Thomas Hooker Liberator Doppelbock

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

Poured dark enough to be opaque, managed a smallish foamy head. I think this is one of the best American doppelbocks I’ve had but in some ways they’ve missed the mark, but only a little. Its very sweet, of course, but almost too sweet. The malt construction is nice, very earthy in the nose, with kisses of chocolate and caramel that become more apparent in the flavor. I could see some more hop bitterness in the finish giving this just the right spicy finish that would balance this out and make it utterly drinkable. As it is, its sweet enough to be more of a slow beer. Nothing wrong with that.

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.

Beer # 7500, that’s 3/4 of the way to Eternal Ticking Glory, ladies and gentlemen. I decided to toast this momentous occasion with one of the most well-respected lagers in America today, the Liberator Doppelbock from Thomas Hooker. This was a 2006 bottle and the result was, well, interesting. Thankfully I can say that I’ve had few, if any, beers quite like this particular bottle, which makes it a fitting beer to have on the occasion.

Dark brown colour. Chewy, smokey, plummy aroma shows some oxidation. Deep plums on the palate, again the product of oxidation, but I don’t mind it at all. There’s a light smokiness, some pear, and some burnt sugars. To me, this has developed well, although I’m sure this much oxidation and fruitiness in a doppelbock would turn just as many people off as on. Sweet and tart finish, an eclectic product of age, rendered upon a beer that may not handle such things as well as it should. But it works anyway, and that’s the fun of trying different beers.

2004 vintage. Full, sweet, malty aroma, plenty of caramel and chocolate along with notes of date, raisin and faintly spicy hops. Deep mahogany color with a slight, fine light tan head. Flavor profile is satisfyingly malty and full, having copious amounts of sweetness and caramel complexity, some creaminess noted as well as some dark fruitiness, breadiness, nut and mild alcohol towards the finish. Some lingering licorice and cocoa. Exceedingly smooth palate with a medium-full body. Very nice and seemingly quite authentic.

Thx to springlicker for this one. Pours an oqape dark broak w/ a cocoa powder colored head. nice slightly sweeet taste. It opens up nicely as it warms to a nice flavor

1ltr bottle shared by whaleman-pours a very deep brown hue with a dark brown head. meaty, malty, musty aroma with hints of chocolate, dark fruit and spice. Caramel, toffee, chocolate flavors. There is lots going on in this beer-too much to right down, especailly after having so many good beers at this tasting. I should re-rate this one sometime.

Poured brown with a ruby tint and light tan head. Malty aroma and flavors with some dark fruit and chocolate. Semi-dry and a medium body.

Dark red color with a smallish head. Aroma mostly malt with some dried fruits. Taste is big. First there’s molasses and chocolate. Also notes of vanilla, oak and alcohol. A lot going on here. Not as sweet as the description but full bodied.