Fish Tale Detonator Doppelbock Lager
Fish Brewing Company / Fishbowl Brewpub

Fish Tale Detonator Doppelbock LagerFish Tale Detonator Doppelbock Lager
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From:
Fish Brewing Company / Fishbowl Brewpub
 
Washington, United States
Style:
Doppelbock
ABV:
8%
Score:
87
Avg:
3.89 | pDev: 8.23%
Reviews:
67
Ratings:
74
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Dec 24, 2015
Added:
Mar 22, 2003
Wants:
  9
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
 
Rated: 4 by jrob21 from North Carolina

Dec 24, 2015
 
Rated: 3.79 by DucksFan16 from Tennessee

Sep 11, 2015
Photo of papat444
Rated by papat444 from Canada (QC)

3.75/5  rDev -3.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Flashback #206
Aug 19, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by a77cj7 from South Dakota

Nov 21, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Metaltildeath from Washington

Sep 18, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by KAF from Iowa

Jul 08, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Slatetank from Pennsylvania

May 25, 2013
Photo of daveytheformer
Reviewed by daveytheformer from Oregon

4.03/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
from notes.

Pours a deep mahogany brown with a fluffy mocha tan head that fades to some lacing.

Smells like brown sugar, vanilla, oak, chocolate, and caramel malt.

Tastes follow suit. Has a nice silky chocolate flavor as it's going down. Also a very mild alcohol bite.

Mouthfeel is smooth and a little creamy. Medium bodied with light carbonation.

Overall is really good and probably one of if not the best Fish Tale beer I've had.
Jul 23, 2011
Photo of emmasdad
Reviewed by emmasdad from Colorado

4.17/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Adding this one from the old notebooks, circa 2001 in Seattle.

After spending 10 bucks a bottle on the Leviathan and Poseidons, it was refreshing to pick this one up for about 2 bucks. Poured a reddish brown color with a light beige head. Aromas of booze, oak, chocolate and dark malt. Tastes like it smells, boozy, with oak, whiskey and sweet, dark malt. An excellent beer.
Jun 08, 2011
Photo of BeerAdvocate
Reviewed by BeerAdvocate from Finland

4.25/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Review from BeerAdvocate magazine Vol. II Issue VIII:

So here we have a Doppelbock that has been aged in wine barrels for a few months--and a big one at that, coming in at 10-percent abv.

Dark brown with garnet highlights, good clarity present if you put it up to the light. Fat three fingers of bubbly, rocky head sports a cappuccino-like lacing on the glass. Heavy hand of toasted grain in the nose with some aromas of malt sweetness, oaky vanilla and melanoidins. Smooth with a lush and creamy, full body and a moderate level of carbonation. A very complex character; big toasted bread flavors, hint of roasted malt, suggestions of chocolate cake, subtle oak with a vanilla backing and a pleasing herbal hop. Maltiness does not go the way of cloying at all as the oak, hop bitterness and mildly warming and spicy alcohol perfectly balance this beer.

Wow, a workout for the taste buds, as there is a lot going on in this beer. Oaking a Doppelbock works very well, and is certainly worth the beer hunt for the beer geeks.
Sep 14, 2010
Photo of BBThunderbolt
Reviewed by BBThunderbolt from Kiribati

3.85/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A 2008 bottle purchased recently at Whidbey Beer Works. Poured into 10oz glass. Poured a slightly translucent black, with a slight reddish tint, and had just a thin cap of off-white head that had low retention and lacing.

The aroma was very malty and sweet with a hint of dark stone fruits. On the tongue, those malts are foremost, with some of the fruit showing up and a slight smoky-peaty finish.

The body was full and rich, bordering on heavy. Drinkability was very good, but 1 22oz bottle was enough for one sitting. Overall, a very nice example of the style, worth seeking out.
Jul 06, 2010
Photo of BeerTruth
Reviewed by BeerTruth from Connecticut

3.77/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Thanks to the one and only Jazz Hands McGay (aka younger35) for this one...I probably beat him at something so that's why he sent it my way. Thanks man!

22 oz. bomber poured into a pilsner glass. 2008 vintage.

Pours a dark ruby with a fairly quick two fingered light khaki colored head. Minimal amounts of spiderweb lacing hold on to the sides of the glass here and there with a fair amount of bubbles racing to the top. Smell is rich with sweet malts; caramel and molasses. Some fig and raisins tickle the nose as well. Underneath all the sweetness is a bit of leather, tobacco leaves, and booze as well. Pretty complex aroma fo shizzle, I'm liking it. For some reason the taste falls a bit short of the smell. The leather flavor really dominates witha touch of vanilla and warming alcohol. Midway some chalky caramel emerges on the tongue with a bit of roasted nutiness as well. Aftertaste is somewhat smokey with some sprinkled brown sugar. Body is a bit light for the style, still smooth, just lacking the creaminess I enjoy that typically comes along with Doppelbocks. Carbonation is light and fluffy. Not a bad Doppelbock, but not earth shattering either. Worth a shot, but Autumnal Fire and Celebrator will still be my top brews in this category. Thanks again Dan...you're still a pansy
Jul 22, 2009
Photo of daledeee
Reviewed by daledeee from Iowa

4.17/5  rDev +7.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
This was a single bottle I thought I would try.

It pours a very dark brown with an off white head of medium height. It leave a lace around the top, and over it too. The nose is very nice with roasted malt, very roasted almost burnt possibly coffee.

Taste is very dark as well almost like a stout. Lots of malt, bitter coffee, some hop bitterness in the finish. The mouth feel is very smooth. This is a very nice beer.
Jul 22, 2009
Photo of biboergosum
Reviewed by biboergosum from Canada (AB)

4.02/5  rDev +3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
This beer pours a cloudy, murky, deep leather brown colour - it really matches my couch. It has a decent amount of thick, puffy light tan head, that takes its time settling, and leaves a fair bit of lacing around the glass. It smells of strong floral and a little citrus hops, as well as bready, roasted malt, and bitter chocolate. The taste is soft roasted malt, caramel, brown sugar, with some minor sour black fruit and a mild herbaceousness. The body is nice and hefty for a lager, with a mild carbonation, that renders a smooth and somewhat creamy mouthfeel. The finish is off-dry, a little malty and smoky. The elevated alcohol is well-hidden, making this a very easy and enjoyable slow or fast sipper.
Mar 21, 2009
Photo of tmoneyba
Reviewed by tmoneyba from Ohio

4.05/5  rDev +4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Poured black color with an average frothy off-white head that was mostly lasting with good lacing. Moderate toasted sweet caramel malt aroma. Medium to full body. Medium spicy sweet flavor with a medium sweet finish of moderate duration.

This is a standout beer.
Feb 02, 2009
Photo of SkinnyElvis
Reviewed by SkinnyElvis from Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Cheers to tpd975 for this brew off my Wants as part of the BA Fantasy League!

Pours dark brown with a thin head. Smell is a combo of sweet, malt, and bread. Tastes the same as the smell which makes it true to style. Mouthfeel is smooth but you can detect a bit of the ABV on the way down. A quality doppelback which will stay on my Wants.

Cheers.
Jan 22, 2009
Photo of dnichols
Reviewed by dnichols from Washington

4.1/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
I poured a capped 500 ml bomber into a pint glass.

A: It poured a dark black body with ruby tints when back lit. As it finished the last half inch had a dark cola appearance. It had a healthy two finger head that lingered for a while before falling to a thin even cover over the liquid. There were leggy and thin strands of lacing that fell into the liquid.

S: It had a sweet dark roasted and smoky profile with an under current of rich sweet caramel and fruity syrups. R

T: It was dominated early by sweet dark roasted malts, and creamy thick caramel accented by smoky nut flavors. It then hit the mid lounge with lots of dark fruits (raisins, bing cherries and ripe sweet plums). It finished as sweet as it started. The alcohol was hidden behind the sweet smokey flavors.
It was medium to full bodied, chewy and it had moderate carbonation. It finished warm and sweet with a syrupy thickness that lingered on in the aftertaste.

D: It was a nice and drinkable bock from a brewery that is hit and miss. This one hit but it is a sipper and a one and out beer. It's too rich and sweet for a long session.
Nov 24, 2008
Photo of JohnGalt1
Reviewed by JohnGalt1 from Idaho

3.64/5  rDev -6.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
22 picked up today at the Coop for about $8... 2008 vintage poured into my Chimay goblet.

1" head bubbly head dies back relatively quickly... leaves some lace... the brew is deeeep walnut brown very clear dark ruby highlites when held to a light.

rich maltiness... very toasty.. and a significant amount of chocolate.. smells very clean.

big malty out of the gate.. rich but lacking depth mid palate.. has a little sour twang/vinous quality.. a little of prune furitiness.... flavor falls off after this... finish is a little acidic.. sorta like coffee.

body is on the light side for the style... and the carbonation may be a touch high.

I wanted to like this one more... especially for the price tag.. but it just sorta falls flat for my tastes... it seems too scattered and not enough focus on the rich maltiness of a well made dopplebock.

3.5/4.5/3.5/3.5/3
Nov 23, 2008
Photo of russpowell
Reviewed by russpowell from Arkansas

3.77/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Pours a ruby tinged chestnut with 2 fingers of tan head. Good lacing & head retention

S: Breadyness, brown sugar & some booze as this warms.

T: Cakeyness, brown sugar, a bit of brown bread & a bit of roasty malt up front, a bit out of place for the style. Brown bread, a touch of peppery rye?? as this warms, plus a bit of astringency. Finishes with roasted grain, toffee, a touch of treacle & a bit of dryness. Almost pulled a 4.0

MF: Chewy, moderate carbonation, the astringency/roasty malt kind of messes up the balance for me

Drinks pretty good, I could do a couple with some BBQ, smoked ham or liebekuchen. That roasty/astrigent flavor prevents this one from hitting a home run. I'd happily drink this again though
Nov 14, 2008
Photo of brentk56
Reviewed by brentk56 from North Carolina

4.12/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Appearance: Pours a cola color with a rocky head that leads some shards of lace

Smell: Rich caramel aromas with burnt brown sugar, dates and figs and the vaguest hint of smoke

Taste: Opens with a rich dark malty caramel flavor that moves in a raisiny direction by mid-palate with smokey undertones; after the swallow, the flavor blends together like German Chocolate Cake in a bottle

Mouthfeel: Medium to full body with moderate carbonation

Drinkability: This beer has a lot of fine elements
Sep 27, 2008
Fish Tale Detonator Doppelbock Lager from Fish Brewing Company / Fishbowl Brewpub
Beer rating: 87 out of 100 with 74 ratings