Doppelsticke Altbier
Pennsylvania Brewing Company

 

 

 

 

Pours a dark brown color with a white head that settles to rings of foam on the pint. The aroma has a nice dark malt, brown sugar thing going on with faint fruits and toastier malt notes. The flavor is very nice and rounded, with dark malts, dark fruit (plum, raisin), toast, and brown sugar. Dry, herbal hops are in the background keeping everything in check, this is one smooth, awesome bock beer, trying to pin down Doppelsticke, so this is essentially a double Sticke Alt, which are a darker and stronger, seasonal variation of the Dusseldorf Altbier. I'd say this is the first of this obscure style I've knowingly had. Good to see that Penn is getting back to being Penn, making the best German beer outside of Germany, and arguably even better.

"At approximately 8.5% alcohol by volume, Doppelsticke is a super-strong ("double") Alt-style ale. It surpasses in strength even the approximetely 7% alcohol by volume Doppelbock, Bavaria's a "double" strong lager. Doppelsticke is the creation of the Düsseldorf Altbier brewpub Uerige. It is imported in small quantities to the United States, where it is available in select specialty outlets during the cooler months of the year" - German Beer Institute

They did a great job recreating the style originally done by Uerige! Big dark fruit, smooth creamy dark chocolate from the roasted malts, raisins/plums well hidden alcohol. Penn is taking back to their roots by doing a German style almost perfectly. I want more of this!!!