Schloss Eggenberg Doppelbock Dunkel

Brewed by Brauerei Schloss Eggenberg
Style: Doppelbock
Vorchdorf, Austria

I have before me another gem of my past when beer was but a virgin landscape to me; familiar and yet unknown, ignorant, and vastly mysterious despite my best efforts otherwise. Specifically, the lady in question this time around is the Doppelbock Dunkel from Schloss Eggenberg. I am always looking for a good doppelbock, one which can stand up to the reign of the Celebrator from Ayinger. A well crafted doppelbock is a beer of beauty, depth, and rich complexity without being overwhelming. Usually the not being overwhelming is a shoe-in, but where many fall short is in the beauteous depth and rich complexity. Hopefully Schloss Eggenberg’s contribution will not fall short.
She poured a deep brown with hues of black and burnt amber holding her together in the light. A decent head tops off her dark depths while very little lace can be found until I disturb her rest with a few swirls. Wanting to test whether or not she has the makings of a winner, I raise my glass to partake of the nose. Rich, with dark toasty malts, pumpernickel, fig, licorice, vanilla root, and a bright lemon twist in the finish. An aromatic delight, I take my first quaff and am met with a clean mouthfeel and medium body. Her palate is faintly sweet with balanced notes of figs, prunes, and licorice while chewy fresh pumpernickel bread gives some added weight and fullness to her overall palate. Faint caramel and toasted malts slowly dry my mouth while a slight lemon bite lingers at the back of my tongue and throat. As she warms, she grows heavier and sweeter with more emphasis on the dark fruits, caramel, and fresh pumpernickel which results in some faint warm brandy notes. In spite of because of all this, my Doppelbock Dunkel from Schloss Eggenberg never cloys and no sooner did I begin, I have finished.
Rich and complex with substantial depth, I would say that Schloss Eggenberg’s Doppelbock Dunkel is a winner. Maybe a bit on the thin side, even with the addition of chewy pumpernickel bread, but otherwise highly satisfying.

11.2 fl oz bottle from LCBO, served at cellar temperature in a tulip glass. 22DE08.

App.: Deep mahogany with a small tan head. Aroma: Sweet dried fruits and stone fruits like apricots, somewhat nutty, very light acetone, lots of sweet sticky malts, some light blueberry or other berries, caramel and toffee, brown sugar, hints of vanilla and coconut, some alcohol. Palate: Medium+body and soft carbonation give an overall smooth, syrupy feel. Flav.: Similar to the nose with lots of fruity malts, some minty herbal hops, light nuttiness, a bit of an unpleasant burnt vegetal note; quite sweet but also fairly bitter, on the edge of cloying with a sickly sweet bitterness in the finish and light alcohol and yuck left over.

Smelled great but fell apart in the mouth. Poor execution.

Bottle. Pours deep red with a medium sized light brown head. Sweet flavour with malt, alcohol, mild coffee and liqourice. Full bodied. More dry finih. A nice doppelbock with power.

Bouteille de 330 ml achetée chez LCBO (Ottawa, ONT). Arôme: Odeur de caramel fruité. Apparence: La couleur est brune avec une faible densité de bulle. Présence d’un mince col beige mousseux et d’une fine dentelle sur le verre. Saveur: Goût de caramel fruité avec une pointe de noix. Durée moyenne de l’arrière goût. Palette: Le corps est moyen avec une texture huileuse. Faible effervescence en bouche. Arrière goût fruité. (Rating #2174)

Dark brown in color with an average sized off-white head. Aroma is of rich malts and toffee. Taste is sweet and malty with some caramel, toffee, and coffee flavors and a light hop finish. Body is slightly thin.

Darker brown color with a malty-sweet, bready aroma. Flavor has a mild hop bite with some dark bread, brown sugar, and molasses. Tasty, but the eisbock version is a good deal better.

Brown bottle, 330 ml, best before 02.2010, purchased at the LCBO, savoured on January 26 2009; eye: bronze with copper reflections, clear, light effervescence, creamy beige head that remains, slight lacing; nose: caramel malt, candied fruits, alcohol, toffee, light roasted malt, light fruity; mouth: creamy, lots of malt, candied fruits, caramel malt, alcohol, toffee, fruity, finale in caramel malt-candied fruits with presence of alcohol, medium body, mildly sweet, not much carbonation; overall: quite good FRANÇAIS Bouteille brune, 330 ml, meilleure avant 02.2010, achetée à la LCBO, savourée le 26 janvier 2009; œil : bronze avec des reflets cuivrés, claire, légère effervescence, mousse crémeuse beige qui demeure, très légère dentelle; nez : malt caramel, fruits confits, alcool, toffee, léger malt rôti, léger fruité; bouche : crémeuse, beaucoup de malt, fruits confits, malt caramel, alcool, toffee, fruité, finale en malt caramel-fruits confits avec présence d’alcool, corps moyen, moyennement sucrée, peu carbonatée; en résumé : très bonne

Pour is a dark red with no head at all. Aroma is nice with some caramel and toffee. Flavor is dark fruit with some figs and toffee. Thick mouthfeel and lots is left on the tounge long after the swallow. Alcohol is there but not overpowering like some other beers from this brewer. This is a nice slow sipper.