Kaufbeuren Buronator Doppelbock

50cl bottle - fizzy ruby pour that fails to kick up a head - lightly oxidized aroma - nose of raisin, cherry, date, rum, dark breads - very smooth - low to medium carbonation - quite a bit of toffee, raisin, burnt sugars - this is tempered by a light tartness and some late bitterness - finishes with some warming and peppery alcohol - an enjoyable doppelbock.

Bottle (labeled St. Martin Dunkler Dopplebock) and served in snifter, next to Allgäuer Cambonator Doppelbock, Weltenburger Kloster Asam Bock and Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock (the baseline bier):

App: All three had a mahogany hue with the Buroator and Asam bocks displaying a bit more reddish highlights as well as a darker more tannish creamy head and better lacing. Cambonator gets the lowest score of 3, the others 4 each.

Aroma: Buronator, heavy caramel malt, bready and alcohol, some prune and fig along with a touch of peaty like smoke, brilliant. The Cambonator displays a walnut tone long with caramel, brown sugar and grape juice, interesting. The Asam bock has the weakest nose of the three with notes of caramel, wood, tobacco, grains, and a hint of raisin.

Taste: Rich and sweet caramel malt is front and center as expected in all three biers as is a hint of molasses. The differences are found with the undertones: Buronator has a figgy and roasty tone along with a dash of mineral water. It seems despite the heavy malt to be the most balanced of the three. The Cambonator has a very slight acidity (again grape juice) and some ashy notes. The Asam has more of a bakers chocolate tone and is more earthy and tobacco like, the most complex of the three.

Mouthfeel: Buronator, creamy and lively, Cambonator, lively and oily, a bit thinner, Asam lush and heavy, dry mineral finish.

Overall: While all three are well done and similar in the basics, the difference of enjoyment and complexity gives Buronator a slight advantage over Asam Bock with the Allgauer Cambonator my least favorite. This is interesting since the Buronator has the lowest ratebeer score of the three. Now when compared to the standard bearer of the style, and Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock ( 4.2), I found both the Buronator and Asam close companions but still a second cousin, The Cambonator was not even in the same zip code. Ahhh, the wonders of the horizontal tasting.

Bottle 50 cl. Pours a clear warm orangey brown with a light brown head. Sweet aroma of roasted malt and pumpernickel. Quite full-bodied with sweet accents of roasted malt, pumpernickel and dried fruit. Subdued bitterness. Excellent Doppelbock. 100709

Smooth...dark brown with little head. Aroma and taste are well balanced between sweet and bitter.

50 cL bottle. Pours clear and golden deep hazzlenut brown with a small tan head. Aroma is roasted breadish, light caramel note. Smooth dark breadish and caramel/toffee flavoured. Rather crisp and vibrant hops balance. Smooth roasted breadish finish.

(33cl bottle) Clear, colour with a big but collapsing beige foamy head. Sweet and moderately roasted malty aroma with caramel and subtle floral hops in the background. Sweet flavour, full bodied with an almost flat carbonation, that makes the brew rather sticky. Syrupy malt character with burnt elements, caramel and traces of dark chocolate; sweet and slightly sticky malty finish with a noticeable and also quite burning alcoholic note. Surely a flavourful brew, but it still lacks balance (17.VII.09).

Vegas trip ’08
I think I drank every beer at the condo out of a big red wine glass, this one included. Poured out a clear chestnut beers with one finger of super light brown head that gave out some silty lacing early on. Pungent aromas of raisins, huge roast, sweet spices, dark caramel and almonds (when warmer). Strong and intense and never lets up. The flavour comes across quite thick with some alcohol, more huge malts (roasted and toasted), licorice, christmas hard candy and toffee. Full bodied, mild carbonation. Finishes with nice raisin and dark caramel flavours in the aftertaste and a bit of alcohol. Not bad at all.

Bottled. A dark amber beer with a tan head. The aroma has notes of spices, perfume, and caramel. The flavor is sweet with strong notes of hard burnt caramel, pumpernickle bread, and alcohol, as well as some spicy notes, leading to a dry finish where the alcohol dries out the palate.