Pennichuck Saint Florian Doppelbock

Brewed by Pennichuck Brewing Company
Style: Doppelbock
Milford, New Hampshire USA

Name: Saint Florian
Date: November 21, 2009
Mode: Bottle
Source: Tasting, Cellar Party
Vintage: 2008
Appearance: clear dark red, wispy beige head
Aroma: sweet caramel aroma, light smokeyness
Flavor: caramel malt flavor, earthyness keeps it mostly dry with just a touch of sweetness
Overall: dry for a doppelbock
Aroma: 6/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 6/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 11/20
Rating: 3/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: ** /4

(1L bottle) Clear mahogany body topped by medium beige head. Aroma is moderately sweet, caramel, plum, some raisin, chocolate. Taste is moderately sweet, bittersweet chocolate, some caramel, raisin, light earthy, alcohol. Medium body, some chalk.

(1L bottle) Pours a clear brown body with a small beige head. Aroma of caramel, cocoa, raisins, plum, nuts, and toasted grain. Flavor of toasted malt, raisins, caramel, and mild hops (herbal) with a dry finish.

1 Liter bottle-@Hoboken#1–pours a thin light tan head and ruby red color. Aroma is sweet medium malt, fruit. Taste is sweet medium malt, fruit, slight sharpness/hop bite.

Objectively speaking: A doppelbock with an American twist, but beautifully integrated, earth-laden and flavourful.
I like: Interesting concentration and its medium-full body seems smaller than it is. Hard to notice alcohol. Excellent earthy nuances are complex in themselves. Subtle, pleasant and drying noble hops. Never too sweet.
I dislike: Not much fruit flavours in there whereas this is something I generally enjoy. Its toastiness does not feel as pure as, say, Andechs, but it compensates through a striking balance all throughout and a rich and inviting mouthfeel.

My Bottom Line:
Toasted caramel maltiness develops a lean and approachable mouthfeel for this drinkable and straightforward Doppelbock.

Further Personal Perceptions:
-A sheet of foam tops the coppery burgundy.
-A raisiny fruitiness adds depth to the malt profile.
-Light earthy, herbal hops brush the end of each sip.
-This could be a tad heavier in body and more expressive in malt flavor for my tastes in the style, but as is it remains quite pleasant.
-This is not the kind of Doppelbock I want to sip; I prefer it through large gulps, just like any other well-made, crisp lager.

Bottle.

I’m always happy to see new breweries in my state. Especially breweries that are regional. 1 liter swingtop bottle. Pours red with a nice tan head. Smells fruity, nutty, caramelly, earthy, spicy. Tastes of caramel, nuts, light spice, some hints of bitterness, tea, touches of booziness. Mouthfeel is full bodied with a finish that yields some warming alcohol. Decent.

1L flip-top bottle. Deep amber beer with a creamy white head. Aroma is excellent. Rich doughy/bready toasted malt base. Rich and lightly plummy with a hint of brown sugar. Nicely balanced, rich and sweet but still very clean and incredibly drinkable. Some lightly burned caramel on the back. Rich clean and quite tasty.