Lancastrator Doppelbock
Lancaster Brewing Company

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From:
Lancaster Brewing Company
 
Pennsylvania, United States
Style:
Doppelbock
ABV:
9%
Score:
84
Avg:
3.69 | pDev: 13.55%
Reviews:
16
Ratings:
24
Status:
Retired
Rated:
Mar 22, 2017
Added:
Feb 28, 2005
Wants:
  1
Gots:
  0
No description / notes.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by drtth:
Photo of drtth
Reviewed by drtth from Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
Served in a standard shaker glass. Glass of cold water on the side to sip from periodically.

Appearance: As served the beer is a clear dark brown with reddish undertones. Filled almost to the top of the glass the beer has a thin 1/16" ivory head that recedes soon leaving an irregular thin patch on part of the surface and a small ring of foam that persists to the very end of the beer. Sipping leaves scattered patches of foam but little or no lacing to the end of the beer.

Smell: The faint aroma is predominantly light caramel/toffee in nature with no hops showing.

Taste: The flavors have some earthy bitterness from the hops along with some caramel/toffee sweetness that fades into the background leaving the earthiness of the hops more in command. The bitterness from the hops is slightly off for me in that there is more earthy than bitter character and I prefer it when there is a bit of final dry bitterness (rather than just the earthy taste) that I don't find here.

Mouthfeel: The mouth feel is medium to light bodied with a smooth soft persistent carbonation that lasts throughout the beer. The finish is medium length but as I already said I'd prefer just a touch more dryness at the end.

Drinkability: This is an OK doppelbock that I've enjoyed drinking, and I'd not turn this one down if offered. But that being said there are others I'll drink in preference and given a choice I'd pick one of them.
Jun 09, 2010
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.44 by Roberto11232 from New York

Mar 22, 2017
 
Rated: 3.75 by Slatetank from Pennsylvania

May 16, 2013
 
Rated: 3.75 by IPAchris from Pennsylvania

Mar 29, 2013
 
Rated: 3 by Sipchue from Pennsylvania

Dec 29, 2012
 
Rated: 4 by JimmytheSaintPSU from Pennsylvania

Feb 29, 2012
 
Rated: 3.5 by jpd7374 from Pennsylvania

Jan 21, 2012
 
Rated: 4.5 by Fermenticusrex from Pennsylvania

Jan 16, 2012
 
Rated: 2.5 by Mudawg from New Jersey

Jan 14, 2012
Photo of BeerIsland
Reviewed by BeerIsland from Pennsylvania

3.98/5  rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
The 2010 version of the Lancastrator is on tap. Historically, this beer was brewed on Christian Heim's birthday; this version was likely brewed around the same time but, alas, the significance is gone. Presenting a pretty, deep garnet in the glass, there is little aroma wafting up through the head at first. Initial tastes reveal big malty flavors with some toffee and a little chocolate in the back. The balance of sweet and dry is great with a very nice amount of conditioning; all adding up to a very drinkable beer despite the, lower than previous interations, 8.1% heft. It was nice watching this beer go down with lacing all the way and malt aromas picking up. There's just a hint of alcohol in the flavor as well, adding nicely to the mix. This, like the current Baltic, is one of the better versions LBC has put out. Great job, guys!
Jan 09, 2011
Photo of FeDUBBELFIST
Reviewed by FeDUBBELFIST from Pennsylvania

2.4/5  rDev -35%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2
Served at the brewpub in a pint glass.

A: My beer was served with the head already gone and no film. Suffice it to say, I don't expect much lacing. The body has a bright brass color and ruby undertones with medium intensity. Clear with just a little chill haze. This is the lightest looking doppelbock I've ever seen.

S: The nose is weak initially but as the beer warms (finally), the aroma begins to present itself. Roasted caramel and very light molasses malts. Very little if any hop contribution. Even now that this beer is as open as it's going to be, the aroma is still not impressive.

T: And the taste follows. Mundane is the best way to describe it. Yes, mundane with an off-putting metallic edge. Where is the depth of flavor? Where is the nuance and complexity? While the basic flavors are present, there is no character here. Why half-ass a doppelbock? (That last sentence needs to be on a t-shirt.)

M: The mouthfeel is the best attribute of this brew. Prickly carbonation. Light to medium light body. Being a lighter colored doppelbock, don't expect anything thick, full or cloying, it's not going to happen.

D: I'm not impressed with LBC's doppelbock. They have plenty of other good offerings to chose from so I'll be ordering one of those next time.

NOTE: I'm fairly confident that while I ordered the Doppelbock, I was served the Spring Bock. But since I can't be sure, this review will remain here until I can prove otherwise.
Apr 09, 2010
Photo of ROMER79
Reviewed by ROMER79 from Pennsylvania

4.08/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
The pour was a brown color with a tan one finger head from the tap. Caramel, dates, chocolate, and raisins were present in the smell. The taste was the same pretty much. Maybe just a little more fruit poured through. The Mouthfeel was great and the drinkability was easy as can be!
Mar 30, 2008
Photo of John_M
Reviewed by John_M from Washington

3.68/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Had this on tap at Frisco's the other day.

The beer pours an amber brown color, with good head retention and OK lacing. There's something of a sweet citrus malt aroma; the beer smells OK, but is nothing out of this world. On the palate the beer is pretty nice, albeit nothing mind blowing. It's a bit one dimensionable, but there are some nice flavors of brown sugar, milk chocolate and vanilla. The beer is medium bodied and is fairly soft and plush tasting. The abv. doesn't taste as if it's all that high, and the beer is fairly drinkable.

I don't know. This beer is OK, but is probably not something I would order again. It's on the spendy side here at Frisco's and there are just too many other beers out there that are better IMO.
Mar 30, 2008
Photo of Deuane
Reviewed by Deuane from Pennsylvania

3.88/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A-Deep, dark clear caramel brown. Thin white head that leaves nice lacing.

S-Light aroma of sweet caramel malt with a bit of sour mash.

T-Sweet biscuity malt with a background twang of sourness. Leaves a bready aftertaste.

M-Rich and full bodied. Very smooth and well rounded. A very nice "hefty" lager.

D-Nice and smooth with enough flavour to keep things interesting. ABV goes totally unnoticed. A decent job by LBC for sure.
Feb 28, 2008
Photo of HopDerek
Reviewed by HopDerek from Pennsylvania

3.32/5  rDev -10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Poured a muddy red/brown with thin tan head and good lacing. Smells extremely sweet, lots of caramel character as well as some dark fruit notes, a touch of chocolate. Lots of malt in the taste consisting of toffee, caramel, molasses, and brown sugar. Finish is bitter chocolate and some hops. Medium in body with good carbonation, but is a little thin for a doppelbock. A little too sweet for my liking.
Feb 08, 2008
Photo of akorsak
Reviewed by akorsak from Pennsylvania

3.75/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
A tumbler glass served at LBC's new Harrisburg location on Eisenhower.

A: The bockbier is indeed dark, a hybrid dark chocolate/caramel mix that shows equally khaki brown and chocolate liquor (visit Chocolate World if you are unsure what chocolate liquor is). A small band of tan head sat atop the glass.

S: The nose is malty, strong on caramel and toffee notes. The malts do not come across as being particularly concentrated (as opposed to the Consecrator that I reviewed this past weekend).

T: The malt flavors rule the day here without being dictatorial about it. Caramel and toffee malts create a sweet body that remains relaxed throughout. Those malts never accumulate in such a way that they become tart. An alcoholic heat holds the taste together without burning the tongue. A good beer, if not restrained.

M: The caramel and toffee body could easily be mistaken for a brown ale, so it seems that the doppelbock could use a little more concentrated malt flavors. Beyond that, I was a fan and I am generally not a doppelbock drinker.

D: This is surprisingly quaffable with a relaxed flavor that doesn't push too hard.
Feb 05, 2008
Photo of tgbljb
Reviewed by tgbljb from Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev +8.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Enjoyed at the brewpub. Served as a bark amber colored beverage with modest slightly off-white puffy head. Smell is a pleasant mixture of roasted malt and coramel notes. Taste follows through with a strong maltiness combined with a some caramel notes. Nice creamy mouthfeel. Finish is more malt with a very enjoyable caramel sweetness. Well done beer with nice drinkability. Alcohol content must be fairly high.
Mar 11, 2006
Photo of Phatz
Reviewed by Phatz from Pennsylvania

4.13/5  rDev +11.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Date 3/03/2006
Very nice doublebock from Lancaster Brewing company. At this point in time I am not aware of this beer being bottled. This is not confirmed so someone please beermail me if this is wrong.
I had on tap at Lancaster Brewing company tonight.

Appearance: Dark brown/red color with a tan head. decent lacing.

Smell: nice sweet malty aroma with hints of caramel and a bit of smokiness to it.

Taste: very gentle on the palate easy drinking. Hints of caramel, bittersweet chocolate, only a touch of molasses and again the subtle suggestion of smokiness lingered in the pleasing aftertaste.

Mouthfeel: Nice. Not quite as think as some doublebocks Like SA or Celebrator but still thick enough for the style. I think it is the alcohol that help break this up so it was not extremely sticky. it had a bit of drying burn to it that was a nice touch.


Drinkability: I found this went down extremely easily although I took it slowly. The ABV is not listed but it must have been significant because I noticed it after just one. Taste only - this would be sessionable to me but that alcohol would catch up to you.

Hope this is helpful.
Cheers!
Mar 04, 2006
Photo of woodychandler
Reviewed by woodychandler from Pennsylvania

4.25/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
For those that may have been following my posts re. LNCBC, you will remember that I was postively giddy when I heard that Bill Moore would be coming to brew at my hometown brewpub. Bill is renowned for his mastery with lagers and here is one more example. This review is for the 2006 batch.

This came with a thick, light-tan head above a very clear, ruby-red colored beer. The nose was rich with malt. The mouthfeel was thick, full and evidenced a bittersweet flavor on the tongue, like a mixture of licorice and semi-sweet chocolate. Yow! The finish had a bitterness, different from what I described earlier, more sharp, but it was also somewhat smoky. Bill, how do you do it?
Feb 20, 2006
Photo of Fish113d
Reviewed by Fish113d from Pennsylvania

3.38/5  rDev -8.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5
*Served on tap into a pint glass at the brewery.

Poured a chestnut color with a nice dark ruby hue; very little light is able to pass through the glass. A slight oily surface layer sits atop of the brew with just a small string of tan edge layer.

Aroma reminds me a lot of wine grapes or plums. Some wheat aromas also come through (grain). However, the overall aroma was more sterile than anything. I'd like to have one at home to see any differences.

Sipping reveals a huge shot of bitter cascade hops up front with some chocolate malts behind it. A slight fruit flavored finish along with some wheat flavor. Enjoyable.

Mouthfeel was average. Tingly carbonation stings the tip of my tongue as well as a big alcohol burn dries this up just a bit. Medium bodied, but the alcohol makes this a bit tougher to drink.

Decent brew overall, but I would rather not fill a growler with it. One pint was enough for me considering the drive I had ahead of me.
Feb 19, 2006
Lancastrator Doppelbock from Lancaster Brewing Company
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 24 ratings