Zötler St. Stephansbock Dunkel
Privat Brauerei Zötler

e0,5l bottle dated best by 19.07.24 gifted to me by a coworker. Certainly wouldn't buy this myself but would never turn down a Bock. The region this brewery is located in (Allgäu) is well-known in Germany as their small sliver of the Alps so I always expect quality beer but often end up disappointed. This has all the Bock character that makes the style great but weak and thin on some aspects. Sweet, syrupy malt with hints of char and earth. A bit cloying and bitter with decent carbonation. Drinks better as it nears room temperature. A good doppelbock, not a great doppelbock.

From the half liter bottle, it pours a clear dark brown color with a nice light tan head that slowly reduces. The nose gets roasted malts and dried fruit. The mouth gets a mouth filling roasted and black malt flavor that has some aftertaste.

 

Appearance: Very dark chestnut; very small head with no retention, no lacing

Aroma: Overpowering sweet, dried fruit smell (sultana maybe); hints of fig

Taste: Starts off with slightly syrupy mouthfeel; sweet with warming alcohol comes in quickly afterwards; finishes slightly hoppy

Remarks: Pretty well balanced overall between sweet and hoppy; but a little too sweet and syrupy for my tastes

Did not score A, T, S, M at that time; disregard those scores