Stronger than your average bock beer, the mighty doppelbock is basically the maltiest style of lager you can find. Though most malt-heavy beers are a good accompaniment to autumn or winter, bock beers are traditionally drank as spring begins, since the brewing process originally had to span three months of cold temperatures. The doppelbock, frequently being quite sweet, is a cheerful way to celebrate the declining winter.

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‘CELEBRATOR’ – AYINGER – Doppelbock – 7.20% ABV (Eye Choir’s Top Choice)

Appearance: Poured a very dark brown to black with dim ruby highlights and two-finger, deep mahogany head. The body is far too dark to see any carbonation or sedimentation. 4.5/5

Smell: Very rich malt character which features a deeply toasted dark bread as well as some molasses and chocolate notes. These are counterbalanced by dark fruit aromas including cherries and figs that have a distinctly spicy character which goes along with a whiff of rum. Slight herbal or tea-like aromas from the hops come out in the background. 4.5/5

Taste: Moderate sweetness further highlights the malt character details, especially a supple, smoky cocoa that invites a slight earthy lager yeast character from behind the strong toasted bread crust flavor. Tartness is very mild, and allows a subtle fresh oak-bark note to come into balance with the slightly boozy dried fruit. Bitterness is also mild, though the sweetness attenuates somewhat in the finish, revealing a leafy herbaceous note. Very well-balanced and subtle, despite the power that the malt brings to the palate. 5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium to heavy body, with a supple creamy mouthfeel that never comes across as suffocating due to the balance of a mellow carbonation. Alcoholic heat is slight, but present, incorporating itself into the dark fruit liqueur flavor. Full without being gratuitous. 5/5

Overall: An iconic example of a doppelbock, featuring an impressive burst of malt that is well-balanced by details that compile into a more austere, mature character. An excellent comfort beer despite its strength. 5/5

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‘KORBINIAN’ – WEIHENSTEPHANER – Doppelbock – 7.40% ABV



Appearance: Poured a transparent yet quite dark reddish orange with a two finger, tan head. Carbonation does not appear to be present, though there is not much haziness. 3.5/5

Smell: Big toasted sourdough bready aroma, with some further malt subtleties including slight walnut and even a faint cocoa aromas. Far in the background is a suggestion of dark fruits, especially prune as well as dates. A touch of rounded hops with an aroma of spicy earth linger in the distance. Interesting selection of aroma components, but actually quite mild, especially before the beer warms fully. 3.5/5

Taste: Only mild to moderate sweetness despite the impressively heavy malt flavor, which begins to transition from freshly baked dark bread to a subtle dash of caramelized sugar. A tartness balances the malt while highlighting some mild raisin flavors and helping accommodate the relative lack of sweetness. Nonetheless, there is a very rich, dessert-like character, perhaps in part due to the mere mild bitterness in the end of the finish which elevates any remaining sugars into a spicy molasses aftertaste. Definite improvement on the aroma, with a greater sense of malt complexity. 4/5

Mouthfeel: Medium body with a smooth, perhaps even syrupy mouthfeel which heightens the perception of heaviness. Mild to moderate heat and very mild carbonation are appropriate for the style, asserting a decidedly warm-bread interpretation. 4/5

Overall: Well-balanced, with a well-attenuated and fairly detailed malt, though otherwise a somewhat standard example of the doppelbock style. 3.5/5

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‘CURATOR’ – ETTALER – Doppelbock – 9.00% ABV



Appearance: Poured a deep, only slightly translucent orange brown with amber highlights and a one finger beige head. No carbonation is visible due to the presence of substantial haziness that borders on sediment. 3.5/5

Smell: Very yeasty, with spicy licorice and clove notes that mesh with lingering earthy hops. An array of dark fruit such as plums and figs, as well as ripe red fruit aromas like plum, cherry, and even almond form underneath. Eventually caramelized biscuit malt kicks through, along with subtle cocoa and brown sugar details. Quite distinct for the style, really pushing the yeast aspect without sacrificing too much from the balance. 4.5/5

Taste: Moderately to strong sweetness, which kicks up the malt flavor somewhat, though it highlights heady cherry liqueur and christmas pudding as well. Has quite a heavy booze flavor as well, perhaps a tad too strong, though it meshes with the mild to moderate fruity acidity. A mild bitterness helps settle the yeast flavors somewhat, helping show off a combination of increasingly off-dry malt and floral earthiness in the finish. A little lacking in balance, but still daring and surprisingly intriguing. 3.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium to heavy body, with a medium to high alcoholic warmth, but very low carbonation. A very syrupy, sticky mouthfeel augments the molasses-quality of the malt and helps reconcile it with the heavy yeast component. 4/5

Overall: Interesting and unique fruit and yeast flavors, but at times, a little imbalanced, malt quality could use some improvement, even if it is not necessarily the intended focus of the beer. 4/5

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‘WOLFGANG’ – GREAT DIVIDE – Doppelbock – 8.00% ABV

Appearance: Poured deep, hardly transparent reddish-brown with a two finger, medium-tan head. There is no sediment, though only the faintest amount of carbonation can be seen through the darker body. 4/5

Smell: Malt character is rich and robust, with a freshly toasted pumpernickel being backed by hints of boozy caramelized plums and nuts. Hop aroma is very subtle, with a mild layer of grassy and slightly spicy notes which provide a faint counterpoint to the intense malt aroma. A little bit straightforward, but expertly balanced and quite potent. 4/5

Taste: Starts with a moderate sweetness which further accentuates the already powerful bread and molasses flavors, though a mild tartness comes in which helps prop up the raisin and alcohol flavors. There is a mild bitterness in the finish that plays double duty, not only bringing a slightly less sweet dried hay and tobacco but also an interesting backbone of smokey dark chocolate. Very interesting ensemble which has some unique components in the finish and is overall very pleasing. 4.5/5

Mouthfeel: Moderate body, with enough bite that despite the slightly sticky mouthfeel which complements the malt, the drink is quite quaffable. Definite mild to moderate alcoholic heat as one progresses, but the right amount to match the mild fruits and such. Very fitting. 4/5

Overall: Well balanced and strong, with some interesting American features (strength of hops and chocolate malt) that are even slightly atypical for the style. Still German at heart, with a warming conviction that is a hearty companion to a good meal. 4/5

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