Weltenburger Kloster Asam Bock

Brewed by Klosterbrauerei Weltenburg
Style: Doppelbock
Kelheim, Niederbayern, Germany

Damn this is nice. Had to have something while firing up the BBQ late the other night and this is what got grabbed - rich dark brown with a frothy tan head. Sweet toffee and molasses and dark fruits and chocolate. Sweet in the mouth but not too much - coats the tongue with light carbonation and brings you back for another sip. Smooth sweet finish. Nice.

I like how the beer is made in a monastery, but the label features some sketchy aristocrat leering at some object of desire seated beneath his opera box. While I am crazy about German beers, I really do not understand all of the fuss with this one. Basic, good doppelbock. That’s all. Nice appearance, lasting head. Good palate, but no real complexity, in my opinion. I should say that on the label was printed the numbers "09.01.01" Perhaps this sample is four years old. If so, it held up nicely and maybe the complexity was lost over its years in the bottle.

After downing a bottle of Barock Dunkel, I had odds on this being a fantastic Doppel Bock. I really should have placed a bet!!! Poured into a large chalice, a short two-layered dense beige head formed atop a deep, dark ruby red body. Head lasted and left gluggy webs of lace down the glass. Strong, almost concentrated, malty and fruity nose with rich chocolate, plums, light vinous notes and a little liquorice. So thick and treacly in the mouth, very light in carbonation and made more intense by the strong concentrated flavours. Prunes, raisins and sultanas, toffee and toasted malt, and a dry vinous back that blends into a roasted malt swallow that lingers between each slow sip. Quite sweet without becoming cloying, it had a lot of fruit in the mouth once it warmed a little and really belied its almost modest alcohol level. Very strong flavoured, quite smooth and exciting to taste, this was an excellent late night sipping beer. A definitive ’in-your-face’ Doppel Bock that I will certainly taste again.

Big malt aroma with some molasses like sweetness. Beautiful looking deep brown with a thick mocha head. This is the kind of beer that you can’t wait to drink it. Smooth and creamy malt backbone with caramel and molasses flavors from fore to finish. One dimensional, but when that one dimension is so good it works well.

Bottle. This is one very delicious doppelbock IMO. Poured a large tan head that was mostly lasting, fine-large sized bubbles, good lacing, transparent, and a red hue. Aroma was malty, sweet, caramel, and some chocolate. Flavor was wonderful-sweet, malty and caramel. Absolutely tasty! More please!! Palate was very smooth. Will be seeking this one out again for sure.

Bottle. Pours a dark ruby-brown with a huge frothy light-brown head. Looks great! Aroma of caramel malt, vanilla, light hops, sugar and chocolate. The flavour is sweet, roasty and quiet tasty! Some chocolate, coffee, caramel, vanilla, hops, and more. It gets even better as it warms slighlty. This beer is a very pleasant surprise and one I intend to get again for sure.

Couleur brune foncée, reflets rouges, mousse beige pleinement diminuante, aucun dégagement gazeux actif lors du service. Arômes de pruneaux, de noisettes, de chocolat de malt grillé rappelant les shredded wheats. Caramel brûlé, toffee, cerise de terre et mousse de tourbe sont réunis et semble avoir trouver leur vocation. Faiblement sucrée en bouche, un brin de réchauffement de la part de l’alcool. Succulente et pleinement authentique!!! Bouteille partagée avec Joce et Léo, 24 Juin 2005.

Bottle. Dark brown colour with a big baige head. Sweet metallic roasted malty aroma and a sweet chocolate malty taste. Medium to full body and a sweet finish. A bit to sweet.