Thomas Hooker Liberator Doppelbock

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

This beer pours a dark brown almost black liquid that leaves a thick head that sticks with the brew. The smell of this beer is sweet, brown sugar, herbal hoppiness, as well as a fruity essence within the nose. As you sip this brew the 8% alcohal is very hidden, there is a toffee sweetness to this brew on the forefront of the palate followed by a slight coffee nutty taste almost similar to a porter very nice. The overall brew is fantastic and the smoothness of this bock just makes you want to drink it all day but watch out cause it sneeks up on you.

500mL swing-top from porterhouse – thanks, Kevin! Bottled in 2006, sampled 10/10/07. Übermalty aroma, toast and nuts drenched in grape with caramel and fig and a touch of grit. Lightly funky underlying hops and a slight touch of grain. Deep dark ruby pour with a dense, tiny-bubbled tanned head nudging toward light brown, increasingly rocky. Taste is big and malty with slight alcohol warmth and burn under the grapey breadiness, toast and nuts provide a solid backbone. Red berry dangled and withdrawn, dangled and withdrawn. Touch of pine in the hops, pairs nicely with earthy roast. Bitterness more pronounced here than most other examples of the style. Molasses and salt. Touch of burn-ash above the masterfully employed Munich. Full body, feel a bit slick. Warm, dry aftertaste brings out wonderful spicy notes and a touch of coffee and a touch of syrupy chocolate. A bit too hot and peppery, but otherwise, exquisite! Robust and extremely complex, holds its own against the big boys!

The beer pours very dark brown, dark amber shine through if held up to the light, with a very fine, light tan head. The aroma smells malty - some caramel and some vanilla, with some roasted smells too (bitter chocolate, freshly ground coffee beans). The flavor is very nice: lots of sweet malts, some spicey hops, and some other flavors - caramel, maple, coffee. The alcohol is detectable in the flavor, too - though it is minimal. The balance of the beer is very nice - and very appropriate for the style (i.e. good bit maltier than it is hoppy). The mouthfeel is a little thick. The beer finishes with some cloying sweetness, hints of acidity (I presume from the carbonation), and a soft bitterness.

bottle by way of dogfish120love... age is unknown.

dark brown coffee colored pour with a dirty white head. lots of spotty lacing is left as it retreats into the glass.

the aroma is quite sweet and reminiscent of a baltic porter... molasses, lots of nice toasty grain, caramel, skunky/noble hoppiness, chocolate, mild coffee nuttiness and raisins (gold and black).

the palate is nowhere near sweet as the aroma lead me to believe...luckily. flavors of coffee, caramel, nearly burned sugar, toasted nuts, burned raisins, ample grain and a lightly bitter dry finish. pumpkin pie spiciness (clove especially), coffee and skunky hops (spent coffee oil?) find their way into the aftertaste. the body is medium to full with a very soft creamy texture. the mouth feel is insanely light and airy. 8/5/9/4/18/4.4

Bottle. Dark brownish body, some red highlights, with a dark tan head and sticky lacing. Nose is of dark fruit, raisins, caramel, wheat, a slight hop influence, and spicy ginger. Lots of dark raisins and caramel flavors, burnt sticky malts, some chocolate and roast in the finish. Full-bodied, balanced very well and quite yummy. Definitely one of my top lagers.

pours a nice dark color with a bit of a tan, quickly dissipating head. Nutty, with plenty of malt flavor. My favorite of the Hooker brews so rar.

Pours a very dark brown almost black with a thick, foamy tan head. Aroma of roasted malt, chocolate, toffee and caramel. Flavor is very malty with hints of chocolate, caramel, toffee and fig. Extremely smooth rich and creamy beer. Excellent!

1 litre swingtop bottle via trade with IMtheOptimator - Thanks Andrew!! Pours dark brown with a creamy tan head that lingers and laces very well. Aromas of caramel, chocolate, molassess and a little bit of roasted nuts. The flavor is quite decadant.. chocolate, roasted malts, caramel, some raisins, and a bit of nuts.. A touch of nice german hops come through at the end but are soon left with a nice chocolatey aftertaste that is divine. Palate is so smooth and creamy. Carbonated just enough to make this fill your mouth with smooth creamy delicious beer. This is good stuff. I think I like it better than celebrator actually.. And you have to love the 1 liter bottle that lasted the whole baseball game!!