Viking Brewing Invader Doppelbock

Brewed by Viking Brewing Company
Style: Doppelbock
Dallas, Wisconsin USA

(12oz bottle) Small tan head atop hazy dark brown body. Aroma is sweet, chocolate, confectionery sugar, light hazelnut. Taste is sweet, chocolate, some caramel, icing, faint alcohol. Watery medium body, undercarbonated.

12oz bottle. Not sure who traded me this one as I just found it when I was cleaning up some old boxes (so who knows how long its been in there). Poured a medium and cloudy reddish / brownish color with a huge sized off white head. Aromas of dirt / earthy, roasted nuts, and some card board. Tastes of dark fruits (raisins with some plums and cherries), caramel, and nuts. A little off and a little sour finish that I actually kind of liked.

Sampled at the March 25th Tosa Gathering, courtesy of JPDIPSO: Clear copper brown with a thin, whispy off-white head. Very sweet caramel malty aroma with nice lager yeast presence. Has a sweet chewy caramel start, but with a more thin sugary mouthfeel. Could be thicker and more balanced, but I like the sweetness.

Light brown to copper color with a moderate beige head with fluffy cloud like lacing. Baked apples and caramel aromas. Nose does have the signature scent of of a bock with a hint of alcohol and floral hops. Fairly thin in feel. Heavily malt in flavor, with dark toast and caramel. Finish is quick, but has a mild maple sap and dried sweet herb quality. Sweetness and malt seem to get stronger the farther one goes into this brew. Linger suddenly has a chocolate component. A respectable effort.

Tasted at the ’Tosa gathering and provided by JPDipso, 12 oz bottle: Amber hued with a small tight off-white head and good lace. This beer also had a unique caramel apple laden nose much like the JS Bock but even stronger. Additional aromas of allspice, heather and wildflowers, and a hint of alcohol. The taste starts with a bold caramel malt and apple character with a woody and floral finish. A bit yeasty and meaty but very much not dopplebock like IMO. The feel is slick and smooth but could be heavier. Again, strangely different and not to style but I enjoyed it enough for a solid rating. Is the apple nose and flavors found a brewery signature or a sign of flaw in the process?

Picked up single bottle at Blue Max in Burnsville, MN. Pours a dark clear amber with a small off-white head. Dissolves fast to a decent lacing. Aroma of sweet caramel, brown sugar, allspice and a touch of butterscotch. Flavor is lightly carbonated, smooth and a sweet aftertaste. Palate is light body.

Bottle thanks to Brigadier! Poured a hazy, rather ugly medium garnet with a short layer of white head. Nose picked up a whole bunch of honey with dark fruits and some leafy hoppage... very sweet overall. The flavor was also sweet with a hefty honey backing, dark fruit, semi-sweet chocolate, and a mild woodsy bitterness. Syrupy and sweet on the palate with higher carbonation.. really dries out on the back-end. Not a great beer.. but had some interesting components.

Pours a very murky red with a thin head. A bit of a sour malt nose. Tastes a little like a grain silo. Not real malty, but definitely smacks of cereal and barley. Hmmm... not much else. Damn.