Perkulator Coffee Dopplebock
Dark Horse Brewing Company

Perkulator Coffee DopplebockPerkulator Coffee Dopplebock
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From:
Dark Horse Brewing Company
 
Michigan, United States
Style:
Doppelbock
ABV:
7%
Score:
84
Avg:
3.72 | pDev: 13.98%
Reviews:
446
Ratings:
1,030
Status:
Active
Rated:
Dec 11, 2021
Added:
Oct 18, 2007
Wants:
  50
Gots:
  57
This is a true dopplebock and Dark Horse Brewing's only publicly distributed lager. It was so normal that we couldn't stand it so we made it into a coffee dopplebock. Ha, take that Germany, with your Reinheitsgebot purity law! Anyway, we use fare trade organic coffee from our friends at The Ugly Mug Cafe in Ypsilanti, MI.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BEERchitect:
Photo of BEERchitect
Reviewed by BEERchitect from Kentucky

3.15/5  rDev -15.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
Drawing inspiration from the savory, malty-rich bocks of Germany, the Dark Horse Brewing Company immulates these flavors with common grains of American microbrewing along with artistic additions of coffee that seems to emphasize the earthen roast and bitterness already exhibited in the base beer.

Perkulator opens with a firm brown appearance that's mostly clean. Only a mild haze casts ruby highlights beyond the brown hue. Building a creamy tanish head, the beer retains and laces fairly- where the beer doesn't dissapoint, I'm looking for better foam character as well.

Caramel and coffee floods the olfactory senses along with peripheral notes of lightly scorched toffee, bread, and lighter nuttier coffee attributes similar to Kona. Lightly fruity, mild notes of cherry, dates, and figs round out the scent with a twinge of alcohol lurking behind.

Malty-sweet to taste, the overt malt taste carries bold caramel, molasses, and toffee- some on the lightly burnt side. It's these flavors that bridge into the coffee additions seamlessly. The earthy char of toasted malts reach into the pungent, herbal, and chocolaty notes of coffee and pull out a more moderate java tone of spent coffee grounds. A late arriving palate shows the fruity bock notes of burnt currant, dates, and cherries just before the alcohol taste gives mild tawny vinous taste to finish.

Medium bodied, but seemingly fuller because of the relatively high residual sweetness, the bock starts and ends with a semi-sugary texture. An extended middle palate delays the finish, making the beer much more of a sipper that drinking beer. Alcohol warmth and malt-balanced finish signal closure but extends well into the next sip.

Although Perkulator is inspired by traditional dopplebocks, I would prefer more adherence to the malt richness rather than caramel sweet taste. The base beer favors the sweet tooth rather than the savory fullness and bready textures. As the coffee registers with the taste buds, they seem a bit strained and lacking the freshness or silkiness of the classy coffee shop. This version is a satisfying beer but becomes a bit ambiguous.
Oct 10, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4 by n2492004 from Michigan

Dec 11, 2021
 
Rated: 3.75 by dd53grif from Michigan

Sep 22, 2021
 
Rated: 3.69 by blissfulNemo from Michigan

Apr 11, 2021
Photo of GuyFawkes
Reviewed by GuyFawkes from Illinois

4/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Unknown vintage; drank 7/4/14 @ the Yarchives.

Muddy brown/red color.

HUGE egg nog head (careful pouring!); frothy, thick lace.

Spent coffee grounds & mild chile pepper nose. A nice smell!

Medium, creamy mouthfeel.

Slightly burnt black coffee & mild chile peppers in the flavors...straightforward but flavorful.

Worthy.
Jul 14, 2019
 
Rated: 4 by SiepJones from Pennsylvania

Dec 18, 2017
Photo of Ciocanelu
Reviewed by Ciocanelu from Romania

3.5/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Hazy dark amber color with light brown head. Aroma is really malty with a bit of caramel and coffee notes. Taste starts also malty with a bit of coffee but it's not a pleasant coffee taste, it's somehow bitter and stale. Slightly on the sweet side, just slightly roasty and bitter on the finish. Body is quite light and effervescent and the alcohol is quite present. Not bad but not really my type of beer.
Dec 23, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by jrob21 from North Carolina

Nov 20, 2015
 
Rated: 3.65 by connecticutpoet from Connecticut

Aug 20, 2015
 
Rated: 3.89 by chewy6935 from Michigan

Jul 25, 2015
Photo of Wolberjs
Rated by Wolberjs from California

4.26/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
2010 or 2011 not quite sure. Still great coffee smell and flavor well carbonated and smooth smooth smooth.
Jul 17, 2015
Photo of SPLITGRIN
Reviewed by SPLITGRIN from Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
Deep in color and almost coffee brown is the body. Head is a creamy fluff of light tan bubbles reaching almost two fingers tall. Retention is nice and leaves a solid wall of lace. Nose is lovely with tones of coffee beans, coco, and mineral based malts. As I take first sip I notice that the coffee feel has faded considerably since it was fresh. Dark malts with some phelonic spice such as graham cracker and mineral notes are more prominent now. Quite hollow in terms of complexity at this point. An odd spice hue stays on the back of the tongue and leaves a dry mouthfeel. This is overall very easy to drink.
May 15, 2015
 
Rated: 3.31 by wulfie85 from California

May 01, 2015
 
Rated: 3.62 by mklisz from New Hampshire

Apr 26, 2015
Photo of pat61
Reviewed by pat61 from Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +14.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
A: Brilliant chestnut under a 1” offwhite collar of foam that slowly dissipates to a thick film leaving art noveau lace.
S: a little coffee and bread in the nose.
T: Liquid bread, kettle sugars and coffee with a touch of hop and coffee bitterness on the finish.
M: Medfium body but light for as big as the flavors are. Medium carbonation.
O: An interesting blend of coffee with a doppelbock that works surprisingly well.
Mar 31, 2015
 
Rated: 3.5 by dfhhead25 from Pennsylvania

Mar 03, 2015
 
Rated: 3 by nathanmiller from New York

Feb 28, 2015
 
Rated: 4 by KJ2013 from Pennsylvania

Feb 28, 2015
 
Rated: 3.62 by BarrelAgedG from California

Feb 24, 2015
Perkulator Coffee Dopplebock from Dark Horse Brewing Company
Beer rating: 84 out of 100 with 1030 ratings