Tag Archives: German Doppelbock

Spaten Optimator by Spaten-Franziskaner-Löwenbräu-Gruppe

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Rating: 5/5

Spaten Optimator by Spaten-Franziskaner-Löwenbräu-Gruppe is a 7.6% ABV German Doppelbock

Description:
The classic German dark beer, bottom fermented ’Doppel Bock’. Full bodied with a deep dark color and rich roasted malt flavor. Supposedly only available in USA, at least not in Germany. 

Quick Review:
It’s been years since this beer.. But even more so for this game.. Now it’s found a place both can call home. Bringing my childhood Bock

Original Review:
https://animebeers.com/2013/10/25/optimator-by-spaten-franziskaner-brau/

Up On The Rooftop by Four Sons Brewing

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15777064_10103856769499970_694736657413844147_oRating: 5/5

Up On The Rooftop by Four Sons Brewing is a 10.1% German Doppelbock brewed with Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Allspice.

Label:
Dark, Rich and Malty German Lager brewed with Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Allspice.

Four Sons Brewing is Family Owned & Operated in Huntington Beach, CA. We invite you “Join Our Family” And Share Our Passion for excellent craft beer.

==Introduction==

A special thanks to my friend and fellow Homebrew brother, William Carranza for giving me a special present for Christmas, a Holiday DoppelBock. Now the style already being a rich a malty brew would make sense to fit with Christmas and the additional holiday ingredients of the winter season. I cannot recall if I have ever had a holiday inspired doppelbock other than the time I had the peaches and pecan Shiner Holiday Bock. However, that would be a regular bock. The first brew I had tried from Four Sons was “The Coco” which to me was a coconut Fat Tire. Probably the best Coconut Amber or the only coconut Amber I have ever tried. Amazing. This is the first time I bring a brew from 4 Sons brewing here on the website, thanks to Will, and a good way to finish up the 2016 holiday season. I look forward to trying this one. I have heard great things about them but I have not had a chance to see many of their brews around. With this one, it would be a great way to gauge them for the site and for my audience. So here is to you and your loved ones in these fine holidays, cheers!

Aromas:
Cinnaon, Nutmeg, clove spice, allspice, pumpkin spice, piloncillo sugar cone, figgy pudding, fruit cake, pecan pie, bananas, Danish cream, Ginger bread, dark fruit raisins, plums, apple pie, brown sugar, dulce de leche caramel and toffee.

Flavors:
Ginger Bread, Candy Cane, Christmas cookies, All spice, nutmeg, cinnamon, dark fruit raisins, sugar plums, figs, dates, candi sugar, pumpkin spice, piloncillo sugar cone, figgy pudding, fruit cake, pecan pie, apple pie, Danish Cream cookies, earthy hop bittermess, toasted rye bread with tangerine preserves hints, brown sugar, dulce de leche caramel, toffee, bananas, clove spice, anise, dark chocolate and strawberry hints.

Aftertaste:
Finishing with rich fruit cake flavors, dark fruit, lingering spices of cinnamon, ginger bread, clove spice, pumpkin and piloncillo sugar cone finish. No alcohol in the taste, honey amber clear body, smooth, rich, creamy and velvety mouthfeel with a sipping drinkability.

Overall:
A very delicious and perfect holiday ale. A Ginger bread Apple pie and fruit cake in liquid form. Definitely Holiday spice forward and holiday spice driven. While the dark fruit aspects that make great doppelbocks is present, the style does work giving this one a malty dark fruit and spicy fruit cake feel. Very aligned with the holidays and a 10.1% ABV to keep people warm. For being the first beer from them, I can say I am very intrigued to try their next beers. A definite recommendation.

Anime Corner:
Neopolitan from the RWBY series in Christmas attire was used in this pairing as I wanted to represent the holiday aspects of this beer. The Doppelbock aspect is represented in Neo’s Strawberry and Chocolate appearance. Essentially, she is duality. She is nice and sweet on the outside but she is definitely a dangerous trickster and part of the antagonists group in the series. Regardless, it was nice to see her in the Holiday spirit to help with this beer pairing.

Sources:
http://68.media.tumblr.com/6c60ec305285a5819e430624aefa1fc4/tumblr_oi1t1dTjfc1s5wms6o1_1280.jpg

Rueminator by The Bruery

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15419610_10103808605945120_616089737907717768_oRating: 5.75/6

Rueminator by The Bruery is a 10% ABV German Doppelbock aged in oak barrels.

Label:
In the 1600s, Franciscan monks created the world’s first doppelbock. In 2008, Patrick Rue established The Bruery. The best of both worlds come together in this rich, malty lager,

It’s quite common for breweries to have “-ator” in the suffix of their doppelbock names. But ours has something theirs does not: A Rue in the prefix (and in the name of our brewery). Rueminator builds on the liquid bread legacy of the doppelbock style and gives it extra fortitude in the traditional fashion of The Bruery. This rich, hearty, smooth lager gains even more depth and character from extensive aging in charred new American oak barrels.

==Introduction==
15419656_10103808605930150_9051119378545294115_o
Released back in September to Reserve and Hoarders Society, it was only recently that I was able to get this one due to me forgetting that I had purchased one of these back then. For a 10% malty German lager, you know it would still stand the test of time. Even for a couple of months. Not to mention, the majority of the Bruery beers age well. So this awesome one would be no different. Now they had made an awesome Weizen bock but not necessarily a doppelbock. These are some of my favorite German beer styles along with the Dunkelweizens, Eisbocks and triple bocks. Regardless, since they are starting to do more German styles, I wish I should have attended their Oktoberfest, maybe next year. Anyways, let’s see if this is a beer worth getting, cheers!

Aromas:
Dark fruit prunes, plums, raisins, figs, bananas, clove spice, rye bread, honey, mild coconut, apples, dark candy sugar, vanilla, dulce de leche caramel, toffee, butterscotch, vanilla, crème brulee, flan, piloncillo sugar cone, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, German Chocolate, brown sugar and trail mix hints.

Flavors:
Rich Dulce de leche caramel, toffee, butterscotch, vanilla, crème brulee, flan, piloncillo sugar cone, dark fruit prunes, plums, raisins, figs, bananas, clove spice, rye bread, oak, marshmallow smores, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, German Chocolate, brown sugar, hazelnut, pecan pie, molasses, trail mix, candied yams, biscuit bread, dark cherries, blackberry preserves, malty wheat bread, stone fruit peaches, honey, mild coconut, apples, dark candy sugar, raisin bread pudding, maple syrup and mild coffee notes.
15419697_10103808605770470_6069211913151924187_o
Aftertaste:
Finishing with rich caramels, dark fruits, earthy notes, oak, marshmallow smores, molasses, bread pudding and flan hints. No alcohol in the taste. Dark crimson medium body, smooth, chewy and velvety mouthfeel with a sipping drinkability.

Overall:
A very exceptional doppelbock. I find it very interesting that the Bruery beers are always like “in your face” type of beers. This is awesome since some styles do get amped up to another level. Especially when oak barrel aging. What that process did for this beer is simply amazing. So much complex flavors for a basic German Dark Lager. An Imperial lager at that. With that being said, it was definitely awesome and as close to the deliciousness of some of the best doppelbocks I have ever had. I highly recommend this one.
15540776_10103808605765480_4464340857908761688_o
Anime Corner:
Gadget Hackwrench and the Rescue Rangers were used in this pairing mainly for the label colors but I wanted a reason to use her and the team for a Bruery beer. Especially since I have not used her or the others in much of any beers. Also, using the suffix –nator that goes with doppelbocks, I decided to go with a pic that represents her as being similar to the Terminator. Since, well, you know, if she ever went mad and tried to take over the world with robots. I don’t know, I just thought it was creative. I think the use of the specific pairings might be a stretch, but they do look bad ass regardless.
15493840_10103808605775460_8094577166306966354_o
Sources:
http://orig02.deviantart.net/ef66/f/2009/082/9/3/imperial_gadget_hackwrench_by_skimen.jpg
http://orig10.deviantart.net/814d/f/2016/253/2/f/gadget_hackwrench_by_bbmbbf-dah6p53.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/pq8Bd.jpg
http://www.tikihumor.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2014/12/modern-chip-n-dale.jpg

Optímator by Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu

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1383015_10101459463086240_901127990_nRating: 5/5

Optímator by Spaten-Franziskaner-Bräu is a 7.6% ABV German DoppelBock

COMMERCIAL DESCRIPTION:
The classic German dark beer, bottom fermented ’Doppel Bock’. Full bodied with a deep dark color and rich roasted malt flavor. 

Supposedly only available in USA, at least not in Germany.
___

First had this beer with several coworkers on draft at the Red Lion in Downtown LA after visiting a brewery, which I will not name here because they were good in their own awesome way (Love that Sunny-D beer). As I remember it, it was so impacting that I had to try it again. From the makers of the delicious Franziskaner Dunkel which to me is the best dark heff in the world, aside from Weistephaner dunkel. Spaten makes an awesome doppelbock that attempts to take on what to me is one of the best Doppelbocks, Celebrator Doppelbock. They did a damn good job of it too as I remember. I was able to pick up a bottle locally and wanted to do a review. This is a common beer and can be picked up in many craft beer or specialty liquor shops. Even Downey Liquor in Downey California has it and they seem like a generic liquor store

Aromas are of rich figs, caramel, cinnamon, milk, sweet potatoes and yams boiled with piloncillo (Mexican sugar cone), vanilla and cinnamon sticks, rich toffee, raisins, hazelnut, cherries, oak, molasses, and chocolate

Flavors are of figs, raisins, caramel, cloves, raisin bread, cherries, rich molasses, cinnamon, sweet potato pie, yams, piloncillo, vanilla, cinnamon, toffee, hazelnut, chocolate, pecans, biscuit bread, brown sugar, whiskey notes, maple and oak

Aftertaste is of raisins, yams, cherries, vanilla, earthiness and piloncillo. Easy to moderate drinking on this one and has intense flavors even where the 7.6% ABV is nowhere to be found. 

Overall it is a damn great beer! Surely close to Celebrator in my opinion but greater to the sweeter yams than celebrator though. I will never forget how awesome it was on draft nor will I forget how much I liked this one. In terms of the style, this one is right next to my favorite Doppelbocks followed by the La Trappe Doppelbock and the Alesmith Decadence 2013 Doppelbock. Freaking unbelievable how the European beers always pull me in. Just so you know, My top 2 best common beers in the world are not even from the United States, leave that to Belgium and Canada for starting me up. Optimator is a definite try multiple times not doubt. Should be an “Octoberfest beer” requirement for sure

Decadence 2013 Anniversary Lager by Alesmith

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1383115_10101443952504570_492062793_n 1374914_10101443950588410_605639162_n 1378691_10101443952828920_1707280061_nRating: 5/5

Decadence 2013 Anniversary Lager by Alesmith is a 10% ABV German Doppelbock Lager

Label: 
AleSmith Decadence Anniversary Ale was originally brewed in 2005 to celebrate our first decade in business. Our brewers had such a great time creating it that they decided to brew a new style each year to commemorate our anniversary.

Now in our eighteenth year, we bring you yet another addition to this legendary series. AleSmith Decadence 2013 is a classic German-style Doppelbock that follows the ancient brewing tradition of Bavarian monks. Originally called “Liquid Bread,” this style is characterized by a rich malt backbone that showcases notes of bread crusts and subtle hints of chocolate . A German lager yeast balances these flavors with a clean, full-bodied finish. Drink this meal in a glass now or cellar it for years to come.
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Another glorious year for Alesmith and their over the top great ales. Cheers to you guys!! There has not been any review that I have had from them that has been bad. Everything I have had so far is either great or exceptionally exceeding expectations. Now to their 18th anniversary they release the German Doppelbock. A style of dark German beer which already, I have yet to get a bad review from. This style is simply remarkable. Now made by Alesmith? Well, we shall see

Aromas to start give a very nice toffee, caramel, biscuit, dark fruit raisins, banana, clove spice, figs, earthy notes, chocolate, rye bread, blackberry marmalade hints and hazelnut.

The flavors are very rich in toffee, dark raisins, cherries, plums, dulce de leche caramel, dates, figs, bananas, clove spice, rye bread, hazelnut, chocolate notes, boysenberry marmalade, cinnamon, gingerbread, fruit cake, apricots, earthy bitterness, pecans, grapes, anise and molasses.

The aftertaste is fruity, nutty and minor spicy. Almost like trail mix in a bottle, without the salt. Where is the Alcohol? Wow this is drinkable for a 10% ABV. Holy shit smooth!!

Overall I was very impressed. This is a great beer. It is very close to the quadruple beer style. It’s supposed to be made as a lager but in the German style. This is very befitting of the season, you know, Oktoberfest and the Fall and what not. People have to get this, it is a must try. Especially since it taste like trail mix!. If I would drink this at Oktoberfest, I would definitely need to carried home as I would not be able to taste the alcohol and this would cause me to get drunk quick. I am still waiting to taste the alcohol and well, feel it, but I know it will creep up very soon here.