Thomas Hooker Liberator Doppelbock

Brewed by Thomas Hooker Brewing Company
Style: Doppelbock
Bloomfield, Connecticut USA

Cask @ Bukowki’s... Poured deep ruby with a huge khaki head. Aroma of berries and spiced yeast characters, Very smooth palate. Robust flavors with sweet fruits and roasted dark malts. Some spiced and vanilla flavors too. Not bitter at all, and was very enjoyable to drink. A warm alcohol character in the finish.

Had this on tap at Spuytin Duyvil, Brooklyn...A very nice doppelbock. Highly malty, but not syrupy or overly sweet. Very well-balanced indeed with just enough bitterness and sweetness. Roasty and especially very creamy, with a strong presence of brown sugar and molasses.

Pours dark brown and the aroma is spicy, with a bit of roasted malt. The taste is initially sweet, but it turns a bit bitter. Not as heavy as I expected, but very rich and complex.

Swing-top bottle via trade. At first I was worried that the molassas aroma and flavours were going to be overpowering but this mellowed instantly into a very drinkable doppelbock. I really enjoyed this beer since I don’t have many trys at this style.

1L bottle from 2004: Beer pours fairly dark mahogeny color with a thick creamy tan colored head that is very well retained. The aroma is a bit benign and a bit disappointing. The flavor on the other hand comes through with a bit of a one dimensionally delicous choclatiness that has a bit of raostiness to save it from simplicity. Nice full mouthfeel with enjoyable carbonation and a lush, velvety feel. Could have been great is the aroma was there.

Winter schminter, try perfect for fourth of july. Big roasted malt aromas. Very wheaty taste. Get a little chocolate in there too. Full bodied great beer. Don’t try to drink this yourself though since you have a quart of it.

1 L bottle, snifter. A deep chestnut hue and a firm, frothy khaki head signal the rich malts waiting in this sturdy brew. The aroma is grand, yet humble—intense, but never out of control. Dark bread and caramel melodies underpin the experience, allowing ample space for airs of chocolate and roasted coffee. A mercurial walnut element shifts in and out of focus. Allowing a moment for contemplation, and this elixir to warm, reveals the rugged herbal, woodsy tones yielded by the grace of noble hops. Every sip swiftly brings warm, controlled malts to the palate, mimicking the aroma deftly. Chocolate, caramel and brown sugar find their place up front, stabilized by a wispy roasted bitterness. At the back of the mouth, roasted and nutty flavors become more pronounced and mingle with supple herbal hop notes. As it warms further, the distinct but intoxicating semi-sourness of the Munich base malt is unmasked. The swallow unveils date, almost plum like essences, resting upon an oaky dryness. A full and creamy texture is robust enough to blend all the flavors together, but never appears clumsy. Carbonation is right on for the style; present, but never distracting—flowing but well paced. A brilliant example of the style. A little darker, and a little richer, but damn this reminds me of Andechser. A doppelbock like this one, but with less roast, chocolate, (no) caramel, and more pure malt goodness could easily gain access to the upper four’s for me.

Brown hue with a tan, frothy, tall head. Huge pecan aroma. Roast, coffee...somewhat sulphorous, in a good sort of way. Heavily sweet, lightly acidic (sour) flavor becomes a moderately sweet, lightly acidic, lightly bitter finish. Medium body, velvety texture, moderate carbonation. The bottom line is: very tasty, I’d love to get another swing at this one as I’ve never tasted a doppelbock this nutty.

Bottle from a Growler. Big beer here, thanks TAR. Very dark color almost stout like, very dark brown colored,o’so slight brown head rims the glass. Aroma is malty, carmel,sweet, maple, and slightly burnt. Sweet flavor. Mix of sweetness and noble hops bitterness on the finish. Excellent beer.