Spaten Optimator

Brewed by Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu (InBev)
Style: Doppelbock
Munich, Germany

Sampled at the 8th Annual Music City Brewer’s Festival. Red-brown with a light tan head. Aroma is grassy, caramel, metallic and thinned by the alcohol. The taste is caramel, malts, grassy hops.

On tap, Bavarian Grill, Plano. Impressive sized mug arrived at the table dark amber-black, average off-white head. The food had arrived by this point so I couldn’t make out too much of the aroma, some light caramel/toasted malt/biscuit. On the tongue, very alcohol-forward, but the strong, balanced roasty-toasty flavors came through as well. You don’t have to be a huge dopplebock fan to like this beer, as it is rich & thick yet has a moderate sweetness & soft carbonation that make it very approachable. And it goes without saying, supremely excellent with German food!

Bottle. Pours an amber body with a tan head. Sweet and nutty with hints of caramel, dried fruit, lager notes, toffee and a full body. Nice session lager.

2009 Bottle - Pours dk ruddy amber with a small white head...aroma is light fruity malt, a bit nutty and bready...flavour is similar, toffee malt, roast and some booziness, lightly spicy...tasty

Pours dark brown with a medium tan head. Aroma is of sweet malt. Flavor is very malty with some spice. Not bad at all. Good lace and great beer for the style.

Pours a deep amber-brown with tan head that laces surprisingly. Aromas of sweet roasty malt - nothing too special. First sip was a bit of a shocker. Very sweet candy caramel with roasted malt with a cleansing hop finish. light body medium at best. The third and fourth sips were kinda a let down. probably the best main stream affordable doppel out there. Might let it warm next time I dunno still well overrated in my opinion.

Presentation: It was poured from green 12oz bottle into a smooth mug. There appears to be no freshness date and the label reads "malt liquor". Appearance: The body has a deep brownish mahogany color with a dark reddish amber hue and good clarity. On top there is an average size (about 1 finger thick) light tan head. It is slow fading and leaves behind good lacing on the glass. Smell: The aroma has a sweet almost fruity nose with some dark grin notes and a slight hint of a mild sweet alcohol. Taste/Mouth Feel: The flavor has a big sweet malty character and full body with notes of caramel roasted grain and toffee. Hop bitterness is very light and really only comes out a little bit in the finish. There is also the slight presence of a mellow alcohol that adds a little more complexity to the overall character. The palate has a slick full mouth feel with soft carbonation. Notes: This was a very enjoyable doppelbock. Also this is the only Euro imported beer I have seen that is 12oz and not 11.2oz.

bottle. Pours a clear brown with a thin tan head. Nose is of caramel, toasted malt and bread. Taste is caramel malt and biscuit with some spice. Mouthfeel is sweet and some alcohol. This was one of my crossover beers into craft brews. Have a personal fondness to it even though it doesn’t taste as good for me as it used to.