and alcohol. Flavour has a touch of port wine to it and more sweet malt. Good doppel but finishes a little flat with a strange, long-lasting aftertaste.

Pours a dark copper amber with a one finger tan head. The aroma is sweet, caramel, malty, banana, some diacetyl. The flavor is malty, sick sweet malt, man not too tasty, lightly toasted, a tad bit of alcohol. Bad vibes.