Lancaster Lancastrator Doppelbock

Brewed by Lancaster Brewing Co.
Style: Doppelbock
Lancaster, Pennsylvania USA

Although this brew varies wildly from season to season (and they appear to have changed the recipe drastically recently), I am going to rate it on the Doppelbock that I often know and love. This brew is disarmingly strong in alcohol. The taste only hints at that underneath, and it is easy to get lost in the complex flavors of the malt, fig, and dark chocolate. As of late, there is a very strong coffee overtone which I do not care for. Much too similar to stouts which over-use that. This beer goes down amazingly easily. It truly is an easy-to-drink beer. Not exactly ’lagerish’ as the description implies, but not too far removed. When made properly, and served in a fine pint glass with regular bar staples, this is my favorite brew in the world. It’s not perfect, but that’s what I love it for.

Draft. Pours medium brpown with khaki head. Aroma of heavy scotch malt, caramel, some figgy fruit. Fairly dense and complex palate, with a lot of malt flavor coupled with some figgy fruit and molasses notes. Well hidden alcohol. Nicely done.

Sampler, at Lancaster location. Pours a clear dark brown body with light carbonation. Nice clean malty aroma with some light coffee and roast, sweet and thick smelling. The flavor is just as clean. Slightly sweet but not overbearing, light roast, light-roast coffee, and a nice clean crisp finish with just a little lingering sweetness. Medium to full bodied with nice soft carbonation, nice hearty texture. This was pretty darn good.

I really did enjoy this beer, even though I only had a smaller sample of it. It was a dark brown color, almost in line with Optimator, and the malt profile was delicious. Give this one a try if you can find it.

(cask) The aroma was pure cherry. The color was a cloudy copper, with very little head. The flavors were of cherries and chocolate, very pleasant. The palate was incredibly smoothy, with just a touch of bitterness at the end.

Tap @ LBC - Dark amberish bronze, tan creamy head. Nose held malty notes of toasty caramel, dark fruit, and hints of smoke. Well balanced flavors with a nice touch of hops late. Full bodied, soft carbonation, malty finish. Best brew of the evening...

Sample at the brewpub. Clear dark walnut, lasting ring of orangish head. On cask. Grapy-caramel nose, sweet but robust. Amaretto-cherry-caramel on the tongue, extremely smooth and sweet without being cloying. One of Lancaster’s best.

Med brown color with a small head, the thick body is evident when swirling the beer in the glass. Rich malty aroma with some alcohol evident. Rich malty flavors thick body and some alcohol in the taste but well balanced with the thick body and malt sweetness. A very well made Doppelbock that I will enjoy again.