McNeills Exterminator Doppelbock

Brewed by McNeills Brewery
Style: Doppelbock
Brattleboro, Vermont USA

July 2001. Root beer is the first thing that came to mind when sampling this unusual doppelbock. STRONG root beer; this beer is much more vinous and alcoholic tasting than most of its type; I can only guess at the abv. Served in 1/2 pint glasses (for $2-what a deal!) at the pub; this and a pint of the wheat were enough as I had to drive a bit, but I wish I could've had more! Anyway, this was also higher on the caronation than usual, and just sensational on the mouth and down the hatch. Very complex and difficult; a beer that must be had more than once.7/4/9/5/17=4.2

February 2004. Served way too cold, this was virtually undrinable for almost half an hour. After that time, it warmed up into something decent, but in no way the match of what I tasted 2 1/2 years ago. The nose is nice, powerfully malty, oaky and with a touch of maple; but the flavor is way too grapy and sour, though some nice chocolate-port comes through at the end. Not very bock-like, not bad when warm but basically a big "huh?"

2004 bottle compliments of Bucknaked yet again (owe him alot of good Bells beers). Anyways, this pours so well. Magenta red with some dark but somehow bright browns. Good beige head. Bottle conditioned, solid looking and smelling. Aroma of dark ripe plums, port, raisins, apples, vinegar, dark chocolate. Wow you read about this one, and wonder, how can a beer be this weird, then you try it and it’s like, woh, this is weird. WAY TOO acidic, dark red wine grapes, tons of tannins, loads of red fruit and lots of yeast. What is going on here. Doppelbock? barely. Crazy beer? Yes (man my ratings are gettting lame tonight).

On tap at the pub.... Aroma:Caramel..... Appearance:beautifull redish dark,light head... Flavor:light caramel,sour,acid flavor "infected"....

Extreme beer fest '04,Deep copper in color,no head. Roasted malt and chocolate aroma.Malty and sweet.

draft @ extreme beer fest'04: Light nose, chocolate/rootbeer. Brownish orange color. Red wine and chocolate flavors. Thin and a little chalky on the finish. Good, but i'll need to revisit someday. Don't think it was at its best.

Bottle 6/14/04: Pours to this beautiful deep, dark, ruby with a small beige head. Aroma: bitter chocolate, smoke, roasted malt. Tastes very acidic, with some chocolate, fruit, dark malt, and great carbonation once again for McNeill’s, however this is not well balanced. Way too acidic for a doppelbock. My least favorite beer so far.

En fût chez McNeill’s. Robe brune foncée et claire sans mousse. Arômes légers de malt, de caramel et de torréfié. Saveurs acidulées de malt et de caramel.

Enjoyed a pint of this one on draught at the brewery in Brattleboro, VT. Nice to see a few lagers in the rotation of a brewery known for its ales. Pours to a slightly hazy, deep caramel to brown color, with a slight, tan head that fades, and a moderate to soft carbonation. Aromas of sweet malt, caramel, light toast, nuts, and hints of peppery alcohol flood the nose. The palate is soft and chewy on the tongue, with good sweet malt, toast, and nutty flavors. Finishes with more good sweet malt and toasty flavor up front, then ends with a soothing, alcohol heat, and some cloying malt flavor that lingers. Not quite as clean and round as classic examples of the style, but a good effort, and a nice, warming winter brew.