Thomas Hooker Liberator Doppelbock

Vintage 2006. Pour of a deep chestnut and burgundy hue, topped with an abundant, thinly textured foam of light tan. Aroma traverses a diverse and complicated terrain; the first is full of minerals and crisp bitterness, showing juniper berries, basil, spruce, and aluminum. Misplaced and clumsy. Second, a warm wave of apricot jam on cinnamon French toast, green apples, pear, raisins, and banana, maple syrup and vanilla dipped. Vinegar and garlic clove sweetness precede a final and lasting swell of pineapple rind that brushes aside the hosewater bitterness of the initial impression. Flavor is much simpler, very doughy and dense, with lots of caramel, baker’s chocolate, and dark fruit; lightly acidic with hints of red grape, tart baked apple and lingonberry. The residual impact of that mineral and cleaning product character of the initial aroma is resigned but still present, giving a muted, grating metallic bitterness. Candy sugar and fig. Palate is very creamy and soft; medium to full in body and very sweet. Finishes with raw walnuts and hazelnuts, drying out completely and showing some licorice. Rich and complex, this one is packed with nuances, most of which are interesting and satiating for cold weather purposes, although those greenish moments of synthetic bitterness are too nagging throughout for this to be a top-tier example. Thanks Jason!

2006 bottle, via trade from an "other site" feller. Very handsome pour, deep russet color, gleaming, and with a sizable head. Nice aroma of mild aromatic spices, hefty malts, and some rich dark fruits. Slightly acidic notes in the body give this one a quirky flavor that, while not unpleasant, certainly move it away from style in my opinion. Finishes very dry. Like Beerlando below, I wonder if I waited on this one too long.

Sept. 2006 - Beer poured really dark brown with nice head and lacing. Aroma was really rich fruit and also some piney smelling hops. The flavor was really full and really, really sweet. Dark roastiness with sweet flavor and some dark fruits, with a significant hop present. Nice and complex. Really more reminiscent of a stout than a dopplebock. Really good.

2006 bottle consumed in early 2008. Pours a very dark mahogany brown body. A small, foamy, light tan head settles quickly, leaving nothing but a small rim behind. Minimal traces of thin line lacing are scattered about the glass. The aroma shows dark and light chocolate varieties, as well as vanilla, cola, and some dry, woodsy notes. The flavor shows cocoa powder, dark chocolate, oak, and some dark fruits. Molasses and root beer come on pretty strong just prior to and during the finish. Medium bodied and well carbonated, despite it’s age. Pretty nice Doppelbock. I think my bottle might have been a little past its prime. I want to revisit this one.

A nice American style doppel, Lacks the doppelbock melanoiden flavor so prevalent in the German brews, good roasty malt flavor throughout the beer with a subtle hopping,

The 2006 hinged bottle poured a jet black into a Thomas Hooker glass. The wonderful off white head lasts a long time and thins out to a thick lace. Aromas of malts ,bread, molasses along with a nice flora hop note once it warms a bit . The palette on this is excellent thick and creamy not to much carbonation Flavors of toasted malts sweetness almost but just enough bitter to balance this perfectly. This is a great Doppelbock, one can only hope they don’t mess up this recipe. I will be going back for more

2006 bottle. Duane shared this with me. I think the combination of a swing top and year of aging had a negative effect on this one. Brown pour with no head. Mild malty aroma, nothing much to get excited about though. There just wasn’t much going on in the nose. Flavor was bland and oxidized. Some hints of caramel and dark fruit, but the good flavors seemed very subdued and a metallic astringency was very prevalent. I’d like to try this fresh - it did not age well.

Pours an opaque almost black brown with a finger of creamy head and lacing throughout. Smells of sour fruit, plum, black licorice and a hint of chocolate. Taste is mostly of tart plum/fruit and a licorice aftertaste. Identical to the smell and with its very mild chocolate taste. This reminds me of a mild Earthmonk. Medium in the mouth and very smooth. Drinkability is limited by the odd tartness.